Love Drinking Beer? Here are Healthier Alternatives

For years you?ve heard about how drinking red wine on a regular basis can be beneficial to your health, but if wine isn?t your alcoholic beverage of choice, you may be wondering if there are health benefits in other drinks. Take, for instance, beer. Though craft beer has always been an all-time favorite for years, the increased awareness of healthy living has encouraged beer companies to delve into healthier ways for their customers to enjoy the drink.

Still Play it Safe

Though finding healthier alternatives to your favorite alcoholic beverages is recommended, you still need to play it safe. Don?t assume that because a particular beer is processed differently or healthier for you, that you don?t have to be mindful of the negative effects alcohol can have on the body. If you?re known for getting wasted at the bar on occasion, a?low cost interlock?device installed on your car will ensure you don?t get in an accident on the way home. One indication that you?re over the legal limit and the car shuts off allowing you time to sober up or find a designated driver.

Gluten-Free Beer

As opposed to using bases like wheat and barley to brew beer, some brewers have opted to use gluten-free bases like buckwheat, rice, and millet. Though you?ll still want to check the packaging, most gluten-free beers are safe for those who suffer from allergies or intolerances. The batches are tested several times to ensure the gluten has been removed or significantly reduced to below 20 parts per million. If you want a good flavored beer that doesn?t contain gluten, you might consider hard cider drinks as they are often made with an apple base.

Unpasteurized Beer

In a typical brewing process, brewers send batches through a pasteurization process. During this process live yeast and other organisms are killed which help to preserve the beer longer in storage. Though a traditional process for brewing beer, when it is pasteurized, it removes natural yeast and enzymes. This drastically reduces the natural probiotics found in beer. Other nutrients are stripped as well such as vitamin B which comes from yeast.

Unpasteurized beer, on the other hand, is a beer that has living microorganisms in it. It contains lactobacillus which is some good bacteria. If you?re looking for an unpasteurized beer, look for the term ?bottle conditioned? on the label.

Organic Beer

The USDA has standards for organic foods that are also relevant to organic brewers. It essentially means that the beer must be brewed without using toxic pesticides, genetically modified ingredients, or synthetic fertilizers. Those who drink organic beer can do so knowing that they?re not filling their bodies with modified and toxic chemicals.

Unfiltered Beer

Brewers tend to filter their beer in order to give it a brighter and more attractive appearance. Filtering the beer also rids it of nutrients like vitamin B. However, brewers are now skipping the filter process for more reasons than one. The filter process not only takes away color but can sometimes alter the taste. Not to mention, increased levels of vitamin B can help?reduce the effects of alcohol?like headaches and a hangover.

Beer is one of the country?s most popular alcoholic beverages of choice. Be that as it may, it comes with some health and safety risks. Whether you?re?shopping for someone else?or looking for yourself, the above-mentioned options are a lot healthier for you. Remember to read the packaging carefully when purchasing beer to ensure you?re getting the best option for your health.