Updated

There may be a new, alternative treatment for people suffering from winter colds – large amounts of beer.

A study cited by Sapporo Breweries, Japanese breweries headquartered in Tokyo, found that a key ingredient in beer can help fend off symptoms of wintertime illnesses, as well as certain serious sicknesses in children, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

According to researchers at Sapporo Medical University, the compound humulone is effective in fighting against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – which can cause pneumonia and bronchitis in infants and children, as well as cold-like symptoms in adults.  Humulone is found in hops, an ingredient used in beer to give it a bitter taste.

However, the research comes with a catch.  The amount of humulone in beer is so small that a person would have to drink 30 cans, each consisting of 12 ounces, in order to get its protective effect.

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