Unraveling The Health Impact: One Beer A Day

Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage that has been around for thousands of years. While drinking one or two beers a day may have positive effects for your heart, bones, blood sugars, and dementia risk, heavy and binge drinking is associated with a higher risk of early death, alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder, depression, liver disease, weight gain, and cancers. Beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and some also contain antioxidants, which fight free radicals in your body, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer. However, drinking a beer every day does take a toll on your overall health—both immediate and long term.

Heart health

Research supports a number of potential health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of beer. Several reviews have suggested that consuming one to two beers a day may help lower your risk of heart disease. Beer may be as effective at improving general heart health as wine at comparable alcohol levels.

Drinking one or two standard beers per day may have positive effects for your heart. Beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and some also contain antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals in your body, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer. The darker the beer, the more antioxidants it tends to have.

One study showed that one alcoholic drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women and up to two drinks a day produced the same results for men. While one study is not enough to identify the cause for this, research is promising.

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. According to the USDA, one 12-ounce can (355 mL) of regular beer contains: ...

It's important to note how drinking a beer every day does take a toll on your overall health—both immediate and long term. Drinking small amounts may be associated with benefits, the beverage is also associated with many harmful side effects.

Antioxidants

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 alcoholic drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women and up to two drinks a day produced the same results for men. While one study is not enough to identify the cause for this, research is promising.

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.

Drinking one or two standard beers per day may have positive effects for your heart, bones, blood sugars, and 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.

Weight gain

Drinking beer is associated with many harmful side effects. 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.

Research supports a number of potential health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of beer. 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 alcoholic drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women and up to two drinks a day produced the same results for men. While one study is not enough to identify the cause for this, research is promising.

According to the USDA, one 12-ounce can (355 mL) of regular beer contains:

• Calories: 153
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Fat: 0 g
• Sugars: 4 g
• Alcohol: 5% vol

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.

Beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and some also contain antioxidants. However, while those low ABV numbers may make drinking beer seem like a better option than other alcoholic beverages, it's important to note how drinking a beer every day does take a toll on your overall health—both immediate and long term.

Cancer risk

Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage that has been around for thousands of years. It is easy to come by in stores due to its low alcohol by volume (ABV); many beers are under 5% ABV, making them sellable in grocery stores in states with strict liquor laws.

Drinking one or two standard beers per day may have positive effects for your heart, bones, blood sugars, and 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.

Beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and some also contain antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals in your body, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer.

Research supports a number of potential health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of beer. 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.

However, while those low ABV numbers may make drinking beer seem like a better option than other alcoholic beverages, it's important to note how drinking a beer every day does take a toll on your overall health—both immediate and long term.

Alcohol dependence

Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage that has 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.

Beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and some also contain antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals in your body, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer. Depending on the color, some beers are also good sources of antioxidants. The darker the beer, the more antioxidants it tends to have.

Research supports a number of potential health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of beer. 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 alcoholic drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women and up to two drinks a day produced the same results for men. While one study is not enough to identify the cause for this, research is promising.

However, while those low ABV numbers may make drinking beer seem like a better option than other alcoholic beverages, it's important to note how drinking a beer every day does take a toll on your overall health—both immediate and long term.

Frequently asked questions