10 Health Benefits of Drinking Beer

Amongst alcohol, beer is one of the major consumed and popular beverages. It contains less alcohol than other hard liquors and has numerous health benefits. The Health benefits of beer have a wide range as lowering the risk of cancer, diabetes control, preventing kidney stones, 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 maize. 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. A moderate amount of 1 drink for women and two drinks for men a day 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

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. Although 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

The Glycemic index of beer is high which is around 100. In addition, the glycemic load of beer is very low as 7.5 because beer has low carbohydrate content.

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. There are numerous brands available in the market to suit everyone’s preferences. Let’s read the health benefits of beer.

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.

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Good for Heart Health

According to many studies, 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 thinning blood that removes the clots from the coronary arteries. An adequate amount also reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of atherosclerosis. These all positive effects work with an adequate amount of consumption. Overconsumption can increase the chances of stroke and heart disease.

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Prevents Kidney Stones

This alcoholic beverage is very effective in kidney stones. It has a high water content that removes all the toxins from the body, thus helping the kidney to work properly. A moderate amount of beer can also slow down the calcium release from bones and benefit it by preventing the formation of kidney stones.

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Makes Bones Stronger

As per many studies, it was found that it helps in increasing 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.

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Helps in Anemia

This beverage has good nutritional components like Vitamin B12 and folic acid. They both help to treat anemia caused by the deficiency of these two compounds. It also aids in growth, brain power, and memory.

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Reduces Cholesterol Levels

Beta-glucans, a soluble fiber, are found in barley used to make beer. It reduces cholesterol in the blood.

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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. As per studies, 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 harmful aluminum present in the body.

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Good for Teeth, Skin, and Hair Health

It reduces tooth decay and other teeth 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.

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Good for Digestion

The presence of soluble fibers in it helps in digestion. It has prebiotics that helps to grow good bacteria in the gut and improves digestion.

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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. It does not fulfill your daily nutritional requirements so having a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables is a good source of all nutrition.

Also Read: Is Garlic Good For Diabetes?

Side Effects of Beer

Whereas a moderate intake has multiple health benefits, too much consumption harms health.

• 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. The 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 due to 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.

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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 recommend that you avoid beer consumption. You can replace beer with other fruits and vegetables that provide the same nutrients while not raising your blood sugar levels.

Also Read: Benefits of Amla

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.

Read More: Is Banana Good For Diabetics?

FAQs:

Reference

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-beer-good-for-you#nutrition
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/7-science-backed-ways-beer-good-your-health-ncna788986Last Updated on July 22, 2022 by Dr. Damanjit Duggal