LISBON: Drinking beer is beneficial to the intestine and has the potential to prevent chronic diseases, according to research by the Center for Research in Health Technologies and Services (Cintesis), a nonprofit research and development unit, in the city of Porto in northern Portugal.

'Beer consumption contributes to the improvement of the composition of the intestinal microbiota, a factor that has been associated with the prevention of very common chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,' said Cintesis in a statement on Monday.