Does Homebrew Boost Immunity?

[Brulosopher]

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Quick! Guzzle some homebrew!

I have been, all day...

 

[fosgate]

Start watching this at 10:30 talking about the nutrients in beer and the discovery of tetracycline (Antibiotic) in Egyptian beer. While this video has points of humor it does have some great points in beer.

I'm currently a non traditional student earning my business admin mgt major degree and public health minor. Part of my rewuirments for my minor is hammering microbiology, epidemiology (study of epidemics) and other biology classes including science of brewing. When I have five PHD's from various fields of (Biochem, Chem, History, Bio Psychology, Physics) and all have been brewing since Jimmy Carter legalized it, I tend to believe they know there stuff when lecturing in my Brewing Science class.

Just because you come in contact with a virus, does not mean you will reproduce and take hold in your system. Your body has several lines of defenses starting with the ph balance of your skin. Not many people know this but virtually everyone has a flesh eating bacteria on them but it does not consume them because of the chemical balance of your skin. When your body has many of the necessary nutrients and exercising regularly can keep your immune system strong can help a lot in avoiding illness. Many people often contract illnesses more frequently from a weakened immune system due to unhealthy diets, eating habits and sanitation standards. Also if you have an antibiotic in your system or inflammation it causes a response from your immune system to react and eject the virus. So even if you do contract say the flu with an incubation period of 15 days before symptoms appear, your body can be fighting it while it is happening and can eject the virus before it makes it to the symptom phase or can reduce the symptom phase and move you to recovery faster. And if your body is generally healthy with the nutrients needed for quick recovery, you may hardly notice even though you may still be in a contagious stage for another week or two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdwYjFnFoJU

 

[huntingohio]

If i'm not mistaken there was a study sometime back of a group of ancient skeletons that were glowing under blcak light. The bodies were examined and the found tetracyclin in the bones.
The only link the forensic cats could make was to beer yeast and high amounts of it.

cant rember where the article was for the life of me.

I honestly never get sick outside of stomach bugs, and there usually my fault [99c chicken yeah ill eat that!!, 2 days later im holding on to the toliet praying I dont get lift off].I may also have developed a gluten intolerence after my body detoxed during my long stint on the paleo-primal diet, but thats another story

 

[Peppers16]

I didn't read the article in any detail, but its not unusual to find that moderate drinking can have some benefits. The common one is that it reduces your chance of heart disease. There's the 'French Paradox' ,or something like that, in the case of red wine.

HOWEVER, a few downers: From your description it sounds like you're drinking more than what a medical scientist would call 'moderately'. A few pints a night with no rest days is probably more harm than good. Don't forget that ethanol is a carcinogen and a neurotoxin, whether we like it or not. Even if you're not noticing weight gain, that's not to say it isn't doing harm behind the scenes.

Secondly using yourself as an example is never good science. Anecdotal evidence can lead to people saying some silly things ("my aunt smoked until she was 90 and didn't get cancer. Ergo, smoking doesn't increase your risk of cancer").

Sorry to be the neggy one, I love booze as the next person (wouldn't HB if I didn't). But I treat drinking with due caution too.

 

[Beer_Eugenics]

Cold what’s a cold? I almost forget about them since moving to south Texas four years ago. But will probable get one now when I go home in December.

 

[BobBailey]

Lots of things have medicinal value. Personally, I find that I benefit most from yeast and garlic. (TIC) Seriously, yeast has great value for your health, as does garlic. I find hops to be an excellent sedative, and good sleep is great for your health.

Many things that were considered to be of great benefit in times past aren't touted today. How much of this is due to more refined production, preservatives and other enhancements is hard to say.

Personally, I like to think that most product improvements are not improvements in products, rather improvements in profits. This is why I brew my own beer, cure my own meats and grow my own fruits and vegetables. If i'm wrong, so what! The satisfaction I get from doing these things is worth being wrong.

Bob

 

[Brulosopher]

I didn't read the article in any detail, but its not unusual to find that moderate drinking can have some benefits. The common one is that it reduces your chance of heart disease. There's the 'French Paradox' ,or something like that, in the case of red wine.

HOWEVER, a few downers: From your description it sounds like you're drinking more than what a medical scientist would call 'moderately'. A few pints a night with no rest days is probably more harm than good. Don't forget that ethanol is a carcinogen and a neurotoxin, whether we like it or not. Even if you're not noticing weight gain, that's not to say it isn't doing harm behind the scenes.

Secondly using yourself as an example is never good science. Anecdotal evidence can lead to people saying some silly things ("my aunt smoked until she was 90 and didn't get cancer. Ergo, smoking doesn't increase your risk of cancer").

Sorry to be the neggy one, I love booze as the next person (wouldn't HB if I didn't). But I treat drinking with due caution too.

Cheers! My post was at least half tongue-in-cheek

 

[how1]

All I know is after 4 or 5 homebrews I am generally immune to criticism!

 

[Brulosopher]

As I enter his 4th sh!tty day of having a cold, on Thanksgiving no less, my speculation that homebrew boosts immunity has quickly turned to certainty that I spoke too ****** soon. Ugh.....

 

[BBL_Brewer]

I haven't had so much as a cold in two years now. Not sure I can attribute that to homebrew, but I'd like to think so.

 

[skw]

Stress is bad for your immune system.

A beer after work makes me less stressed, and hearing airlock bubbles is a calming sound to me.

So there, beer is good for my immunity

 

[beaksnbeer]

As I enter his 4th sh!tty day of having a cold, on Thanksgiving no less, my speculation that homebrew boosts immunity has quickly turned to certainty that I spoke too ****** soon. Ugh.....

Remember PLENTY of liquids :cross:

 

[Brulosopher]

Remember PLENTY of liquids :cross:

Ahh yes, I'm on my 3rd schooner now

 

[Nightshade]

In the video "How Beer Saved the World" they mention ancient remains containing evidence of antibiotics which was apparently a byproduct of the brewing process and grains used.

Drink more, feel better.

 

[jonmohno]

I have a personal anctedote. That since I regularly drink 2-5 beers a day. Which I was never a regular(moderate but consistent) drinker daily since the last few years I notice if not by coicidence that my colds have only been short or never really full on bore into cold mode. Like,just a few sniffels or sneezes,but not anyfull blown colds like I use to have. I also exercise 2X more than I use to and have a good diet. But its amazing a cold has never developed more than just some sniffles and a few sneezes. I almost beleive its just the alcohol that kills the cold/flu stuff also. No conjestion,coughing.