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.

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Is beer healthy? How much should people drink? What to know

Beer may have certain health benefits, such as decreasing the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. However, excessive consumption can lead to conditions such as cancer, liver disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Manufacturers make beer by fermenting starches, usually malted barley, with yeast. The brewing process of modern beer involves using hops and other flavoring agents and typically contains about 3.5–10% alcohol.

While beer may have some health benefits, it can also negatively affect a person’s mental and physical health. Additionally, while this beverage contains some nutritional value, it is not suitable as an alternative to a nutritious, balanced diet.

Read this article to learn more about beer’s nutritional information, the benefits and side effects of drinking beer, and the recommended amount a person should drink.

Although people view beer as a drink with little nutritional value, it does contain various nutrients.

The minerals within beer typically include:

• calcium
• copper
• iron
• magnesium
• manganese
• silicon
• selenium
• fluoride
• phosphorus
• potassium
• sodium
• zinc

The vitamins within beer usually include:

• vitamin B1, or thiamin
• vitamin B2, or riboflavin
• vitamin B3, or niacin
• vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid
• vitamin B6
• folate
• choline
• vitamin B12, or cobalamine
• vitamin A
• vitamin E
• vitamin D
• vitamin K

Beer also contains the following amino acids:

• alanine
• aspartic acid
• glutamic acid
• glycine
• proline

Despite its reputation, light to moderate beer consumption may have positive health effects. It may even reduce the risk of some diseases.

Heart disease

Some research suggests that drinking beer may help decrease the risk of heart disease.

A recent review article from 2020 concludes that people who consume beer in moderate amounts have higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol — or “good” cholesterol, better vascular elasticity, and higher apolipoprotein A1 levels.

Another 2016 review article found that low to moderate beer consumption, which it defined as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men, decreased the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers for both studies defined low to moderate amounts as up to one can of 330 milliliters of beer containing around 5% alcohol daily for women and up to two cans for men.

Neurodegenerative disease

The same review article found that low to moderate beer consumption decreased the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

Another review from 2019 claims that moderate beer consumption may help decrease the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Blood sugar control

Some studies show how low to moderate alcohol consumption may help control blood sugar levels, an issue for many adults.

For example, a 2018 study concludes that low to moderate alcohol consumption has associations with better blood sugar levels and a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Another study from 2019 concludes that moderate alcohol consumption may decrease the risk of developing dementia.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis causes the bones to become brittle and more susceptible to breaks. The risk for this disease increases as a person ages.

Some research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption may help decrease the risk of osteoporosis.

For example, a 2019 study found that postmenopausal women from South Korea who drank 2–3 times per week had higher bone density than South Korean postmenopausal women who did not drink.

However, it is important to note that to achieve any of the potential positive side effects of drinking beer or alcohol, people must do so responsibly. This means drinking low to moderate amounts and not engaging in excessive drinking.

Although drinking beer may have some positive health outcomes, this only appears relevant when people drink the beverage in light or moderate amounts.

Heavy or excessive drinking may lead to negative health consequences, including:

• cancer
• liver failure
• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• pancreatic disease
• infectious diseases
• neuropsychiatric diseases
• weight gain
• depression

People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol may also be more likely to engage in risky behavior, potentially leading to major bodily injury or death.

The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americanssuggest consuming a moderate amount of alcohol. The authors define this as 1 drink for women and 1 drink for men. In beer, one drink consists of 12 ounces of this beverage.

Drinking more than recommended guidelines may result in negative health outcomes.

Recommendations on drinking beer appear to be inconclusive. However, it seems people can safely consume beer as long as they do not do so excessively. Individuals should try not to drink more than the recommended amount.

Even though beer contains a variety of nutrients, people should not turn to beer for its nutritional value. Eating a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins should be more of a priority.

Beer is a fermented beverage that people have been consuming for years.

Light to moderate amounts of beer may help decrease the risk of diseases such as heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and type 2 diabetes.

While there appears to be some benefit to drinking beer, it is not a beverage that individuals should consume excessively. Heavy or excessive drinking may lead to numerous negative health effects.

Beer contains many nutrients, but people should not consume it as a way to increase nutrient intake. Instead, they should focus on following a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

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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Russian doctor told how beer is good for health

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.

Read also: Beer price rises: 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.