Can drinking beer be good for your health? Discover the potential benefits and downsides of beer consumption, including its nutrition information, impact on heart health, blood sugar levels, and bone strength. Understand the risks associated with heavy drinking and learn how to enjoy beer in moderation.

Nutritional Breakdown of Beer

One can of beer (about 12 ounces) contains the following nutritional information:

• Calories: 153
• Protein: 2 grams
• Fat: Less than 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 13 grams
• Fiber: Less than 1 gram
• Sugar: Less than 1 gram

Beer is an excellent source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, niacin, and folate. Additionally, darker beers tend to have higher levels of antioxidants, which can help fight free radicals and reduce the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer.

Potential Health Benefits of Moderate Beer Consumption

Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Several reviews have suggested that consuming one to two beers a day may help lower your risk of heart disease. In fact, beer may be as effective at improving general heart health as wine at comparable alcohol levels. One study showed that one drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women, and up to two beers a day produced the same results for men.

Improved Blood Sugar Levels

Drinking light amounts of alcohol, including beer, may help reduce the risk of developing diabetes and help people with diabetes control their blood sugar more effectively. One study showed that one to two alcoholic drinks a day could lower the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 50%. This effect is strongest for low-sugar beers, such as light beers.

Increased Bone Strength

Early research suggests that moderate amounts of beer may help strengthen bones for men and postmenopausal women. This may be because alcohol in general, in moderate amounts, can help your bones. However, this benefit sharply drops when consumption passes two drinks a day, so moderation is key.

Potential Risks of Heavy Beer Consumption

Addiction and Dependence

All alcohol, including beer, carries the potential for dependency. Alcohol is an addictive substance, so people with a family history of addiction should be cautious with drinking beer or any other alcohol. Furthermore, heavy drinking eliminates most health benefits of beer, making addiction a double-edged sword.

Reduced Life Expectancy

Heavy beer consumption significantly increases your risk of death from all causes. Studies show that heavy drinking reduces life expectancy by up to 28 years.

Liver Disease

Drinking more than two beers a day can increase your chances of developing fatty liver disease or cirrhosis.

Weight Gain

Many beers are high in calories, so drinking large amounts frequently can lead to substantial weight gain. “Beer belly” is a common term to describe someone who has extra weight around their waist. Studies have confirmed that drinking beer increases waist circumference.

Striking the Right Balance

The key to enjoying the potential health benefits of beer is moderation. Consuming one to two beers a day may offer some cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, but exceeding that amount can quickly lead to a range of health problems. It’s important to be mindful of your personal alcohol consumption and to seek medical advice if you have any concerns about your drinking habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can drinking beer help strengthen my bones?

Yes, early research suggests that moderate amounts of beer may help strengthen bones for men and postmenopausal women. This is likely due to the fact that alcohol in general, in moderate amounts, can have a positive effect on bone health. However, this benefit is lost when consumption exceeds two drinks per day.

Does drinking beer increase my risk of developing diabetes?

No, drinking light amounts of alcohol, including beer, may actually help reduce the risk of developing diabetes and help people with diabetes control their blood sugar more effectively. One study showed that one to two alcoholic drinks a day could lower the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 50%. This effect is strongest for low-sugar beers, such as light beers.

Can beer consumption lead to weight gain?

Yes, drinking large amounts of beer frequently can lead to substantial weight gain due to the high calorie content of many beers. The term “beer belly” is used to describe the extra weight that can accumulate around the waist from excessive beer consumption. Moderation is key to avoiding weight gain from beer.

Are There Health Benefits? Pros and Cons, Nutrition Information, and More

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Reviewed by Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on November 17, 2022

In this Article

• Nutrition Information
• Potential Health Benefits of Beer
• Potential Risks of Beer

from the WebMD Ingredients Guide

Serving Size 12 Fluid ounce (354 g)

Calories 103

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0 g

0%

Saturated Fat 0 g

0%

Trans Fat 0 g

Cholesterol 0 mg

0%

Sodium 14 mg

1%

Potassium 0 mg

0%

Total Carbohydrate 6 g

2%

Dietary Fiber 0 g

0%

Sugar 0 g

Protein 1 g

2%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

• Vitamin C 0%
• Iron 0%
• Vitamin B6 0%
• Magnesium 0%
• Calcium 1%
• Vitamin D 0%
• Cobalamin 0%
• Vitamin A 0%

Beer is one of the oldest beverages in the world. Beer recipes can be found in Egyptian tombs, Mesopotamian archeological sites, and Babylonian texts. Today, beer is found in grocery stores and breweries around the world. People are even rediscovering the joy of making beer at home. 

