"good health!"

I enjoy a pint of ale. Beer is good for me, and that's official!

Recent studies have shown that beer is high in B vitamins, particularly B6 which prevents the build-up of homocysteine, a common cause of heart problems.

Beer contains no fat, no cholesterol, and very little carbohydrate or sodium. It has no caffeine or nitrate.

It can help you to sleep and has a diuretic effect on the body which helps get rid of toxins and waste.

Beer is also 92 per cent water, and was called liquid bread many years ago when water was often contaminated.

The elderly can also benefit from a daily pint. It aids urination and helps with blood vessel dilation.

So, all in all that’s good news for us beer drinkers. But these benefits only apply when beer is drunk in moderation, and that's not always easy to achieve! Drunk to excess it can cause the classic beer belly. It has an effect on the senses and can have a negative effect on ones judgment. Excess alcohol can cause damage to the kidneys and liver.

But the fact remains that beer, when enjoyed sensibly, can have a beneficial effect on health.

And that's good news - isn't it chaps!