Strong Beers Could Have as Many Beneficial Probiotics as Yogurt

According to new research recently presented by Eric Claassen from the University of Amsterdam, strong beer, such as Belgian brews which are fermented twice, contain just as many gut-healthy microbes as popular probiotic foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and probiotic yogurts.

It’s this second round of fermentation which breaks down more sugars to alcohol by using a “type of yeast that produces acids that are poisonous to many of the bacteria that cause illness,” IFLScience.com reported.

This research claims that each time an individual drinks one of these beers, “they reinforce their intestinal army” of these gut-bacteria boosting microbes. While previous research has found that heavy drinking damages gut bacteria, Claassen stresses that as long as these beers are consumed in moderation, they can be “very, very healthy.”

“We don’t want to give people a license to drink more beer,” Claassen said. “Those of us who advocate good health know it’s very difficult for people to stop at one. In high concentrations alcohol is bad for the gut but if you drink just one of these beer every day it would be very good for you.