Beer and Its Role in Human Health

Beer is a drink with low alcohol content and is generally produced by fermenting wort aromatized with hops using selected yeast. The composition of beer is mainly determined by its raw materials (water, barley and other cereals, and hops). Beer has positive bioactive compounds and thus potential beneficial effects in humans, although these effects are dose-dependent, especially in regards to alcohol content. Beer is a drink with high antioxidant capacity due to its phenolic compound, vitamin, and melanoidin content, among other components, all of which contribute to the oxidant/antioxidant balance required for a healthy lifestyle. The antioxidant capacity of beer has been widely studied, thus demonstrating the relationship between beerconsumption and its role in preventing various diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, prevention of some types of cancer, and it is associated with an increase in bone-mineral density in postmenopausal women, among other positive effects.