Is Beer Good for You?

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

Potential benefits

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.

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.

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.

The bottom line

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.

As you can see, beer is not just about efficiently getting you hammered in 3 drinks or less, but it has a lot of secret health benefits nobody tells you about. Grab your bottle of beer from a liquor store in Avon, CO and enjoy.