There have been countless naysayers throughout the years guilty of spewing out health-nut, anti-beer propaganda in hopes of convincing a society of two-fisted boozehounds that a drinker’s lifestyle is detrimental to his health.

However, an ambitious and heroic team of Japanese scientists has recently concluded that all of that “beer is bad for you” business is for feeble-bodied weaklings, as their research indicates that a steady regimen of good old-fashioned beer drinking can actually keep muscles strong.

According to researchers from the University of Tokushima, the science of this profound discovery lies in a chemical called 8-prenylnarigenin (8-PN), which is found in a prenylated flavonoid contained in hops. To study the effects 8-PN, researchers fed one group of mice a food compound high in hops, while another group received an intake of normal food. (No, they didn't make the mice drink beer.)

They found that those mice feeding on a high hop diet appeared to maintain more muscle mass than those mice consuming a normal, flavonoid-free diet. In fact, mice on the regular diet experienced a 10 percent decrease in muscle mass during the study.

Earlier this year, scientists discovered a “miracle molecule” present in beer called nicotinamide riboside, which reportedly strengthens muscles and wards off weight gain and diabetes.

On a side note, Japanese scientists say that while there are many benefits to drinking beer, a person would have to consume 154 pints of beer a day to achieve any “muscle-sustaining” benefits.

That may take some of you awhile. We suggest you get started early.

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