Today I read an article posted by the Davis Phinney ‏Foundation  about the possible benefits of Beer for protecting the brain against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  We can now add that to the list of beneficial foods that include Chocolate, Coffee and more.  This presents a bit of a problem since beer on tap is a no-no if you are taking Parkinson’s meds.  Besides, how much beer do you need to drink for it to be effective?  According to the article you would have to drink 2000 liters a day!  But the researchers will spare you the burden of having to drink all of that beer.  They say that a flavonoid compound found in hops will help protect the brain.  So we can just pop another pill when they figure this out.  This is beginning to sound like Woody Allen’s movie Sleeper, where his character wakes up 200 years in the future only to find out that everything we thought was bad for us is now good for us.

From the movie, two doctors discussing Woody Allen’s character, Miles:

Dr. Melik: This morning for breakfast he requested something called “wheat germ, organic honey and tiger’s milk.”

Dr. Aragon: [chuckling] Oh, yes. Those are the charmed substances that some years ago were thought to contain life-preserving properties.

Dr. Melik: You mean there was no deep fat? No steak or cream pies or… hot fudge?

Dr. Aragon: Those were thought to be unhealthy… precisely the opposite of what we now know to be true.

Dr. Melik: Incredible.

So, if it is true that beer, chocolate and coffee can protect our brains, then why do people who partake in them develop Parkinson’s?  I wonder what other foods are being explored for their neuro-protective value.  I have been drinking coffee for years, and eating a lot of chocolate, too, but it doesn’t seem to have worked for me so far.   I think I need to do some more research.  Make mine a double espresso with chocolate, please.