What are the benefits and drawbacks of drinking beer?
Jun 09, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the benefits of drinking beer include fatigue reduction, improved digestion, provision of nutrients, stress relief, and refreshment. The disadvantages of beer consumption include dizziness, obesity, myocardial hypertrophy, malnutrition, and effects on the digestive system. Moderate beer consumption may bring some benefits, but excessive drinking can cause various health damages.
Generally speaking, the benefits of drinking beer include relieving fatigue, promoting digestion, providing nutrients, alleviating stress, refreshing the mind, and quenching thirst. The disadvantages of drinking beer include dizziness, obesity, myocardial hypertrophy, malnutrition, and effects on the digestive system. Detailed analysis is as follows:
I. Benefits
1. Relieves Fatigue
Drinking beer in moderation can mildly stimulate the central nervous system, making the body feel comfortable and helping to relieve fatigue. Particularly in summer, when the body sweats heavily and may lack trace elements such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, drinking beer can replenish these elements and alleviate fatigue.
2. Promotes Digestion
Components in beer can promote the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, thereby enhancing appetite and aiding digestion. This may help improve appetite loss or indigestion.
3. Provides Nutrients
Beer contains some B vitamins, such as vitamin B6 and folic acid, as well as silicon and potassium, which offer certain health benefits. Silicon, in particular, is believed to support bone health.
4. Alleviates Stress
The alcohol content in beer can mildly stimulate the central nervous system, helping people temporarily forget their worries and thus relieve stress from daily life.
5. Refreshes and Quenches Thirst
Drinking beer in moderation can stimulate the nerves, reduce excessive excitement and tension, and refresh the mind. At the same time, the water content in beer can also quench thirst.
II. Disadvantages
1. Dizziness
After entering the body, alcohol inhibits the central nervous system, causing symptoms such as dizziness, which can negatively affect health.
2. Obesity
Beer contains relatively high levels of purines and calories. Long-term excessive consumption of beer can easily lead to fat accumulation and cause obesity.
3. Myocardial Hypertrophy
Although the alcohol content in beer is relatively low, long-term heavy consumption can lead to a buildup of alcohol in the body, affecting liver, kidney, and heart function, potentially causing metabolic abnormalities and myocardial hypertrophy.
4. Malnutrition
The high calorie, sugar, and alcohol content in beer may lead to weight gain and malnutrition in individuals who consume excessive amounts.
5. Effects on the Digestive System
Long-term alcohol consumption can irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it may lead to alcoholic liver injury, cirrhosis, and other digestive system diseases.
Drinking beer in moderation can bring some benefits, but excessive consumption can cause various health problems. Therefore, it is important to control the amount and frequency of beer consumption to avoid health risks associated with excessive drinking.
