A new study reported in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (44[1], 18-26) shows that the consumption of nonalcoholic wheat beer (NAB) for 3 weeks before and 2 weeks after marathon competition reduces the post-race incidence of both inflammation and upper-respiratory-tract infection (URTI). Beer possesses the same type of antioxidant properties founds in red wine, according to prior research.
The Study: 277 marathoners were assigned to drink 1-1.5 liters of either NAB or a placebo per day for the 3 weeks preceding and 2 weeks post-competition Post-race researchers recorded subjects' muscle inflammation and signs of URTI.
The Results: Those who drank NAB had 20%-32% less muscle inflammation and an incidence of URTI 3.25 times lower than their placebo counterparts. Again, polyphenols were the winning antioxidant ingredient.
