Every few months, an interesting story pertaining to alcoholic beverages pops up in the national media.

Yesterday, I learned via FoxNews.com that beer might contain essential cancer-fighting agents. Because you needed yet another reason to imbibe.

In a nutshell, German researchers’ preliminary studies indicate that xanthohumol, which is found in hops, can help inhibit certain enzymes that trigger cancer. They can also help the body detoxify carcinogens.

"It’s very healthy. I think the ingredients in the beer are very good,"
says Dr Werner Back, a brewing technology expert at the Technical
University of Munich.

The researchers claim that it would take 60 regular beers to equal the amount of xanthohumol that they are able to brew in one beer, so scientists are now looking into ways to add more of the antioxidant to beer, as well as other foods like chocolate.

At least the research participants get to have a little bit of fun, right?