Beer and Disaster Preparedness

• Kidney Health – Being the proud father of two kidney stones I am always interested in preventing another. Researchers in Finland found that each bottle of beer a man drinks daily lowers his risk of developing kidney stones by 40 percent. The researchers can’t exactly explain the link, but speculate that a high fluid intake not only makes for an excessive number of trips to the bathroom, but could also keep kidneys functioning properly. Additionally, the researchers say the hops in beer may be responsible for the correlation, helping to slow the release of calcium from bone—which could get reabsorbed by the kidneys as painful stones. A common tactic in Nicaragua where it is always quite hot and humid (ideal to set up non-acclimatized gringos for kidney stones) is to keep the Tona intake flowing.
• Recover Faster – One Spanish study suggests a beer could also aid in workout recovery. Researchers asked students to exercise until their body temperature reached 104 degrees, and then had them re-hydrate with beer or water.As it turns out, people who had a post-workout pint were slightly more hydrated than those who had H2O. I have not personally tried this out after a gym workout, and don’t intent to.
• Confidence Booster – British researchers found the more drinks people consumed, the more attractive they found themselves. In a second study, the researchers asked participants who had consumed either a real or fake alcoholic drink to give a speech. When asked to evaluate how good-looking, smart, and funny they felt they were during their talk, people who thought they imbibed gave themselves more positive self-evaluations—regardless of whether or not they were actually buzzed. In this case I suggest you share a beer with them so you both are equally impressive. No one likes a know it all in an emergency.

Beer suggestion # 2 – Atwater Brewers Going Steady IPA. I’m a fan of session ales so if I see this in your disaster supplies I might stop and hang out a bit. 

• Vision Health – Canadian researchers found that one daily beer—especially a lager or stout—increases antioxidant activity that can stop cataracts from forming in the eyes. Note: The scientists found an opposite effect in participants who had three or more drinks a day.
• Lower Your Blood Pressure – In one study, Harvard researchers found that moderate beer drinkers are less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who sip wine or cocktails.
• Fight Off Infection – In an Oregon Health & Science University study scientists vaccinated monkeys against smallpox, then gave some of the primates access to alcohol while others could drink sugar water. The monkeys who drank moderately had better vaccine responses than those who consumed the sweet stuff. Note: Animals that drank heavily had less of a response to the vaccine than those who kept their habit under control. I bet we would see better vaccination compliance for the flu vaccine if free beer was offered with each shot.
• Prevent a Fracture – A couple beers a day could actually strengthen your bones, according to a study at Tufts University. Guys who stuck to one or two brews had up to 4.5 percent greater bone density than non-drinkers—but more than two beers was associated with up to 5.2 percent lower density, according to the study.

Beer suggestion # 3 – I offered a session ale above so my last suggestion is Victory Brewing Company’s Sour Monkey. Sours may not be perfect for sipping but with food (MREs) they are awesome. One word of caution is the 9.5% ABV means you should probably stick to one of these or you could end up courting disaster within a disaster.