What To Drink at a College Reunion? Heck if I know (but it was a lot of fun)

So, beer is not exactly a health food. I totally get that. But there is antioxidant value and since I am always gathering nutrients, why not choose a more nutritious beer?

The two important issues in selecting a beer are avoiding unhealthy additives and choosing high antioxidant all-natural beers. Lots of American brands use a terrible collection of genetically modified corn and corn syrup and / or propylene glycol and even MSG. Here is a quick hit list of brands to avoid and why:

http://themindunleashed.org/2014/05/8-beers-stop-drinking-immediately.html
There are a lot of all natural beers from other countries where beer is more appropriately regulated. Most of Europe is a pretty trustworthy beer haven, so a wonderful high end Belgian beer tends to be pristine. (Some of the mass marketed European brands might not be so perfect, so better to go with something created in smaller batches.) I also have a few Canadian brands I trust including Fin du Monde, Blanche de Chambly, Flacatoune...in the US, you really need to be careful with choices. Microbreweries might disclose the ingredients if you ask them so if you have a favorite brand you may want to check. (There is an absence of labeling laws in this area). I am reasonably confident that Sierra Nevada is preservative-free and that is the very best I could find in Canton, New York so I was pretty pleased and it was all I could do to not ruthlessly hoard the few bottles left at the store. More detailed information on beer preservatives can be found here: http://themindunleashed.org/2014/05/8-beers-stop-drinking-immediately.html


The second issue, finding high nutrient beer. The newly researched potent nutrients in beer stem from the grains used to create the beer. Hops are high in xanthohumol a type of flavonoid that fight free radicals as well as polyphenols which are cancer and virus fighting. Xanthohumol stays in the body longer to do its job BUT beer doesn't quite have therapeutic values. While I don't recommend drinking so much beer as to maximize the preventive effect, (one scientific paper says that number would be 450 liters per day (YIKES), collecting just some of this powerful nutrient is certainly beneficial in small doses. And to maximize the antioxidants, choose a hoppy beer. See how I rationalize my having a whopping three beers in one day? I still drink alcohol sparingly and would not add it to a daily routine, just save it for a special occasion. And, it was one heck of a special occasion...