We live in Brew City, so naturally, this question catches our attention. But what's even more interesting is the answer. Several recent studies suggest that beer actually may do a body good! Research continues to suggest that drinking beer in moderation can be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Another new study found that shoppers who bought wine were much more likely to buy healthy foods like olives and low-fat cheese than were beer buyers, who were more partial to things like snack foods and chips. The study, which was conducted in Denmark, appears online in the British journal BMJ.

That may be the case in Scandanavia, but this is Milwaukee, and we are beer drinkers. So, is the malted stuff healthy?

Jeremy Belter, a nutrition expert at Fitness Together, breaks it down.

"Beer is made from water, malted barley, hops and yeast. Now there are vitamins, minerals and other healthy ingredients in beer. On the other hand, many of these ingredients are found in non-alcoholic sources. Why does this matter? Because alcohol is taxing on the liver, there are many side effects to excessive alcohol consumption. Not to mention, alcohol is seven calories per gram, which could (otherwise) be used on healthy calories found in fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains from other non beer sources."

Let's be real, though. Belter adds, "In our professional opinion, if you are getting the adequate nutrients from other sources, beer has little-to-no healthy benefits."

Say it isn't so! There has got to be some health benefits to moderate beer guzzling, right? Recently, the folks at WOW Distributing Company, Wisconsin's second largest beer distribution and wholesaling business headquartered in Sussex, compiled the following list (you be the judge if they are a little biased). Read, drink and please enjoy in moderation:

• Beer and Nutrition
  In this increasingly health conscious society, beer has been an easy target for scrutiny. Unflattering and unsubstantiated terms like "beer belly" have made beer and health nearly impossible to pair together. However, beer does not contain fat, cholesterol, caffeine or nitrate, and is low in sodium and sugar. Beer does provide vitamins, minerals and protein, as well as antioxidants. Thus, the common notion that beer is loaded with "empty calories" is false. Beer is made with malt, which contains B vitamins and minerals.

• Beer and Healthy Bones
  A recent study by researchers at Harvard Medical School, Tufts University and the University of London found that beer contains silicon, an element that aids bone formation. A 12-ounce bottle of beer contains 7 mg of silicon and can contribute as much as 20 to 25 percent of a person's daily intake.

• Beer and a Healthy Heart
  In well over 100 medical studies, research suggests that consuming alcohol in moderation (defined by the U.S. government as no more that two drinks per day for men, one drink per day for women) may lower the risk of coronary heart disease for some by as much as 30 to 60 percent. Interestingly, some research points to beer as having unique heart-healthy attributes. Beer's B6 and folate content are believed to help reduce blood homocysteine levels, which are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Yeast used to ferment beer is a natural source of these important B vitamins.

"Other health benefits from consuming beer in proper quantity may also be present; however, the double effect of its consumption will lead to positive and negative effects," says Jonathan Eggebrecht, a personal trainer at Fitness Together. "The outcome and intensity of both the positive and negative effects may be determined by the individual's consumption quantity of the beverage. To determine whether or not the good out weight the bad, ask yourself these questions: Is drinking beer going to build my ethical values of keeping healthy and morally good or will it be indifferent?"

The WOW Distributing report continues:

• Beer and Cancer Prevention
  Hops and malt used to make beer are rich sources of disease fighting antioxidants. Research continues to show antioxidants' ability to prevent cell damage that may lead to cancer and heart disease. Significant quantities of polyphenols are found in beer. Preliminary research suggests that several polyphenols found in hops may have the ability to slow the growth of cancer cells in test tubes and enhance cancer-fighting enzymes. One polyphenol in particular, xanthohumol, is found only in hops and is believed to be a more potent antioxidant than vitamin E or genistein, a compound found in soy.

• Beer and Weight
  The "beer belly" is one of the larger misconceptions associated with drinking beer. European studies comparing body mass index and waist-hip measurements of beer drinkers versus nondrinkers have debunked this theory. The recent popularity of 'low carb' dieting has also beleaguered beer as an unhealthy libation. Low-carb advocates argue that maltose from barley malt, present in the initial stages of brewing, is a carbohydrate and dieters should take heed. However, they fail to recognize that during fermentation the yeast consumes maltose, turning it into alcohol and carbonation, so that the end product contains little or no maltose.

• Regardless of their source, calories that are not burned are stored as fat. The average 150 calories from a regular beer, or 95 to 100 calories from a light beer, do not migrate to the belly any more than excess calories from any other food or beverage and can easily be part of a healthy calorie-controlled diet. In fact, compared to cocktails, beer is usually a lower calorie choice.

• Beer and Moderation
  It cannot be emphasized more, however, that studies only suggest the health benefits of beer when drinking it in moderation. The USDA Dietary Guidelines acknowledge that moderate alcohol consumption may be part of a healthy diet, but caution against excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcohol consumption that exceeds moderate levels can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease and a number of kinds of cancer. In fact, research shows that the risk of cardiovascular disease is higher in abstainers, declines with moderate consumption, but begins to rise significantly when intake exceeds moderation. Also, moderate alcohol consumption is no substitute for exercise and a heart healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in unhealthy saturated fats."

Everything in moderation -- that's what Mom always says. But Eggebrecht isn't so sure. "I'm sure many things can be arguably healthy for you in some way, but, in many cases, like beer for example, you'll have to make your own logical and educational decision to determine if its benefits outweigh the risks."