Beer is easy enough to make, after all. It’s the product of fermenting grain into alcohol. It may have even been one of the first inventions after the Agricultural Revolution. 

Beer has been important in human culture for thousands of years. It’s no wonder some people proclaim that it has health benefits. While science can support some of these claims, beer also has drawbacks.

One can of beer (about 12 ounces) contains:

• Calories: 153
• Protein: 2 grams
• Fat: Less than 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 13 grams
• Fiber: Less than 1 gram
• Sugar: Less than 1 gram

Beer is an excellent source of:

• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Niacin
• Folate

Depending on the color, some beers are also good sources of antioxidants. The darker the beer, the more  antioxidants it tends to have. Antioxidants fight free radicals in your body, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer.

As mentioned, beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and some also contain antioxidants. Research supports a number of potential health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of beer:

Lower Risk of Heart Disease 

Several reviews have suggested that consuming one to two beers a day may help lower your risk of heart disease. In fact, beer may be as effective at improving general heart health as wine at comparable alcohol levels.

One study showed that one drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women and up to two beers a day produced the same results for men. While one study  is not enough to identify the cause for this, research is promising.

Improved Blood Sugar Levels

Drinking light amounts of alcohol may help reduce the risk of developing diabetes and help people with diabetes control their blood sugar more effectively. One study showed that one to two alcoholic drinks a day could lower the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 50%.

This effect is strongest for low-sugar beers, such as light beers, so pay attention to the type of beer you drink.

Increased Bone Strength

Early research suggests that moderate amounts of beer may help strengthen bones for men and postmenopausal women. This may be because alcohol in general, in moderate amounts, can help your bones. But this benefit sharply drops when consumption passes two drinks a day, so moderation is key.

The same aspects that make beer so potent can also cause health problems for people. Once beer consumption is heavy, over two drinks per day, it carries many potential risks.

Consider the following before adding significant amounts of beer to your diet:

Potential for Addiction

All alcohol carries the potential for dependency. Alcohol is an addictive substance, so people with a family history of addiction should be cautious with drinking beer or any other alcohol. Furthermore, heavy drinking eliminates most health benefits of beer, making addiction a double-edged sword. 

Reduced Life Expectancy

Heavy consumption significantly increases your risk of death from all causes. Studies show that heavy drinking reduces life expectancy by up to 28 years. 

Increased Risk of Liver Disease

Drinking more than two beers a day can increase chances of developing fatty liver disease, or cirrhosis.

Weight Gain

Many beers are high in calories, so drinking large amounts frequently can lead to substantial weight gain. “Beer belly” is a common term to describe someone who has extra weight around their waist. Studies have confirmed that drinking beer increases waist circumference.

Top Picks

Is Beer Good for You? Potential Benefits and Downsides

People around the world have been drinking beer for thousands of years.

Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage made by brewing and fermenting cereal grains with yeast, hops, and other flavoring agents. Most types of beer contain 4–6% alcohol, but the beverage can range from 0.5–40%.

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.

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 (1, 2):

	Standard beer	Light beer
Calories	153	103
Protein	1.6 grams	0.9 grams
Fat	0 grams	0 grams
Carbs	13 grams	6 grams
Niacin	9% of the Daily Value (DV)	9% of the DV
Riboflavin	7% of the DV	7% of the DV
Choline	7% of the DV	6% of the DV
Folate	5% of the DV	5% of the DV
Magnesium	5% of the DV	4% of the DV
Phosphorus	4% of the DV	3% of the DV
Selenium	4% of the DV	3% of the DV
Vitamin B12	3% of the DV	3% of the DV
Pantothenic acid	3% of the DV	2% of the DV
Alcohol	13. 9 grams	11 grams

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.

Summary

Beer contains a variety of B vitamins and minerals because it’s made from cereal grains and yeast. However, whole foods like fruits and vegetables are a better source. You shouldn’t use beer to reach your daily nutrient needs.

Light to moderate beer intake may be linked to some health benefits.

May benefit your heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (3).

