11 Health Benefits of Drinking Beer

Amongst alcohol, beer is one of the majorly consumed and popular beverages. It contains less alcohol than other hard liquors and has numerous health benefits. The health benefits of beer widely range from lowering the risk of cancer, diabetes control, and preventing kidney stones to reducing cholesterol and blood clots, etc. It also helps with digestion, osteoporosis, bone health, and hypertension. This blog will discuss 10 health benefits of beer.

Furthermore, beer is high in vitamins that help maintain hemoglobin and treat anemia. It also protects the heart and helps to prevent various cardiovascular diseases.

Beer is a brewed malted barley and sometimes made of wheat or maise. It is an end product of fermented starch and sugar during the brewing process. It is also known as liquid bread and is regarded as a food rather than a beverage. According to the research studies published on the Mayo Clinic website, a moderate amount of 1 drink for women and 2 for men daily is considered beneficial for overall health.

Although excessive beer consumption may have adverse health consequences. They include blood sugar imbalances, alcohol dependence, depression, liver problems, cancer, or early death.

Nutritional Values Of Beer

According to the WebMD website, one standard bottle has the following nutritional value:

This table represents several nutrients and their amounts present in Beer:

Furthermore, it also contains trace amounts of zinc, calcium, iron, and potassium. However, it has all these minerals and vitamins. But to meet your daily needs, you need to drink it in an excess amount, which is hazardous to your health.

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Glycemic Index of Beer

According to reports from PubMed Central, the glycemic index (GI) of beer is high, between 89 and 100. In addition, the glycemic load of beer is as low as 7.5 because beer has low carbohydrate content.

Potential Health Benefits of Beer

Low to moderate quantities can have multiple health benefits. It has low carbohydrates and low GL, which is good for diabetes and heart health. The right amount of intake can help prevent and treat multiple health conditions ranging from cancer to hair dandruff. Numerous brands are available in the market to suit everyone’s preferences. Let’s read about the health benefits of beer.

1. Prevents Cancer

It helps in preventing cancer if consumed in a moderate amount. It has polyphenols to fight against various cancers. In addition, there is a compound named Xanthohumol, a flavonoid also used while brewing, which works towards cancer prevention, especially prostate cancer.

2. Decreases the Risk of Diabetes

It may surprise you. According to studies like the one conducted by the Harvard Public School of Health, moderate alcohol drinking, including beer, lessens the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. The study found that individuals drinking alcohol in moderate amounts had a lesser risk of diabetes than individuals who didn’t consume alcohol at all. Moreover, beer is made of grains with soluble fiber that lowers the abrupt rise in blood sugar. Beer also contains micronutrients like antioxidants and magnesium that enhance insulin sensitivity. However, these facts don’t license you to overconsumption, which may do more harm than good.

3. Good for Heart Health

According to studies conducted by the Harvard School of Health, moderate intake helps prevent various cardiovascular diseases. It improves good cholesterol HDL in the blood and helps the body to reduce cholesterol. In addition, the homocysteine in the beverage helps in blood thinning and removes clots from the coronary arteries. An adequate amount also reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of atherosclerosis. All these positive effects work with an adequate amount of consumption. Overconsumption can increase the chances of stroke and heart disease.

4. Prevents Kidney Stones

According to the study published by PubMed Central, this alcoholic beverage is very effective in preventing kidney stones. Its high water content removes all the toxins from the body, thus helping the kidneys work properly. A moderate amount of beer can also slow down the calcium release from bones and benefit them by preventing the formation of kidney stones.

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5. Makes Bones Stronger

Studies published by the National Institute of Health found that beer helps increase bone density and bone formation, especially in men and postmenopausal women. Its nutritional components, including silicon, aid in the prevention of osteoporosis and the strengthening of bone health. People who drink beer have lower chances of fractures than those who do not.

6. Helps in Anemia

This beverage has good nutritional components, like Vitamin B12 and folic acid. These two compounds help to treat anemia caused by deficiency. Folic acid also aids in growth, brain power, and memory.

7. Reduces Cholesterol Levels

Beta-glucans, a soluble fiber, are found in barley used to make beer. According to the WebMD website, beer reduces cholesterol in the blood and lowers heart-related risks.

8. Helps Brain for Proper Functioning

It is one of the most notable advantages of this drink. It improves brain power and functioning by reducing cholesterol and increasing blood supply to the brain. Studies conducted by the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s, people who drink beer have a 23% lesser risk of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, or memory loss. It can be because of the silicon that prevents the brain from the harmful aluminium present in the body.

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9. Good for Teeth, Skin, and Hair Health

It reduces tooth decay and other tooth problems by reducing bacterial formation in the mouth. It blocks bacterial growth and strengthens the teeth.

In addition, it is rich in Vitamin E, which is gold for the skin. It also slows the process of aging and gives glowing skin.

It has yeast and Vitamin B that helps to get rid of dandruff and make hair smooth and shiny. There are multiple beer shampoos available in the market because of their impact on hair health.

10. Good for Digestion

The presence of soluble fibers in it helps with digestion. It also contains prebiotics, which help grow good bacteria in the gut and improve digestion.

11. Prevents Prostate Issues

Another potential benefit of beer, particularly for men, is its potential to reduce the risk of developing prostate issues. According to the Midwest Institute for Non-Surgical Therapy, moderate drinking of alcohol like beer reduces prostate inflammation and minimises prostate cancer risk. Compounds present in hops, such as phytoestrogens, have been studied for their potential to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is associated with prostate enlargement.

Some research suggests that moderate beer consumption might help in reducing the risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition in aging men that causes an enlarged prostate gland, leading to the urinary problem.

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Ways to Consume Beer

These health benefits only work with low to moderate consumption of it. Excess consumption has lethal and adverse effects on health. As per research, it is advisable to have one drink for women and two drinks for men every day for better results. However, it does not fulfil your daily nutritional requirements, so having a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables is a good source of all nutrition.

1 Beer a Day Benefits

According to the research published by the WebMD website, one study showed the benefits of 1 beer a day benefits which include:

• Lowering the risk of heart-related disorders
• Neurodegenerative disorders
• Diabetes (type 2)
• Boosts HDL cholesterol up to 4 percent
• Relaxes the body

However, the biggest problem with beer or alcohol drinking is that you tend to exceed the recommended limit and do your body more harm than good. Moreover, remember beer is a calorie alcoholic drink. Regular drinking can make you gain weight, and you may even get a beer belly. Also, all the 1 beer a day benefits came out of a single study which cannot have universal effects. Latest reports like the one published by the Times of India say regular beer drinking can do more damage than the benefits it may provide.

Read More: Is Garlic Good For Diabetes?

Side Effects of Beer

A moderate beer intake may have multiple health benefits, but it also comes with severe health issues if not done in moderation. Here are certain side effects of beer that people should be aware of:

• Heavy drinking can cause the risk of early death and can be lethal.
• It can make you addicted and alcohol dependent.
• Binge drinking can cause liver failure or cirrhosis because of the alcohol content.
• Excess consumption can negatively impact blood sugar levels.
• It can increase your weight or can be the reason for your belly fat. It can make you fat. One drink (355ml) contains 153 calories.
• It also triggers depression. Its high consumption can lead to depression as compared to moderate drinkers.
• It is a diuretic that can lead to dehydration through urine and sweat on a hot day.
• Some people also can have heartburn because of the consumption of some stimulants in it. These stimulants react with gastric acid and lead to gastric reflexes.
• Some research suggests that high intake can lead to cancers, especially throat and mouth cancer.
• It also has gluten protein that can be harmful to gluten-allergic people.

Can Diabetics Drink Beer?

Beer has a high GI and carbohydrate content, which may cause your blood sugar to rise. It can also make you gain weight because it increases your appetite. It can also cause hypoglycemia. Although it is believed that moderate beer consumption does not raise blood sugar levels, we still recommend avoiding beer consumption. You can replace beer with other fruits and vegetables that provide the same nutrients while not raising your blood sugar levels.

Read More: Is Dalia Good for Diabetics?

Conclusion

A moderate amount of beer has various health benefits because of its nutritional value. It has protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are good for heart, bone health, diabetes, and kidney and brain functions. On the other hand, heavy drinking can be more harmful than beneficial and can lead to death. It can also lead to an addiction that eventually increases the risk of multiple health conditions.
Alcohol always has more negative sides than positive. You also can have these nutrients from other dietary options, fruits, and vegetables.

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