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Japanese Scientist Develop Wrinkle Fighting Beer

A beer a day may keep wrinkles away if one Japanese scientist is to be believed.

Sho Sind, chief scientist at the Akita Research Institute of Food and Brewing in Japan, claims he has invented a beer that works like a facial and will give you smooth, wrinkle-free skin.

"I wanted our beer to not only taste good, but to have some health benefits. Local brands of beer can't survive in the competitive market unless they have some unique features," Sind said.

The beer is said to be rich in hops and polyphenols that supposedly stop an enzyme responsible for wrinkles and sagging skin.

Hops are the flowers of the hop vine that are used as a flavoring agent and preservative in beer. They were used by the Jews in Babylon as early as 400 BC although it was not until the 13th century that hops were widely cultivated for use in beer.

"Hops contain several characteristics that brewers desire in beer: hops contribute a bitterness that balances the sweetness of the malt; hops also contribute floral, citrus, and herbal aromas and flavors to beer; hops have an antibiotic effect that favors the activity of brewer's yeast over less desirable microorganisms; and the use of hops aids in 'head retention', the length of time that a foamy head created by carbonation will last," according to the editors of Wikipedia.

Polyphenols, on the other hand, are a group of substances found in plants that have antioxidant properties. Researchers said polyphenols may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. To avail of these benefits, doctors recommend the moderate consumption of beer.

Sind studied microbiology at Tsukuba University graduate school. His interest in polyphenols began after he joined a leading brewery in 1988. Sind noticed that the person who sampled the beer had a very smooth complexion. His investigation led him to conclude that polyphenols were responsible for the man's wrinkle-free skin. When Sind joined the Akita Research Institute in 1995, he later developed a new beer that reportedly contains more polyphenols than other brands.

"I wondered if there was something in the beer that made his complexion so smooth. I wanted to find out what the secret ingredient was and create a new product," he explained.

For those who can't get enough of beer, they can go all the way by soaking in a tub of their favorite drink. Beer spas in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic are famous for this relaxing dip that is reportedly good for the skin.

"Beer is very good for the skin because of the vitamins and the yeast. It's cleansing and drying," according to Hedwig Bauer, owner of the Landhotel Moorhof in Franking, Austria.

For 44 euros, couples can relax in wooden barrel-shaped tubs filled with a special brew. The brew is composed of a two percent-alcohol lager made for it by the local Schnaitl brewery fortified with brewer's yeast, malt, and two scoops of hops topped with warm water. The hotel also offers a beer facial or 'brewski facial" - a gooey mask made from ground hops, malt, honey, and cream cheese.

If the thought of getting wrinkles upsets you and you're allergic to beer, one product well worth trying is Dermaxin. This anti-wrinkle cream delivers dramatic and visible results comparable to popular, doctor-prescribed injectables without making you look like a mannequin! For details, go to http://www.dermaxin.com.

About the Author

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com