“Scientists have kept the secret to strong bones bottled up for years. Now, a new study has raised the bar on the list of nutrients that could have benefits.

“Television station WCVB [Boston] reported that the good news is pouring out — beer builds bones.”

A new study shows beer is rich in the mineral silicon. Researchers said that learning which parts of our diet have high concentrations of silicon may be key to preventing osteoporosis.

‘Animals that are deprived of silicon have poorly developed skeletons and the muscular system is also poorly developed,’ Hebrew Rehabilitation Center’s Dr. Douglas Kiel said.

The study found that men get up to 33 percent more silicon in their diet than women. The source for men ahead of most of the others is beer, researchers said.

Good deal. So let’s compromise, then: I’ll accept a tribute tax on Mountain Dew and Big Macs if the health nannies will (in turn) push through a tax break for heavy beer drinkers. (Not that such a tax break would benefit me, mind you.)

I mean, it’s all about health, right?