Are you ready to embark on a delicious journey towards a healthier you? Say goodbye to bland diets and hello to a vibrant, energetic life!
It is not unexpected that beer is your preferred beverage, as it is the most often used alcoholic drink in the United States, accounting for more than 55% of all alcohol consumed, according to a September 2018 study published in Nutrients.
Consuming a beer occasionally is deemed acceptable by certain individuals, and there is evidence indicating potential health advantages associated with this beverage. Moreover, there is data indicating that any alcoholic drink, even in little quantities, should be abstained from.
To clarify, moderate drinking is presently described as consuming a maximum of two drinks per day for males and one drink per day for women, as outlined in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Continue reading to understand the impacts of consuming beer daily and to determine if it’s worthwhile to modify your evening drinking habits.
There is a possibility that your weight could increase.
Let’s address this matter promptly: According to the USDA, a typical 12-ounce beer contains approximately 150 calories. Presuming you opt for a beer with a lower alcohol by volume, or ABV, expressed as a percentage.
The calorie content of alcohol varies slightly from the typical macronutrients such as carbs (4 calories/gram), protein (4 calories/gram), and fat (9 calories/gram). Alcohol is positioned in the middle with approximately 7 calories per gram. There is a direct correlation between the alcohol % in beer and its calorie content.
By adhering to the recommended amount of beer consumption and opting for a beer with approximately 150 calories or fewer, the impact on your weight will be modest. Indeed, according to a January 2015 analysis in Current Obesity Reports, moderate drinking within the context of a balanced lifestyle, which includes a nutritious food and frequent exercise, is not always linked to weight increase.Let’s analyze this.
Consuming two, three, or more drinks could contribute over 300 calories to your daily intake, potentially impacting your weight within a month.
Moreover, consuming alcohol could potentially reduce your capacity to feel full after a meal, increase your hunger, and trigger the brain’s food reward mechanisms, as indicated by a study published in November 2017 in the journal Obesity. This suggests that consuming alcohol may result in an increased food intake, potentially leading to a higher calorie consumption.
There is a possibility of your kidneys being negatively impacted.
The kidneys function to purify the blood, operating in a manner similar to the water filter found on a faucet. Alcohol must be filtered out, since excessive consumption might elevate the risk of hypertension, thus increasing the likelihood of developing renal disease, as stated by the National renal Foundation.
Beer is a diuretic, thus not following the suggestion could potentially strain your kidneys. Adhering to the recommendations is unlikely to cause dehydration, however, there is a possibility of losing additional sodium and potassium (electrolytes) that you may not have anticipated. Electrolyte shortage due to dehydration may result in muscle cramps, weakness, or exhaustion, as stated by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Consuming alcoholic beer may disrupt your electrolyte levels, however non-alcoholic beer does not have this effect, as indicated by a study published in June 2016 in the journal Nutrients. If you’re considering exercising and include a beer in your hydration strategy, it would be beneficial for your kidneys to avoid it, unless it’s non-alcoholic.
The status of your heart health is uncertain.
It is undeniable that excessive alcohol use has a substantial negative impact on the heart. According to a January 2020 study in Nutrients, it increases the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and stroke, making it undoubtedly detrimental to the heart.These problems develop over the course of a person’s life due to alcohol consumption and can differ according on the amount of alcohol ingested.
It was highlighted in this research that drinking habits play a significant role. Specifically, consuming large amounts of alcohol one to two times each week can elevate the likelihood of heart injury, regardless of whether the total amount consumed is spread out over the week. This is probably a result of the heightened risk of hypertension associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
Consuming modest quantities of beer does not yield the same outcome. The review asserts that moderate beer consumption, within the suggested limits, is considered safe and may even have positive effects on the cardiovascular system.
The 2018 study on Nutrients revealed a beneficial impact of beer, specifically in inhibiting the oxidation of LDL (considered bad cholesterol) through the antioxidant capacity of HDL cholesterol. The benefits were discovered in both regular beer containing alcohol and non-alcoholic beer, indicating that the polyphenols present in beer could potentially account for some of these benefits.
The verdict on brain health remains uncertain as well.
Research on the effects of beer and alcohol on cognitive decline in older persons has been thorough and comprehensive.
According to a 2016 study in Current Alzheimer Research, researchers discovered that among 360 older adults observed over 19 years, individuals who used higher amounts of hard liquor, as opposed to beer or wine, were more likely to experience a quicker cognitive deterioration.
Beer, particularly beer with a high hops content such as an IPA, could potentially be a more beneficial choice for brain health. Beer is known to contain antioxidants. The hops included in beer could potentially aid in reducing neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, as suggested by a study published in July 2019 in the journal Nutrients. Hops are responsible for the bitterness in beer, with a direct correlation between the amount of hops used and the level of bitterness in the beer.
However, a study conducted in the United Kingdom in 2017 did not yield similar findings. Researchers noted that heavy alcohol consumption raised the likelihood of acquiring dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. However, they did not discover any cognitive benefits from consuming low levels of alcohol, as reported by the BMJ. Further research is necessary to determine if mild drinking provides brain health benefits.
The crux of the matter
Act as a prudent consumer of beer.
Although there are potential advantages to having an occasional beer, there are situations where consuming alcohol is consistently detrimental, such as drinking underage, drinking and driving, and drinking while pregnant.
Moreover, there is no data indicating that there are any advantages to beginning alcohol use if you have never done it previously. Positive outcomes can also result from consuming nutritious foods.
If you suspect that your beer consumption is excessive and impacting your daily functioning, it is advisable to contact your doctor. In case of urgent assistance, the substance addiction hotline can provide instant support: The number to call is 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
