Beer: Heart health and Blood sugar?

Because emerging research has shown that moderate amounts of wine may have health benefits, many people wonder if beer can be good for you. This article explores the nutrition of beer, as well as its potential benefits and downsides.

Beer nutrition
Though beer is often viewed as empty calories, it contains some minerals and vitamins. Below is a nutrition comparison of 12 ounces (355 mL) of standard and light beer according to fdc.nal.usda.gov:

In addition, both types contain small amounts of potassium, calcium, thiamine, iron, and zinc. The content of B vitamins and minerals is a result of beer being made from cereal grains and yeast. Notably, light beer has around two-thirds of the calories of regular beer and slightly less alcohol. Though beer contains small amounts of micronutrients, it isn’t a good source compared with whole foods like fruits and vegetables. You would need to drink massive amounts of beer to reach your daily nutrient requirements.

Beer, the Scientific Benefits
Light to moderate beer intake may be linked to some health benefits.

Support Heart Health
Several studies suggest that light to moderate beer and alcohol intake may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease. One study by Pedro et al.(2018) found that a 12-week study of 36 adults overweight found that moderate beer intake such as one drink for women, and two drinks for men per day improved the antioxidant properties of HDL (good) cholesterol while also improving the body’s ability to remove cholesterol.

A study also found that Beer is more nutritious than other alcoholic drinks such as wine as beer has a lot of antioxidants than wine. Beer and Wine-specific antioxidants are different because the flavonoids in barley and hops are different from those in grapes. Beer is also higher than wine in protein and vitamin B. Even better, beer contains iron, calcium, phosphates, and even fiber.

A large review by Gaetano et al.(2016) also found that low to moderate beer intake — up to one drink per day in women, and up to two for men — could lower heart disease risk to a similar extent as wine.

Studies evaluating the relative benefits of wine versus beer versus spirits suggest that moderate consumption of any alcoholic beverage is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease. One has to take note that these potential benefits are related to light to moderate intake only. On the other hand, heavy alcohol consumption can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Beer, blood sugar control
Light to moderate alcohol intake may improve blood sugar control, an issue for many people with diabetes. Three studies (Joosten et al. 2008; Suarez et al. 2017; Lee et al.2017)found that light to moderate alcohol intake appears to reduce insulin resistance — a risk factor for diabetes — as well as the overall risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Also, another large study by Holst et al.(2017) which included 70,500 participants associated moderate alcohol intake -14 drinks per week for men and nine drinks per week for women — with a 43% and 58% lower risk of diabetes for men and women, respectively.

This notwithstanding, Polsky and Akturk (2017) found that heavy and binge drinking can counter these benefits and significantly increase the risk of diabetes. Take note that, you will lose these benefits if the type of beer or alcoholic beverage contains high amounts of sugar.

Is beer good for you?
Take Home
In the United States, a standard beer is 12 ounces (355 mL). Drinking one or two standard beers per day may have positive effects, such as benefits to your heart, better blood sugar control, stronger bones, and reduced dementia risk.

 Moderate drinking = one drink/day for women and two drinks/day for men

 Heavy drinking is linked to cirrhosis, fetal alcohol syndrome, hypertension, malnutrition, and pancreatitis. It also increases cancer risks.

 However, heavy and binge drinking counters these potential health benefits and is instead associated with a higher risk of early death, alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder, depression, liver disease, weight gain, and cancers.

NB:
Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.

The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, and a science writer. President, Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT)/African Naturopathic Foundation, Ashaiman, Ghana. E. mail: [email protected] . Visit-profnyarkotey.com for more.