Beer and Health

Beer is the most popular elixir in the spirit world for many reasons.

Beer is flavorful. Beer is intoxicating. Beer is healthy.

The wondrous combination of malts, hops and yeast creates tastes through sugars, lupulins and esters, with unique treatment invoking volumes of varieties. Alcohol can soothe a savage breast. Mostly water anyway, it is nutritional; we all need plenty of fluids, plus beer comes with a bevy of B vitamins and antioxidants.

But, for all the good things about beer, of course, there are flaws inherent. Sometimes people react aversely to beer; it creates headaches, or worse.

Ingredients in beer, though delicious and nutritious, can cause distress. The gluten in wheat and barley is a horror for those with Celiac Disease. Some hop varieties and yeast strains can cause strain on the membrane (brain). Processes -- such as capping the kettle during boil -- can heighten these effects.

Of course, there are alternatives. Gluten-free beers are becoming more popular and more available day by day. Experimentation with different styles or brews might do too.

I attempted to help a friend who has a rough time with certain beers made by an 'unnamed brewery' (rhymes with 'You smelled Jim?!').

The response to my email suggested a few alternatives of their manufacture that use different yeasts. Good.

Then came the 'Thanks, Sherlock' moment: "Our beers do contain ethyl alcohol, however. Experimentation has shown that they can cause headaches and other symptoms the next day if too much volume is consumed." Bad.

As with beer, nothing is perfect. The American health insurance industry is flawed as well. Trouble for some consumers, beer causes conditions that people cannot afford. So do current insurance practices that affect your access to care and to the money you have rightfully earned.

Health insurance as currently provided - too expensive and designed to deny the benefits for which you pay plenty - is trouble. The vast majority of bankruptcies in our nation are caused by uncovered health care expenses. Stock prices and CEO bonuses go up every time someone is denied care and coverage. Employer costs - that rise by double-digits annually -- prevent them from paying competitive and commensurate wages. This is something the American economy and public cannot afford.

To solve this predicament, there are also alternatives. Known from the current debate, sound options include Universal Single-Payer, Public Option, and Medicare-for-all programs.

Doing nothing is not sustainable and not acceptable. Period.

OK. Let's all go have a beer now. Cheers!!! To your health!