Written by Paris Kazemian
There are many mixed messages about alcohol usage on the Internet.
On the one hand, moderate consumption of beer or asny other tipe of alcohol has been associated with advantages for health. On the other hand, there are many studies that show alcohol is exceedingly poisonous and addicting, especially when used in excess.
Beer is made by fermenting sugars from starches. Barley, hops, water, and yeast are major components. Normal beer is alcoholic beer but beer can be non-alcoholic as well. Standard alcoholic beers typically contain 4 to 5 per cent alcohol (ethanol), while some can contain much more up to 12 per cent.
Beer is brewed in a five-step process:
- Malting: The grains are heated, dried, and cracked.
- Mashing: The grains are soaked in water to release their sugars. This results in a sugary liquid called “wort.”
- Boiling: The wort is boiled and hops are added to give beer its flavour.
- Fermenting: Yeast is added to the mix and the wort is fermented to form alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- Bottling: The beer is bottled and left to age.
Some people believe beer is good for heart disease and stroke or it can be helpful for memory and thinking skills, diabetes, anxiety, cancer, and many other purposes, but there’s no scientific evidence to support most of these claims.
Beer nutrition fact
Beer and gaining weight
Obesity is a significant health issue. Alcohol has roughly 7 calories per gram, making it the second most high in calories nutrient after fat. Red wine contains fewer calories per ounce than beer, which is comparable to the number of calories in sugary soft beverages. In fact, drinking beer regularly may cause weight gain.
There are several ways that beer consumption has been linked to an increase in belly fat:
- Increasing the amount of phytoestrogen in your diet
- Causing excessive calorie consumption
- Impeding your body’s ability to burn fat
Also, there is a stronger link between weight gain and drinking alcohol in men than in women. The average man drinks more than a woman, perhaps up to three times as much. A man’s fat distribution is also much more likely to be an android, meaning that when he gains weight, his belly is the most common place to store fat.
Does Drinking Beer Make You Gain Belly Fat?
High alcohol consumption from drinks like beer has been linked to belly fat gain in some studies. It is believed that belly fat is the most dangerous type of fat. It is known as visceral fat. Having visceral fat in your body can affect your body’s hormones because it is metabolically active. This can alter how your body functions and increase your risk of diseases like metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. People with a large amount of belly fat are at increased risk of health problems even if they are in a normal weight range.
In one study, men who drank more than three drinks per day were 80% more likely to have belly fat than men who drank less. According to most studies, beer consumption increases both waist circumference and body weight.
Additionally, alcohol’s effects on testosterone may increase men’s risk of developing a beer belly. There is evidence that drinking alcoholic drinks, such as beer, lower testosterone levels.
It’s generally believed that drinking more leads to weight gain and beer belly development.
Alcohol, benefits or hazards?
Any advantages that alcohol could have are likely minor and may not be applicable to everyone. In fact, the most recent dietary recommendations make it clear that no one should start consuming alcohol or consume more alcohol.
However understanding the risks and any possible health benefits of alcohol often seems confusing! that is because lack of evidence for moderate alcohol use in adults. Surprisingly little is known regarding the hazards or advantages of moderate alcohol use in healthy persons.
All lifestyle studies, including diet, exercise, caffeine, and alcohol consumption, rely on patient recall and truthful reporting of one’s habits over many years. This research may suggest a connection between two things, but not necessarily that one causes the other. Adults with excellent health may participate in more social activities and drink in moderation, but it’s possible that alcohol has nothing to do with their improved health.
As a result of potential health benefits, most people are better off avoiding alcohol since the benefits don’t outweigh the risks. But as long as you drink responsibly and are a light to moderate drinker, you can probably continue to drink alcohol!
What is defining moderate?
The recommended amount of alcohol consumption for healthy adults is generally one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Remember that even modest alcohol use carries some danger. Even light drinkers (those who consume little more than one drink per day) are slightly more likely to develop some illnesses, including esophageal cancer.
Risk of heavy drinking
Excessive drinking can increase your risk of serious health problems, including:
- Certain cancers, including breast cancer and cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and liver
- Pancreatitis
- Sudden death if you already have cardiovascular disease
- Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leads to heart failure
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Suicide
- Accidental serious injury or death
- Brain damage and other problems in an unborn child
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
When to avoid alcohol
- You’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- You’ve been diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol addiction, or you have a strong family history of alcoholism
- You’ve had a hemorrhagic stroke (when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures)
- You have liver or pancreatic disease
- You have heart failure or you’ve been told you have a weak heart
- You take prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol
Conclusion
If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t start because of potential health benefits. However, if you drink a light to moderate amount and you’re healthy, you can probably continue as long as you drink responsibly. Be sure to check with your doctor about what’s right for your health and safety.
I drink two beers per day.
😉