Several studies suggest that light to moderate beer and alcohol intake may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

A 12-week study in 36 adults with overweight found that moderate beer intake — one drink for women, two drinks for men per day — improved the antioxidant properties of HDL (good) cholesterol while also improving the body’s ability to remove cholesterol (4).

A large review stated that low to moderate beer intake — up to one drink per day in women, up to two for men — could lower heart disease risk to a similar extent as wine (5).

However, it’s important to 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 (5).

May improve blood sugar control

Light to moderate alcohol intake may improve blood sugar control, an issue for many people with diabetes.

Several studies have 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 (6, 7, 8).

What’s more, a large study in over 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 (9).

However, heavy and binge drinking can counter these benefits and significantly increase the risk of diabetes (8, 10).

It’s also important to note that this potential benefit doesn’t apply to beers and other alcoholic beverages that contain high amounts of sugar.

Other potential benefits

Light to moderate beer intake may be associated with these benefits:

• May aid bone density. Low to moderate beer intake may be linked to stronger bones in men and postmenopausal women (11, 12, 13).
• May lower dementia risk. Light to moderate alcohol intake may lower the risk of dementia. However, heavy alcohol intake can instead increase the risk (14, 15).

Summary

Light to moderate beer intake may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, improved blood sugar control, stronger bones, and reduced dementia risk. However, heavy and binge drinking has the opposite effects.

Though light to moderate beer intake has potential benefits, heavy intake and binge drinking can be extremely harmful.

Below are some of the negative effects of drinking too much alcohol:

• Increased risk of death. Heavy and binge drinkers have a higher risk of early death than moderate drinkers and nondrinkers (16, 17).
• Alcohol dependence. Frequent alcohol consumption can lead to dependence and alcohol use disorder (18).
• Increased risk of depression. Research suggests heavy and binge drinkers have a significantly higher risk of depression compared with moderate drinkers and nondrinkers (19, 20).
• Liver disease. Research suggests drinking more than 30 grams of alcohol — found in two to three 12-ounce or 355-mL bottles of beer — daily can raise your risk of liver diseases like cirrhosis, a condition characterized by scarring (21, 22).
• Weight gain. A standard 12-ounce (355-mL) beer contains around 153 calories, so consuming multiple drinks can contribute to weight gain (1).
• Cancers. Research associates any alcohol intake with an increased risk of cancers, including throat and mouth cancers (23, 24, 25).

To reduce the risk of negative health consequences, it’s best to limit your intake to no more than one standard drink per day for women and two for men (26).

In the United States, a standard drink contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is the amount typically found in 12 ounces (355 mL) of regular beer, 5 ounces (150 mL) of wine, or 1.5 ounces (45 mL) of spirit (27).

Summary

Heavy beer and alcohol intake has several negative effects, including a higher risk of early death, alcohol dependence, depression, liver disease, weight gain, and cancers.

In short, the health effects of drinking beer are mixed.

Though small amounts may be associated with benefits, heavy or binge drinking is associated with negative health effects. These include an increased risk of alcohol use disorder, depression, liver disease, weight gain, cancers, and death.

Keep in mind that even though drinking alcohol may offer some benefits, you can achieve the same positive effects by enjoying a varied nutrient-rich diet of whole foods like fruits and vegetables.

Compared with standard beer, light beer contains a similar amount of vitamins and minerals but slightly fewer calories and less alcohol. This makes light beer a better option if you’re deciding between the two.

On a final note, some people wonder if drinking beer after a workout can aid their recovery.

While some evidence shows that drinking a low alcohol beer with electrolytes can improve rehydration, other studies have shown that alcohol can hinder muscle growth and recovery (28, 29, 30).

In addition, it’s more effective to rehydrate by drinking nonalcoholic electrolyte beverages.

Summary

The health benefits of drinking beer are mixed. Though drinking small amounts may be associated with benefits, the beverage is also associated with many harmful side effects.

Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage that’s been around for thousands of years.

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.

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.

Though low to moderate amounts of alcohol may offer some benefits, you can achieve the same positive effects by enjoying a varied nutrient-rich diet of whole foods like fruits and vegetables.

Beer: benefits and harms for the body, how much beer can be drunk without harm to health – 11 July 2022

Oksana Laryushkina

Vladislav Ledovsky, head of the project group of the medical faculty of the Synergy University, reports.

The doctor told what will happen to the body if you drink every weekend

Harm of beer for the human body but it is not. Modern medicine has come to the conclusion that any dose of alcohol is harmful to the human body. The difference is that some doses of alcohol are high-risk, while others are low-risk: in medicine they are measured in drinks.

