The Daily Beer Dilemma: Exploring Moderation And Health

Drinking a beer daily can be part of a balanced lifestyle, but moderation is key. For most adults, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two for men. Consuming beer in moderation can fit into a healthy diet, but daily consumption isn’t recommended for everyone, especially those with certain medical conditions or those taking medications that interact with alcohol.

Moderation - daily beer consumption is ok in moderation

Drinking a beer daily can be part of a balanced lifestyle, but moderation is key. For most adults, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two for men. Consuming beer in moderation can fit into a healthy diet, but daily consumption isn’t recommended for everyone, especially those with certain medical conditions or those taking medications that interact with alcohol.

Light beers tend to have fewer calories and less alcohol, reducing the potential negative health impacts. Beers brewed with minimal additives and more natural ingredients may also be slightly healthier, she says. Craft beers with more natural brewing processes and higher levels of polyphenols, like certain ales and stouts, could offer slight antioxidant benefits.

In the US, it is advised that adult males don’t consume more than 14 standard drinks per week. So that’s about 2 beers a day depending on how you slice it. If you’re still concerned stop drinking for a few days.

All of the above is predicated on assuming that beer every day is not, in fact, “good for you” and probably isn’t even “benign”, bottom line is that beer is/contains alcohol which is a poison that your body turns off other functions while it processes the alcohol (ie it stops what it was doing while it gets rid of that poison you just put in it).

While there’s some research showing moderate beer drinking has some health benefits, it’s not exactly a healthy habit especially when you consider that alcohol doesn’t have any nutritional value.

Health benefits - research shows some health benefits

Research shows that moderate beer drinking has some health benefits. However, beer is not a healthy habit and contains no nutritional value.

Light beers tend to have fewer calories and less alcohol, reducing the potential negative health impacts. Beers brewed with minimal additives and more natural ingredients may also be slightly healthier. Craft beers with more natural brewing processes and higher levels of polyphenols, like certain ales and stouts, could offer slight antioxidant benefits.

For most adults, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two for men. In the US, it is advised that adult males don't consume more than 14 standard drinks per week. So that's about 2 beers a day depending on how you slice it.

If you’re still concerned stop drinking for a few days. But I’m sure you’re okay... Key thing to remember is that alcohol is a carcinogen and technically, you know, poison.

Research conducted on the potential health benefits of alcohol were conducted on drinks with an ABV of 5% or lower, Moody points out, and some beers have a higher ABV. Considering the negative and inflammatory impact of alcohol on the body’s systems as a whole, it makes sense that those with a lower alcohol content are less harmful than stronger beers, she says.

Calories - light beers have fewer calories and less alcohol

Light beers tend to have fewer calories and less alcohol, reducing the potential negative health impacts. Beers brewed with minimal additives and more natural ingredients may also be slightly healthier. Craft beers with more natural brewing processes and higher levels of polyphenols, like certain ales and stouts, could offer slight antioxidant benefits.

Busch Light has 95 calories, 3.2 grams of carbs, and 0.7 grams of protein per 12-ounce can. Coors Light has 102 calories, 5 grams of carbs, and less than 1 gram of protein. Bud Light has 110 calories, 6.6 grams of carbs, and 0.9 grams of protein.

Corona Extra has 148 calories, 14 grams of carbs, and little-to-no protein.

Hard seltzers have no more calories than light beer. Hard cider has up to 200 calories and 5 teaspoons of sugar. Hard kombucha has as many calories as beer. Canned cocktails have up to 150 calories and 2 teaspoons of sugar.

In the US, adult males are advised not to consume more than 14 standard drinks per week. This is about 2 beers a day. If you’re still concerned stop drinking for a few days. Key things to remember are that alcohol is a carcinogen and technically, you know, poison. You might not get fat, but 14 standard drinks a week (and no more) is on the hairy edge of what's medically recommended.

Additives - beers with minimal additives are slightly healthier

Beers brewed with minimal additives and more natural ingredients may also be slightly healthier. Craft beers with more natural brewing processes and higher levels of polyphenols, like certain ales and stouts, could offer slight antioxidant benefits. Light beers tend to have fewer calories and less alcohol, reducing the potential negative health impacts. Research conducted on the potential health benefits of alcohol were conducted on drinks with an ABV of 5% or lower, Moody points out, and some beers have a higher ABV. Considering the negative and inflammatory impact of alcohol on the body’s systems as a whole, it makes sense that those with a lower alcohol content are less harmful than stronger beers, she says.

Alcohol content - lower alcohol beers are less harmful

Light beers tend to have fewer calories and less alcohol, reducing the potential negative health impacts. Beers brewed with minimal additives and more natural ingredients may also be slightly healthier, she says. Craft beers with more natural brewing processes and higher levels of polyphenols, like certain ales and stouts, could offer slight antioxidant benefits. One more thing to keep in mind: Research conducted on the potential health benefits of alcohol were conducted on drinks with an ABV of 5% or lower, Moody points out, and some beers have a higher ABV. Considering the negative and inflammatory impact of alcohol on the body’s systems as a whole, it makes sense that those with a lower alcohol content are less harmful than stronger beers, she says.

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