Tip Your Glass To This: Study Finds Beer Might Help Prevent Cancer

Beer tastes good and makes for interesting conversation at your local gastropub, but scientists
are saying that it may be able to help prevent different types of cancer, too.

It's all about the hops. Researchers are currently using the hops to curb the growth of bacteria and certain diseases in tests.

According to the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the University of Idaho, certain compounds that are derived from hops can be synthesized to create new medicines.

The two compounds researchers are interested in include: humulones, alpha acids, anti-inflammatories that help fight cancer; and lupulones, beta acids, that may possess medicinal properties.

The goal of the research is to eventually develop medicines that help combat the spread of cancer and that help fight inflammatory diseases.

The scientists involved now hope to collaborate with biologists and medical researchers to create pharmaceuticals to fight cancers and inflammatory diseases.

The lead researcher, Dr Kristopher Waynant, wrote: "When researchers extract healthful chemicals from hops, they first have to determine whether they have separated out the specific compounds they're interested in. But if you can figure out how to make these compounds from scratch, you know they are the right ones."

Beer is actually quite good for you when enjoyed in moderation, as is explained in a related Forbes publication.

Studies have found that moderate consumption of beer can reduce heart attack risk in men by as much as 30% or more. Moderation consumption has also been linked to a reduced risk of dementia.

But these beneficial aspects should not be misconstrued with using beer as medicine or used as an excuse to overindulge. Rather, for those who regularly consume this beverage, it's nice to know that a few brews per week can actually do some good for you.

In case you think that the dreaded beer belly is caused by drinking too much beer (which in some cases is true), WebMD advises that's usually not the case. While beer can cause an empty calorie overload, it's the fatty, fried foods that are usually ingested alongside of it that create the infamous beer belly. One common reason is that your liver is so bogged down processing the alcohol that it does not have time to properly process the nutrients.

So eat, drink and be merry... just in moderation.