Beer, women and healthy living

Healthy living

Healthy living is a state of maintaining a healthy body and mind. This can only be achieved if positive attitude to your wellbeing is maintained. A check list for staying healthy will include having:  mental wellbeing, healthy bones, healthy eyes, healthy hearing, healthy heart, no cognitive impairment and no sleep disorders.

All these can be achieved by healthy eating, sensible drinking and exercises. We age every day, and it is the lifestyle we adopt that will partly determine the state of our wellbeing in our old age. You reap what you sow. It is therefore strongly advised that you consciously adopt a disciplined lifestyle.     

It is said that health is wealth, you can flaunt your wealth by exhibiting your health. A sick rich man is not wealthy. Gone are the days when we refer to a fat person as exhibiting “evidence of good living”. No!!!  This was out of ignorance. It is surely the evidence of malnutrition. Look at the leaders of some of the developed countries, they are trim and athletic, but look at some of the poor in such countries, they are fat and unhealthy. It can easily be deduced that the rich are better informed and they have the means to live on healthy food. The reverse is the case for the uninformed and poor.

We all know the basic classes of food; these are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats and Oils. Very important also are the Micronutrients comprising of the vitamins and minerals. Water and fibre are also of great essence. When we talk about balanced diet, it simply means that your choices are from different classes of food within the recommended daily intake. It is a guide for healthy feeding.

I do believe that there are no good foods and there are no bad foods. Every food has its own nutrients and its beneficial limits. For good nutrition, eat a variety of food in moderation.

I do not believe that one should run away from any particular food, except it is spoilt. The craving for the food will persist, and when you have the opportunity to pounce on it, you might compensate for the long-time of deprivation, and eat more than necessary. What you need to do is to acquire discipline and learn to limit the amount of servings of that problem food or drink.

Primary health care

Good nutrition is primary health care. You are what you eat. The Yorubas say “obelawo”; this means that the quality of your food is the quality of your skin, (your largest organ). In other words, if your intake is always good nutrition, it will show in the glow of your skin and your general outlook. The reverse is the same.

It is easy to identify a malnourished person. I am sure that you are picturing a shrunken dry personality. That is not entirely correct, because it could also be a fat, heavy and uncomfortable person.

They are both suffering from malnutrition. The shrunken one is probably not able to afford enough nutritious food or is not able to metabolise his food due to ill health. The fat one is probably over indulging himself in faddy foods or does Primary health care. not believe in moderation. It is said that “too much of one thing is good for nothing”.

Over indulgence results in bad health which comes with a catalogue of ill conditions such as Diabetes, Arthritis, Heart disease etc. They can even develop asthma due to abdominal obesity “beer belly”, as a result of breathing at low lung volume. They breathe quickly and often because they inhale small volumes of air.

Generally, all foods in their right state and amount, will fight disease. You only need to know the “dos and don’ts” in the preparation and handling before consumption. In any forum in which any medical doctor gives a talk on healthy living, he focuses on healthy feeding, not healthy drugs. This proves that good nutrition is surely primary health care.     

We are blessed in this part of the world with arable land and good climate. We have all kinds of organic foods, fruits, vegetables, etc. throughout the year.  Let us learn to eat right to live well.

Stages of life

Babies:   The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breast-feeding for at least the first 6 months of a baby’s life. It is the primary source of nutrition. It contains complex proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, micronutrients and a myriad of biologically active components like antibodies which the baby needs.

Toddlers and Young children:  They are often the most at risk of being malnourished. They have very high energy and nutrient needs for their body size in comparison to adults. They expend a lot of energy playing rough. They should sustain their energy needs by eating small meals and snacks spread over the day. For healthy living, avoid overfeeding the child to avoid unhealthy weight. Never indulge the child in sipping alcohol. Their system cannot handle it.

Adolescents:  Adolescents grow rapidly and so have very high energy and nutrient needs. This is the age of adventure, so some of them steal gulps of alcohol. The effects can be dangerous to their physical and mental health. Alcohol disturbs the normal timing of puberty. Long term effects include infertility.  So, parents, activate your eagle eyes.

Adults:  Beer or any other alcohol is meant for the adults. What is demanded of you is to drink responsibly. In bars, it is a practice to serve along with the beer, some spicy finger foods like suya, snails, pepper soup or even salty peanuts. These make you thirstier and you are enticed to ask for more bottles of beer.  

Bars are usually visited with friends to chat and laugh with, so normally, you are in a relaxed environment where you are not in a hurry. This results in quaffing more than needed, and that contributes to the development of the “beer belly”.

Teetotallers grow beer belly from drinking Juice or Malt with the boys every Friday night. It is the same scenario of sitting out for hours, eating spicy foods and drinking extra calories on top, with no exercise other than the shouting conversations and laughter. 

The elderly

Metabolism slows down with age. Also the eating habit of some elderly change due to a number of challenges. This results in less intake of food and so less intake of nutrients. However, some elderly people are able to drink alcohol all the days of their life, with no deleterious effect. I knew two of such people;  one was Aunty Jide who was still drinking her beer at her 100^th birthday reception party. She died aged 101. the other was Uncle VA who was at his bar until his dying days. He died at 96.  They both never had “beer belly”, they both were never fat and they both were never met drunk.  They must have been doing something right.

I went through healthy living at the various stages of life because, although the man is the “head” of the house, the woman is the “captain of the home”. She is in charge of everybody’s healthy living.

Special attention should be given to women. They are classified as belonging to the” risk group”. In this group, micronutrient shortages are most likely to occur during their different stages of development.

From adolescence, a woman should be well nourished both for their immediate development and for the future stress of child-bearing. Because of the monthly loss of blood, anaemia and calcium deficiency are common problems. As they grow older, they might have problem of arthritis and osteoporosis, where the bones become fragile. They need adequate intake of vitamins and minerals.

Even if taken in small amounts, the effect of alcohol on women is more than on men. Women are more sensitive to alcohol.  On the average, women are smaller than men, so equal measure of alcohol will give higher levels of concentration in her body and she might get tipsy. The average woman carries more body fat than the average man. Body fat contains little water that will otherwise dilute the alcohol, leaving a higher concentration in the woman’s body.

Alcohol dehydrogenase is a metabolising enzyme that helps the body to get alcohol out of the system. Women have less of this enzyme than men, so more of what women drink enters the blood stream as pure alcohol. Fluctuating hormone levels in women will cause the intoxicating effects of alcohol to set in faster. As women age, their tolerance for alcohol decreases.

A good percentage of women drink beer, however many know their limitations. It is said that about 75% of women over estimate the calorie content of beer. They believe it is beer that gave their husbands the abdominal fat “beer belly”, not knowing that it is their over-feeding of the man. Beer does not contain fat. It has less calories than wine. However, when you eat more calories than you can burn, the excess is stored as fat. Where your body stores that fat is partly determined by your sex and age.

Women have more subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) than men.

Therefore, the excess fat tends to be deposited more in their buttocks, arms, thighs and their bellies. However, because men have less subcutaneous fat, they store more in their bellies. That is why the fat distribution in men is more pronounced in the belly fat.

A good number of women who drink beer, drink it at social occasions. Some prefer it as a shandy with sweeter drinks like soft drinks or juices. Because of the resultant sweeter taste, they tend to drink more.

The sweeter soft drinks are already loaded with sugar, so the glass of shandy is of high calories. Note that this is at a party, where usually, guests do not limit their intake of food or drink. There are the main meals, the small chops, the deserts and extras, and on top is a high calorie drink. All these result in positive calorie balance when what you eat outweighs the energy you expend; this results in obesity. It is not the fault of the beer; it is the fault of the undisciplined you.                                                     
Also, some women drink their beer straight without mixing it. This category of women tends to know their limit, and probably drink less. I have observed that this categories of women are not fat and flabby. They most likely have the ability to metabolise it easily.

Chronic drinking

Chronic drinking can impact vitamin D metabolism, making it hard for your body to absorb calcium. The American Cancer Society warns that alcohol is linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, and that risk increases with amount of alcohol consumed. However, research is ongoing, but

the deal is, moderate your drinking.  

