Beer: Your daily supplement

Now, instead of just being fun, beer can actually be good for you. I've heard that it hydrates better than water after a workout, but this month's Women's Health magazine actually shows that it is rich in silicon, a nutrient everyone needs for bone health. It helps you to maintain bone and connective tissues in the body. It also helps to aid rapid healing, and the transfer of other nutrients into the body.

Nearly all beer has silicon in it, but Charles Bamforth of the University of California broke it down to determine how much of this enriching nutrient is in different common types of beer. India Pale Ale like Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA has the highest level with 41 milligrams per liter. Pale ales like Bass Pale ale is second with 37 mg/L, and regular ale like Bard's comes in third at 33 mg of silicon per liter. Next come lagers like Budweiser, Wheat beers, and Light Lagers like Amstel Light at the lowest.

Regardless of the brew you choose, you can rest assured that you are doing your body a favor by imbibing. Though ladies, who are found to get most of the silicon they need from grains and veggies, should stop after one, men can drink two to get the nutrients they need. So, in honor of the upcoming memorial day weekend, crack open a brewski and enjoy your daily supplement.