Hallelujah: Beer may be heart-healthy

WASHINGTON – Wine has long been touted as the heart-healthy alcohol of choice. But could its less fancy cousin, beer have some redeeming qualities in the health arena?

It turns out it can. Those who feel like popping the top of a cold one when they get home from work are on to something. Prevention Magazine reports brewskies help ease blood flow to and from the heart.

Beer also has some of the antioxidants found in wine. When compared to vodka or non-alcoholic beer, sipping regular beer has been shown to be the most beneficial to health.

But the jury is still out on whether beer is better for the heart than wine.

And, of course, the report doesn’t mean you should guzzle down a 12-pack. In the small study sample, participants drank about 12 ounces of beer, which amounts to about a can or bottle.

It’s recommended not to drink right before bedtime as alcohol can disrupt sleep.

WTOP’s Veronica Robinson contributed to this report. Follow VRobWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.

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