Health and safety: Difference between revisions

For individuals regularly consuming wine, coffee, beer, and tea, these beverages will likely be the major sources of phenolics. Beer is a very popular beverage consumed in large amount all over the world and is a source of natural antioxidants, particularly phenolic acids, originating from barley and hop (9-12). The antioxidant activity of beer coupled with low ethanol content is a relevant factor in determining the nutritive characteristics of beer. Recently, phenolic acids from beer have been described as being quickly absorbed and extensively metabolized in humans (13, 14). Beer drinking has been reported to increase plasma antioxidant and anticoagulant activities and to positively affect plasma lipid levels in humans (13-18). In animal models beer drinking also decreases susceptibility to oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (19, 20). Moreover, beer consumption seems to have no effect or even an inverse effect on total homocysteine concentration (21-23).<ref name=piafor/>