We may need to deletee this because of the way it is worded and the fact that what the Press will most likely take out is that beer causes breast cancer.  Except rewarded, please delete

Pregnant Women: Pregnant women must avoid alcohol, as it could result in Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This can result in miscarriage, And when born, could be malformed, very small, have learning difficulties and behavioural problems.  When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta to your baby. A baby’s liver is one of the last organs to develop and does not mature until the later stages of pregnancy. Your baby cannot process alcohol. 

Break-feeding mothers

Breast-feeding mothers: Breast feeding mothers must also avoid alcohol. Note that substances such as alcohol, virus or medications can be passed to the infant via the breast milk. Alcohol inhibits the mother’s release of milk to the nipple and so reduces the milk supply which is the baby’s main food.

This will affect the baby’s feeding, metabolism and general well-being. Also the presence of alcohol in the breast milk gives it an odour the baby is not used to.

So mothers beware! You won’t want your baby querying you.

What we want is a healthy child. What baby needs is non-alcoholic nutrient –rich breast milk.

Post-menopausal women

Women can experience a vast array of problems during menopause.

ALCOHOL ABUSE CAUSES THE SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE TO INCREASE IN SEVERITY.

It impacts the health and wellbeing of the woman through the direct interaction of alcohol with organ systems such as the brain, liver and gastro-intestinal system, when the alcohol is ingested and transported through the blood. 

BEER INGREDIENT

We all know by now that the basic ingredients of beer are:

•       Water, which is 90% -92%. Making beer very hydrating.

•       Malted barley, which provides nutrients similar to those in the cereals.

•       Hops, which gives beer its aroma and bitter flavour and is a rich source of micronutrients.

•       Yeasts, which change sugars into alcohol thereby affecting the glycaemic index positively.

                It is an alcoholic beverage, but it can be classified as food, because of its nutrient value.

                (I am not saying that you should go and order just beer   for your lunch. Do not ever substitute food with beer).                                                                                                                    

Beer contains carbohydrates, like dextrins and    polysaccharides; it contains proteins in the form of amino acids; it is fat-free; it contains a load of vitamins like the B vitamins, vitamin C, folic acid etc.; it contains minerals like magnesium, potassium, silicon, selenium etc.; it contains fibre like betaglucans etc. Taking in moderation, beer is beneficial to your health.

Women in particular are worried about their looks, let us therefore find out what beer has got to do with that.                                          

Beer and beauty

I know that many of our Nollywood Celebrities will be eager to listen to this.                                       We learn that Ancient Romans used beer baths to sweat out toxins, exfoliate their skin and infuse the body with vitamins. It is said that it led to a clearer skin and an improved immune system.  

Beer Spas are pretty popular in Europe. The Spas claim to fight against Acne.                                       Most beers are made from ingredients that are rich in selenium, iron, magnesium, zinc and some B vitamins. Beer is also known to have antibacterial properties that protect against infections within your stomach. It is believed that if it is so good for your inside, surely it can be just as good for your outside (the skin)

It is said that brewer’s yeast helps to slow down sebum which is an oil-like (fatty) matter secreted by sebaceous glands of the skin. Sebum they believe causes acne breakout. Brewer’s yeast also helps to kill the bacteria that cause acne.  Inactive yeast, on the other hand, helps to maintain your skin’s pH balance.

 Beer Spas is not just pouring bottles of beer in a tub and soaking yourself in it. Different spas have their own ingredients, but basically it involves adding to beer some herbs, fruits, oils etc. at a particular temperature, and the client soaks in it for about 30 minutes, to detoxify. Your own home remedy can be done as it suits you.

There is now a new London Cocktail bar that lets you inhale booze. It opened in July this year. The idea was brought up by a couple of Food Scientists (my professional colleagues).

Breathe-in bar

You don’t even need to lift a finger to get drunk, you simply inhale it. This is a “walk-in cloud bar” and it offers a fully immersive alcohol environment. With the help of humidifiers, spirits and mixers are turned into a fine cocktail cloud. With humidity of about 140%, customers can absorb the cocktails through their lungs and eyeballs.

Since it was inhaled, it will bypass the liver, which means that you will get drunk more quickly. It takes about 40 minutes to absorb one very large drink. Customers wear protective suits to avoid damaging their clothing.

Will this eliminate your “beer belly”? No, you still need to eat, drink and breathe responsibly

Health Benefits of Beer

From loads of research and studies on the effect of beer on the wellbeing of women, moderate drinking of beer is recommended. There are claims that the following are health benefits of beer for women.

•       Beer can increase your vitamin B levels, as it contains vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12. A Dutch study found that beer drinkers had 30% higher levels of vitamin B6 than their non-drinkers, and twice as much as those of wine drinkers. Beer is also a generous source of B12, an anti-anaemic factor not found in many foods.

•       Beer contains folic acid, which is a factor against coronary heart disease.

•       The fibre in beer helps to reduce your LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) which is called the “bad cholesterol”. LDL collects in the walls of blood vessels causing the blockages of atherosclerosis which leads to heart attack.

•       Beer aids digestion, as the soluble fibre from the cell walls of barley in it, protects you from intestinal disorders like constipation and diarrhoea. Dark beer in particular contains up to one gram of soluble fibre in each 30cl glass, unlike wine which does not contain any fibre at all.

•       Beer keeps your kidneys healthy, as each bottle reduces the risk of developing kidney stones by 40%. This is adduced to the diuretic power of beer as it is over 90% water.

•       Beer reduces the risk of developing gall stones.

•       Beer contains flavonoids which have preventive effect against hormone-caused cancers, such as breast and uterine cancers.

•       The bitter substance derived from hops, Isohumulones, may improve lipid metabolism, prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes.

•       The ingredients in beer help to prevent blood clots from forming.

•       Beer drinkers have a 40 – 60% reduced risk of suffering a heart attack compared with non-beer drinkers.

•       Beer has a positive effect on insomnia, as lactoflavin and nicotinic acid in it can promote sleep.

•       Beer can give you stronger bones. This is adduced to the elevated levels of silicon in beer. Also has calcium for healthy bones and teeth, especially in post-menopausal women.

•       Beer consumption by the elderly appears to be associated with longer survival and better cognitive function. It also stimulates their appetite and promotes bowel function.

•       Beer is a valuable source of polyphenols which lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases, due to the antioxidant properties. Antioxidants act against free radicals to prevent inflammations.

•       Certain vitamins in beer can regenerate the skin. This makes the skin smoother, suppler and more beautiful.

•       Beer drinkers are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia than non-beer drinkers. Beer boosts your memory.

Work-related stress or anxiety can be reduced by moderate drinking of beer.

•       Beer increases insulin sensitivity and lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

•       Beer is low in sugar, unlike soft drinks and juices, so no blood sugar spikes.

•       Beer is lower in alcohol than wine and lower in calorie.

•       Beer reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and joint pains.

•       It is said that drinking of warm beer is an excellent cold remedy.  When barley is warmed up, it improves blood circulation and helps you breath better when you feel congested. It also relieves joint pain and boosts your immunity. (you need to talk to your doctor on this cold remedy). Don’t forget that “there are different strokes for different folks”.

•       Ladies I hope that I have created more awareness, concerning the moderate drinking of beer. This might debunk some myths and misconceptions about beer.

•       Recommended moderate drink for women is -ONE 12oz bottle a day

•       Recommended moderate drink for men is -TWO 12oz bottles a day. Note that heavy drinkers will not get any of these benefits; rather, they suffer the opposite. Heavy consumption of alcohol will interfere with absorption and use of vitamins. It also can lead to loss of appetite.

•       Learn to eat a balanced diet, drink a lot of water with your food then you can top it up with your beer.

•       Adopt a physical exercise regime, it is crucial to your healthy living.

•        I am not advocating that you start drinking beer, if you were never a beer drinker, nor am I asking you to increase your volume.  Rather, I am asking that you drink moderately and responsibly.

 Dolapo Coker