According to Sapporo Breweries, consuming a large enough quantity of a key ingredient in beer can protect against illnesses like severe forms of pneumonia, and bronchitis, in children.
Humulone – a chemical compound found in hops – has been found to be an effective agent in curbing the respiratory syncytial virus that causes the aforementioned illnesses, as well as cold-like symptoms in adults, according to scientists at the Sapporo Medical University.
“The RS virus can cause serious pneumonia and breathing difficulties for infants and toddlers, but no vaccination is available at the moment to contain it,” says Jun Fuchimoto, a researcher.
Unfortunately just drinking beer won’t help you with a cold as you’re likely to suffer alcohol poisoning before reaching the requisite therapeutic levels of humulone – according to the research it would take a minimum of 30, 350mL cans to hit an effective virus fighting level of the compound in your bloodstream.