Researchers have news to make Super Bowl celebrations go down smoothly -- beer is good for you.

A regular pint helps strengthen bones and prevent fractures in old age (so long as you don't drink too much of it and fall over).

Beer is a significant source of silicon, which helps improve bone mineral density. The National Institutes of Health in the United States says silicon may be important for the growth and development of bones, and beer "appears to be a major contributor" to the amount of silicon in the diet.

The best beers for silicon are the pale malted ales and lagers. Dark bitters and stouts contain lower levels because they are made with roasted barley, which has lower silicon content.

Wheat contains less silicon than barley.

Researchers from the Department of Food Science at the University of California have studied 100 commercial beers and found their silicon content ranged from 6.4 milligrams per litre to 56.5 milligrams.

Paler beers have more silicon than darker ones because less heat is used in the malting process.

The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, adds to the confusion over the benefits and drawbacks of booze.

Weighing up the risks is tricky, but most studies agree that people who drink some alcohol live longer than teetotallers.

No word yet on chicken wings, however.