Beer and Health.

Abstract

Beer is indisputably a healthy beverage. Its consumption brings to the consumer many benefits, especially refreshment and relaxation. Beer has a positive effect on digestion, and is a source of essential nutrients and micronutrients. Based on monitoring the Czech beer market network involving beer from large, medium and restaurant breweries, a new study was performed on the content of health-positive substances in beer. It was confirmed that Czech beer contains, among others, a significant concentration of B vitamins and some important phytoestrogens. The study also monitors the content of potentially adverse substances, i.e. substances which are toxic and get into beer mainly due to microbiological contamination. Increased concentrations of biogenic amines and N-nitrosamines have been reported in beers from some minibreweries; this points to their lower hygienic conditions.Beer is indisputably a healthy beverage. Its consumption brings to the consumer many benefits, especially refreshment and relaxation. Beer has a positive effect on digestion, and is a source of essential nutrients and micronutrients. Based on monitoring the Czech beer market network involving beer from large, medium and restaurant breweries, a new study was performed on the content of health-positive substances in beer. It was confirmed that Czech beer contains, among others, a significant concentration of B vitamins and some important phytoestrogens. The study also monitors the content of potentially adverse substances, i.e. substances which are toxic and get into beer mainly due to microbiological contamination. Increased concentrations of biogenic amines and N-nitrosamines have been reported in beers from some minibreweries; this points to their lower hygienic conditions.

Keywords

• beer
• health
• phytoestrogens
• vitamins B
• biogenic amines
• N-nitrosamines
• ATNC
• microbiology contamination