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Spain is one of the most beer-loving countries in the world. The beer culture is more than widespread and is one of the most common ways to socialise with friends. In fact, according to Statista, during 2021 in Spain, each person consumed an average of 50 litres of beer. There are many studies that support that its consumption provides benefits for our health, but excessive consumption will also have negative consequences. However, organisations such as the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) are categorical about this. Below, we analyse what some studies reveal and what the most important institutions recommend.
According to a 2021 study published in Nutrients, called ‘Moderate beer consumption and its effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health: an updated review of the scientific evidence’, the recommended moderate alcohol intake would be 28 g/day (about two cans of beer) for men and 16 g/day (just over one can) for women. This reveals that daily consumption of this beverage could indeed be considered healthy, as long as it is in moderation.
Among the benefits associated with beer is an increase in bone mineral density, according to the study, which also concluded that moderate consumption could reduce cardiovascular risk and general mortality, as well as the risk of diabetes, especially in men, and reduce the possibility of fractures in the elderly. On the other hand, they saw no direct correlation with general or abdominal obesity.
However, the effects of this moderate consumption will also depend on other factors such as your diet. The food pyramid established by the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition on the famous Mediterranean Diet includes an optional and moderate consumption of drinks such as wine, beer or cider. Therefore, these potential benefits will only be observed if a series of requirements are met.
CSIC advises against all alcohol consumption
But of course, if this moderate consumption sometimes becomes excessive or in the form of binge eating, that is when it has a negative impact on our health. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stresses this in its guidelines, pointing out that failure to limit intake could lead to adverse effects such as an increased risk of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and even premature death.
On the other hand, it would also affect our sleep, as nutrition expert Kimberly Gomer explains, stating that the alcohol in beer “can affect the brain, so that reflexes slow down, and balance, memory and sleep can be affected”. And the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism goes further, revealing that heavy drinking would affect the brain’s ability to process information in the short and long term.
It should also not be forgotten that binge eating of any substance also has intestinal consequences, as Gomer supports in an article in Eating well. “Alcohol also irritates the small intestine and colon, where it is further broken down and absorbed, and can also affect the normal speed at which food moves through the small intestine, which can lead to abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea. Not forgetting, of course, the effects on the liver that can result from trying to process more than the normal amount.
In conclusion, is it beneficial for our health to drink beer every day? Although for various studies, a moderate and safe consumption would be one or two beers a day at most, according to what the CSIC itself published on Twitter, “entities such as the WHO advise against consuming alcohol, even in moderation”, citing the book ‘Los falsos mitos de la alimentación’ by the researcher Miguel Herrero, in which he makes an exhaustive analysis of the effects of beer. The final conclusion therefore seems clear….