The next time you’re having an icy cold beer, you might take comfort in the fact that it may be helping to strengthen your bones. The reason for this is because beer is a good source of dietary silicon, which plays a role in increasing bone mineral density.

Silicon is in beer in the soluble form, orthosilicic acid, or OSA. In fact, it has a relatively high bioavailability (the percentage that reaches our blood), making beer a good source of silicon in our diets. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has indicated that OSA may be important for our bones and connective tissue, and because beer is a good source of OSA, it could potentially help prevent bone disorders.

The researchers arrived at their findings, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, by examining a wide selection of beers and determining their levels of OSA. After testing 100 commercially available beers, an average level of silicon was determined and correlated with the ingredients used and the brewing methods.

It turns out that a great deal of silicon in beer comes from the husk of the barley, and the subsequent malting process does not seem to damage it, though heat does seem to have some effect on its integrity. Hops, on the other hand, has much higher levels of silicon, but because they are used in much lower quantities, contribute less to the overall levels in beer. Beers that contain high levels of hops, however, would be expected to have a commensurately higher level of silicon.

Silicon is actually the second most prevalent element in the earth’s crust, and is also known as the beauty mineral. Silicon contributes not only to the strengthening of our bones and connective tissue, but plays a role in the health of our hair, nails, and skin. It is also believed to help prevent arterial disease, certain sleep disorders, and problems with our skin.

When our bodies experience deficiencies in silicon, our bones and joints suffer. In addition to poor skeletal development, thinning of hair can occur, as well as brittle nails and premature aging of the skin. Research has also found that silicon binds to aluminum and may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. And because it helps protect the bones, silicon (and by extension, beer) might help to prevent osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease the leads to the bones becoming brittle and fragile, thus making them more likely to break. The hip and spine are especially worrisome because they have the most profound impact on a person’s life. While millions of people are at risk, osteoporosis strikes women four times more often than men.

Before going out and imbibing in huge quantities of beer, it is important to know that the negative health risks of excessive alcohol consumption outweigh the benefits, so drink responsibly. Talk to your doctor about maintaining good bone health, and for more information about osteoporosis, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation.