Health Benefits of Drinking Guinness — It Really Is Good For You

We're only a week away from St. Patrick's Day, which means that many of us will be celebrating our country's Irish heritage by knocking back some Jameson whiskey and a pint or two of Guinness — don't forget the Irish soda bread! Before you start feeling too bad about the alcohol and carb overload, you'll be glad to know that all those ads from the 1920s that read "Guinness Is Good For You" had some truth to them.

When tested on dogs, antioxidants in Guinness helped reduce blood clots and slow down deposits of cholesterol on the artery walls. Researchers say that a pint a day may work as well as a low dose of aspirin in preventing heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks. Some other reasons you may want to enjoy a pint of beer on St. Patty's Day or this weekend: better bones, weight management, and a better memory. This is not a license to go out and get wasted though. As always, everything is better in moderation.