The Beer Puzzle -- Partying, Relaxation, Romance and a Chipped Tooth
Health and Long Life Series - The "Beerness" of Beer Gets More Interesting with Zero Percent Alcohol
Romance and Beer consumption often go together. But then Beer is broadly consumed in lots of settings. It does have a relaxing effect. Men seem to drink it more than women.
There is a reason why guys drink beer. Actually, there are several reasons why guys drink beer. I am referring to the calming quality of beer that goes beyond the effect of alcohol. Beer's uniquely calming feature is a special property makes that gives it the "beerness" of this ancient brew.
Beer's Calming Agent and GABA -
No, this is not a morality lesson here. Its an interesting question. Don't say "Cause of the alcohol". Sure that's a big reason. But why beer? First of all, you can't drink tequila for too long before you are a wild-eyed, vision-seeing Chupakabra. Beer? Guys can throw beer down for hours and hours and hours. Unfortunately.
The answer regarding Beer is Hops - those strange 20 foot high flowers that they grow in Germany and around the world. Hops is the thing that gives men that warm calming feeling. Beer is the basic "guy response" to stress-filled living. Then you throw in the all the additional elements - Sports, Picnics and Bar Hopping and you get the "Beer Drinking Culture" for lack of a real official sociological term. So, in one breath, I am not saying Hops is everything, but I am saying it is overlooked as a reason for Beer's allure. You will notice that many of the micro-brewers talk about the Hops -- its quality and quantity and how they put it in their beer. The major brewers are talking in the advertising more about Hops too. Its not a secret, its just not something men chat about while they are imbibing.
Look up Hops and see all of the interesting effects it has. There are places in which you can see references to a stimulative effect BECAUSE it is relaxing -- on the male sex drive. Ironically, since it comes along with the alcohol in beer, there may be counter effects neutralizing that factor.
Hops and GABA (a supplement) have similar qualities. RELAXATION ---- What we are seeking is a place to be in our minds and bodies with that mild "buzz" that we do not have when we are in the middle of our stimulant-driven dailiness.
I have recently experienced the marvelous effects of the supplement for a variety of benefits. From a personal perspective, I have enjoyed this calming agent and sleep aid.
GABA - "Don't bother me, I am building muscle and burning fat while I sleep." -
GABA is a natural alternative to drugs that have a sedative effect. A search on the web will show you how many pharmacological agents work off of the GABA receptors in the body and brain.
Please see its potential negative effects if you are considering taking). The good thing about GABA as a natural supplement is that if you take a little too much, you back off. There is also material that says that GABA and Niacin work together to help the body fight stress. (So go ahead and consult your health care professional, especially if you are pregnant or nursing).
GABA is manufactured in the body from another amino acid - glutamic acid. It essentially acts as the body's most powerful tranquilizer in the body.
Subduing the Firing of Nerve Cells in the Brain -
It is thought that epilepsy and attention defidit disorder could be helped by GABA. And, back to our BEER question, research indicates that it may also help treat alcoholism by reducing alcohol cravings. Individuals with enlarged prostate glands may benefit from GABA, as it helps regulate sex hormones in the body. Proceed with caution on the dosing and do consult with a Health Professional or M.D.
The really easy short answer on why do we drink beer.guys is that we need to have a relaxation phase to our life. Inhalation - Exhalation, Pump the heart - Relax the heart.
However the beer drinking solution is extremely limiting and narrowing of health, family life and truly relaxing inter action. Need I also say that alcohol is very disturbing of sleep. While hops probably aids in sleep, alcohol works against sound sleep. Children and wives do not often benefit from excessive beer drinking escapades, and even though women also drink beer, the beer drinking culture could be called a Cultural Setting in which "excess and havoc" are ubiquitously present, all in the name of "fun and relaxation".
GABA Tea
There is no advice here to giving up beer. It is potentially an enhancement for some complaints. GABA tea is a "side recommendation" for those who really feel they could use help. It is said to be a real treatment for high blood pressure. It reduces the blood pressure level by allowing the arterial and venous muscles to relax.
Beer drinking guys are going to be beer drinking guys, and that is something that is not that destructive of health as long as there is moderation.
Stella Artois or Heineken -
While you are contemplating the potential benefits of GABA, go out and do a little research and find out what beers have the MOST hops. Sample them and see if you do not feel the difference in that famous herb in your system. Then read about the effects of Hops, and you will see that Hops is kind of a cousin to GABA. Not a bad experiment to add to your body of knowledge.
Besides, you might impress somebody as you watch your football team and your buddies are gathered around. Just grab a Stella Artois, or a Heineken.
Heineken Zero Percent Alcohol, and I can say that it has no alcohol feeling, but it tastes great.
The Chipped Tooth
Regarding "romance" and the beer puzzle, and my chipped tooth. I walked into my bedroom after a couple beers, a few years ago. I strolled into the darkened bedroom where my wife was about to enter in a few minutes. My right foot found a loose roller skate and I fell onto a chair. The chipped tooth had nothing to do with beer or romance...just poor eyesight.
Beer Seems to Require a Group
I Don't Remember Telling Her to put it THERE!
Romance is often the "Climax" of an Evening. Note below recommendations.
Overdrinking is not good.
Don't do it for 40 years!
Don't do it for 30, 20, or 10 or 5 years!
Or ever.
There is no intelligent recommendation on this call out, other than to drink non-alcoholic beer!