Beer, Wine May Make Bones Stronger

Just in time for Monday night football comes this good news for men with a taste for brew: Researchers say drinking one to two beers a day helps build strong bones. For women, a glass or two of wine has the same positive effect. Katherine Tucker, PhD, tells WebMD that findings from a study of more than 2,900 women and men suggest that "beer and wine really do have some nutritional value." She says beer may benefit bones because it contains silicon, which has been shown to promote bone health. Wine, on the other hand, is rich in phytochemicals, which also may benefit bones. Tucker is a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University in Boston.