Happy Father's Day!

In honor of Father’s Day (and my first one as a Dad) is a quick look back at a study from about 6 years ago.

In a STUDY at the University of Wisconsin, researchers showed that dark beer significantly reduced markers for platelet aggregation, which can lead to clotting that causes heart attacks in patients with atherosclerosis. The Wisconsin researchers compared the effects of light and dark beers on dogs with narrowed arteries, similar to those in humans with heart disease.

Measurements of platelet markers for various cellular processes involved in platelet aggregation were taken before and after the administration of the light and dark beers. Afterwards the dogs were given epinephrine, a stress/fight-or-flight hormone previously shown to reverse the anti-clotting effects of drugs like aspirin. Only the dogs administered dark beer were protected against the reversal of its antithrombotic effect.

Researchers theorize that certain polyphenolic compounds are responsible for the cardio-protective effect of beer. As such, they continue to seek that key ingredient that protected the dogs from clotting. I believe we have already found the key ingredient……it’s called Guinness stout! "Administer" one or two today at the barbeque!