One drink is a standard unit of alcohol that is equal to approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol or one bottle of beer. According to this logic, a woman can drink one bottle of beer every day, and a man two bottles. But this carries the risk of developing cardiovascular, oncological and other diseases, and also leads to a decrease in life expectancy. Alcohol consumption increases the risk of death, including as a result of the social consequences of intoxication: road accidents, fights, trauma.

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Many consider beer to be a harmless drink, but at the same time it negatively affects the physical and mental health of a person. Frequent drinking of beer can affect the emotional background of a person: he feels anxiety and aggression, becomes easily excitable, quick-tempered, then such a mood sharply becomes apathetic. Among the physiological disorders that provokes the constant use of beer:

• disruption of the heart, liver, kidneys, blood vessels;
• dehydration;
• disturbances in the functioning of the brain, impairment of memory and coordination of movements, decrease in intellectual abilities;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: heartburn, flatulence, gastritis, gastric ulcer;
• The most common danger of frequent drinking is beer alcoholism and weight gain.

Benefits of beer

You can find references to the benefits of beer and other alcoholic beverages on the Internet. This benefit, if it really exists, pales before the harm that drinking beer can bring. Doctors agree that if a person cannot completely stop drinking alcohol, he should limit himself to one drink for women and two drinks for men per day.

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Among the beneficial properties of beer, some doctors mention:

• the drink removes aluminum compounds from the body;
• lowers blood pressure;
• people who drink in moderation are about 41% less likely to suffer from kidney stones;
• Beer is considered a diuretic drink, but at the same time, a large amount of microelements leaves the body with it, which creates their deficiency.

Norm of beer consumption

According to doctors, the acceptable norm for men is no more than 0.5 liters per day and no more than 3-5 times a week. For women: no more than 0.3 liters per day and no more than 2-3 times a week. This applies to beer, with a strength of no more than 3-5%.

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Who is contraindicated for beer

Beer, like any alcohol, is completely contraindicated for:

• pregnant women;
• young people under 21;
• those undergoing treatment for drug and alcohol addiction;
• those who take medications. Many drugs interact with alcohol: it can increase or decrease the effect of the effect. When visiting a doctor, you should clarify how the drugs that they are prescribed interact with alcohol.

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The drink has a positive effect on bowel function, but we are talking about non-alcoholic beer.

Is non-alcoholic beer good for health? Sergey Vyalov, a Russian gastroenterologist, says yes. According to the doctor, the yeast contained in the drink contributes to the active production of gastric juice and beneficial acids. This improves the functioning of the digestive tract. In addition, the metabolism in the intestine itself improves.

See also: Beer rises in price: Radeberger raises prices again.

The gastroenterologist also noticed that wine without degrees is not useful in any way. However, it is suitable for people who want to say goodbye to the obsessive habit of constantly drinking alcohol.

What else is beer good for health?

In addition to Vyalov’s advice, you can find many references on the Internet about the benefits of not only non-alcoholic, but also alcoholic beer. So, for example, it is believed that beer hops prolong life. Scientists have proven that people who drink beer in moderation reduce the risk of premature death by almost 20%. According to experts, those people who drink a couple of beers a day stay young longer.

In addition, this alcoholic drink prevents Alzheimer’s disease (a disease in which the human brain ceases to perform basic functions, and therefore there are problems with memory and behavior). This is due to the fact that beer contains xanthohumol (a product found in female hop inflorescences).

Xanthohumol protects the brain from age-related changes and prevents the occurrence of diseases associated with memory impairment. Among other things, xanthohumol helps the body fight cancer.

Contrary to the common stereotype that beer is bad for the figure, it helps to lose weight. Sounds incredible, but King’s College London professor Tim Spector says it’s possible. So, in his opinion, light beer is a storehouse of useful substances and trace elements that normalize bowel function. It contains a large number of nutrients that make the digestive system work more efficiently.

Among other things, scientists from University College London (UCL) conducted a study. They tried to understand how frequent drinking of beer contributes to weight gain. As a result, the researchers did not find a single direct evidence.

Beer is healthy, but measure must be observed

Do not forget that beer should not be consumed by:

• pregnant and breastfeeding women;
• children under 18;
• suffering from hypertension;
• people with diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• patients with diabetes, gout, liver cirrhosis.