Beer is one of the most loved drinks in the world, and also the oldest (13,000 years old). As much as it is loved by people, there are also many myths surrounding it. Many people call it a healthy drink even when the consumption is chronic, but that is not true. Chronic consumption of any alcoholic beverage will surely have damaging effects on your health. At unsobered, we decided to debunk this and many such myths so that the next time you consume beer, you consume it in the right moderation and to just relax rather than to fulfil some health myth. So here are 12 common health-related beer myths.
Fact: Beer does not automatically lead to weight gain. Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than you burn, regardless of the source of those calories. According to studies conducted by the National Library of Medicine, beer does not have a fat-storing effect on the body. While it can contribute to an increase in waist size, this typically happens when there is an overall increase in body weight due to excess calorie consumption. Additionally, the human body tends to metabolize alcohol before food, which means that moderate beer consumption is unlikely to cause fat gain.
Fact: It is a widespread myth that drinking beer can cure kidney stones in human bodies. There is no scientific backing to the myth that beer can actually cure or dissolve a kidney stone. The myth was born from the fact that beer has a diuretic effect, which makes you pee more. There is no proof or scientific backing that drinking beer can help in breaking the kidney stones, leading them to pass out easily from the body. Unlike water, beer does not have the pure hydration that is needed to flush out the stones safely from the body. You must stick to citrate-rich drinks, medications, or water to flush out the kidney stones.
Fact: Beer is rich in silicon, a mineral that enhances bone density and mineralization, particularly in men and premenopausal women. A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine found that bone mineral density (BMD) is higher among moderate beer drinkers compared to non-drinkers. A standard beer contains absorbable silicon, which aids in building collagen in bones and helps prevent the breakdown of bone cells. It's important to note that the myth linking beer to negative bone health likely confuses moderate consumption with heavy drinking. While moderate beer drinking can be beneficial, excessive consumption can harm bone health by disrupting calcium balance and hormonal levels.
Fact: The myth that beer helps in digestion can be a bit misleading. The alcohol content in beer tends to irritate the digestive tract, impair gut lining, and also disrupt the balance of the gut bacteria when you consume it excessively. As alcohol slows down the emptying of the stomach, it might cause acid reflux in individuals with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. Beer does contain polyphenols and soluble fibers, which can positively impact gut health, but that has to be in moderate amounts. But still, beer is not a digestive cure and is not a recommended treatment for the same.
Fact: This is a dangerous myth that has no scientific backing at all. Alcohol in beer actually acts as a depressant, which temporarily masks stress or anxiety by boosting dopamine. But it, under the mask, worsens the conditions and worsens the long-term as it disrupts the brain chemistry as well as sound sleep. According to the UK’s mental health foundation, heavy or even moderate regular drinking links to higher depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, not relief. Nonalcoholic beer with hops may mildly improve mood via bitter acids, but it's no substitute for therapy or meds.
Fact: Drinking beer regularly, especially in large amounts, might invite many health-related issues in the long run. Long-term heavy beer drinking can lead to obesity and increase the risks of liver disease, heart disease, stroke, as well as high blood pressure. It can also have toxic effects on the liver, which might lead to liver inflammation, liver failure, and cirrhosis. Chronic beer consumption can harm the digestive system, causing gastritis, ulcers, and pancreatitis. It weakens the immune system and can lead to malnutrition by interfering with nutrient absorption.
Fact: According to Medical News Today, a typical beer contains B vitamins like B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, folate, and even small amounts of B12, which support energy production and nerve health. Minerals such as phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, potassium, and silicon are also present. These ingredients help in aiding bone health and metabolism. Craft beer includes zinc, copper, and chromium from grains and hops. Hence, beer is a modest source of minerals and vitamins, of course, not a multivitamin, and also is not completely devoid of these nutrients.
Fact: Light beer is not healthier than regular beer; there might be some minimal differences, but they cannot be tagged as a healthier option. It has fewer calories and carbs as the processing removes flavor compounds, yet the alcohol level is the same. Hence, the health risk remains on the same level. Also, lower taste often leads to the consumption volume increases which removes the calorie savings, again not making it a healthy option. There is no stronger evidence that drinking lighter beer chronically would be better than regular beer. It can be considered for low-risk enjoyment.
Fact: Beer should not always be served ice-cold, as the optimal temperature for the beer varies by style in order to enhance the aroma and flavor. For example, ales, IPAs, and wheat beers taste the best at 7-12 degrees Celsius, while pilsners and light lagers taste the best at 3-7 degrees Celsius. Stouts, porters, and barleywines, which fall in the stronger beer category, are best consumed at 10-16 degrees Celsius. When beer is served at ice-cold temperatures, it tends to numb the taste buds and also dulls the sweetness and bitterness, which clearly is not the best temperature to serve beer. The myth comes from mass-market lagers, which are said to be enjoyed super-chilled for sessions, but craft and traditional beers demand warmth for full enjoyment.
Fact: Bottled beer is not better than canned beer, as both preserve the quality well if they are properly sealed. The cans offer better protection from the light, as aluminium is known to block UV rays better and prevents the unpleasant odor or taste that generally the green or clear bottles allow. The cans seal the beer better, which again extends the shelf life up to a year and keeps the beer fresher. Cans cool faster and suit outdoors better since many spots ban glass. They also help the environment as they are lighter, recyclable without loss in quality, unlike bottles.
So now, the next time you pick up a glass or a can of beer, make sure that these above-mentioned myths are all replaced by facts. Also, make sure that you share them with your friends too, so that they, too, are no longer living in these myths.
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