I know a lot of great fathers and they ALL enjoy their beer. While everyone knows the downside of too much beer-the “santa claus” physique (known technically as central obesity) or the dreaded hangover, there are actually some benefits from drinking modest amounts of beer. For men, a “modest” amount of beer would be two or less 12 oz. cans of beer. If there was ever a time to toot beer’s horn, it would seem to be Father’s 
Day. Here are some of the benefits of modest beer consumption:
- It can actually decrease blood pressure if consumed in small amounts.
- It can contribute B vitamins to the diet because beer is made from hops and yeast, both of which provide various B vitamins.
- It is a modest source of selenium (an anti-oxidant), calcium, and magnesium. These nutrients are important for strong bones.
- It can be a source of anti-oxidants. In fact, the darker the beer, the more anti-oxidants!
- It can thin the blood, thereby decreasing the potential for blood clotting which could lead to heart attack or stroke.
- It may lessen the likelihood of kidney stones, in part due to the high water content of beer.
For those dads with special medical problems that would generally require abstinence from regular beer, there are even non-alcoholic beers and gluten-free beers now widely available you so can imbibe without affecting your health! And for those dads trying to whittle their waist or needing to control their carbohydrate due to diabetes, beers come in a wide range of calories and carbohydrate content, so check the labels to find the beer that is best for you.
So happy Father’s Day to all you great dads out there. Enjoy your beer and fire up the grill while you are at it. Nothing beats a cold “brewski” with a grilled meal on a hot summer day.