Beer And Milk Contain 'Miracle Molecule'

Although researchers recently determined that only half a unit of alcohol per day is the optimal level of consumption, there are still upsides to having a pint of beer. Turns out that beer and milk contain a "miracle molecule" that could make us stronger and help prevent obesity.

The scientists stumbled upon nicotinamide riboside (NR) while looking for ways to boost the gene expression of SIRT1, which has metabolic and aging benefits. The ingredient resveratrol in red wine targets this gene directly, and scientists were looking for other compounds that might do the same.

"NR appears to play a role in preventing obesity," researchers wrote in the study.

"Mice on a high-fat diet fed NR gained significantly less weight - 60 per cent - than mice eating the same diet, but without NR supplementation. In addition, none of the NR-treated mice had indications that they were developing diabetes, unlike the untreated mice."

NR also has no known side effects, and the quantity of it does not seem to adversely affect the cell.

"It really appears that cells use what they need when they need it, and the rest is set aside without being transformed into any kind of deleterious form," said one of the authors, Carles Canto.

The NR is believed to stimulate the mitochondria in a cell, leading to better endurance, longevity, and protection against metabolic diseases.

The downside is that NR is extremely small and hard to synthesize.

"At the moment, we can't even measure its concentration in milk," he warned. "So it's impossible to know how much you would have to drink to be able to observe its effects."