“Xanthohumol, a polyphenol chalcone present in hops, activating Nrf2 enzymes to confer protection against oxidative damage in PC12 cells.”
Whew! If ever there was a sentence that needed help that is it. Now, I’m lucky enough to know a guy – a mad scientist, really, in Ottawa, Ontario – who understands that sentence but for the benefit of the rest of us mere dunces I think it means that researchers have finally gotten around to discovering that beer is good for you. Duh! I say, “What took ‘em so long?” I mean, beer has been around for thousands of years and I personally have been drinking it since, oh, about age 10, so I think the brainiacs are a little behind on this one.
Never-the-less, according to a recent article in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (http://pubs.acs.org), as relayed in IAVM’s Front Row News Industry Blog, an ingredient found in hops could help protect brain cells from damage and possibly has the potential to slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Other benefits may include antioxidation, cardiovascular protection and anticancer properties. Jeesh, all that and it tastes good, too. Go figure.
And in another related development a trend is sweeping across American sporting venues with the introduction of self-serve beer carts. Oh, be still my beating heart. Finally, the tyrannical dictators that run concession stands have loosened their grip on us poor, beer drinking slobs and we can now serve ourselves – kind-a.
The beer carts are popping up in places like Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park, Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field and all 3 major sports venues in Pittsburgh but the trend is growing so I’m sure we’ll see these fun, little beer wagons grow in popularity and appear in stadiums, arenas and ball parks all over the land. Almost makes a guy want to leave his basement and attend a live sporting event. Hmmm.
So there you have it beer lovers. You knew it along but finally science has validated it: the golden elixir is good for you and now instead of waiting in long concession lines for an over-priced, half-foam cup of the good stuff you can just go get it yourself. Prosit!