Beer Drinking: Exploring The Unseen Side Effects

Beer is an alcoholic drink that can have several adverse effects on the body, especially when consumed in excess. Here are some of the potential side effects of drinking beer:

- Interference with blood sugar levels: Beer can interfere with the liver's process of converting glycogen into glucose, leading to increased hunger and weight gain.

- Diuretic effect: Beer acts as a diuretic, increasing the urge to urinate and potentially leading to dehydration, especially for athletes.

- Gluten insensitivity: Many beer variants contain gluten, which some people are sensitive to, leading to stomach discomfort.

- Negative impact on cardiovascular health: While limited amounts may be beneficial, excessive beer consumption can increase heart rate and worsen existing cardiovascular ailments.

- Increased blood pressure: Consuming several glasses of beer a day is linked to high blood pressure.

- Heartburn: Beer contains stimulants that interact with gastric acid and can trigger gastro-oesophageal reflux, resulting in heartburn.

- Beer belly: Excessive beer consumption can contribute to weight gain and the development of a beer belly, which is difficult to get rid of.

- Intoxication and hangover: Beer affects nerves and motor skills, leading to reduced inhibitions, impaired judgment, and coordination issues. This can result in accidents, slurred speech, and hangovers with memory loss.

- Drug interactions: Beer interacts with certain medications, including sedatives, erythromycin, and antibiotics, leading to side effects such as headaches and vomiting.

- Malnutrition: Beer contains empty calories and provides minimal nutritional value. Chronic alcohol use may also interfere with the absorption and utilization of essential vitamins and minerals, leading to malnutrition-related issues such as anemia and a weakened immune system.

Interferes with blood sugar levels

Beer consumption can interfere with the body's blood sugar levels. The liver converts glycogen, a stored form of glucose found in the liver and muscles that provides energy to cells and helps regulate blood sugar levels, into glucose and releases it into the bloodstream. Alcohol in beer interferes with this process, creating hunger pangs and leading to weight gain. Alcoholic beer consumption can also cause an insulin spike and sleep disturbances, resulting in a bad hangover.

Commercial beer brands are loaded with calories but contain fewer nutrients. The body burns the acetate that the liver converts alcohol into for energy, while excess fat remains stored in parts of the body, such as the hips and belly.

According to a 2015 study published in Biomolecules, regular beer consumption can impact blood sugar levels, leading to potential issues like insulin resistance and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This is because the sugar content in some beer varieties, along with alcohol's effects on insulin regulation, can disrupt the body's ability to manage blood sugar effectively.

Moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes who consume alcohol in moderate amounts seem to have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to non-drinkers with type 2 diabetes.

Works as a diuretic

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it promotes fluid loss and can lead to dehydration. Beer, being an alcoholic drink, has the same effect.

When you drink beer, you may feel an increased urge to urinate. This is because beer slows down the release of antidiuretic hormones, which are responsible for helping the body retain fluid. This can be especially harmful to athletes, who lose fluid through both urine and sweat, and can lead to dehydration. Research shows that dehydration can result in headaches, fatigue, excessive thirst, and lethargy.

To avoid dehydration, it is important to drink water from other sources when consuming beer.

Gluten insensitivity

Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, as well as in many processed foods like bread, pasta, noodles, and cereals. It is also commonly found in beer, as barley and wheat are two of the key ingredients in the beer-making process. For this reason, beer is not recommended for those who are gluten intolerant or have coeliac disease.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body triggers inflammation in the small intestine when gluten is consumed. This inflammation damages the lining of the intestine, reducing the body's ability to absorb nutrients. While only a small number of people develop coeliac disease, a larger proportion of the population (around 30%) carries the genes that cause it.

Even if you do not have coeliac disease, you may still have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance. Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity can cause symptoms similar to those of coeliac disease, but blood tests and endoscopies for coeliac disease will come back normal, and the symptoms stop when gluten is removed from the diet.

If you have coeliac disease or a gluten sensitivity, you may think that beer is off the table. However, there are now many gluten-free beers on the market, and the list is growing. These beers are made with grains that do not contain gluten, such as sorghum, quinoa, and buckwheat. Gluten-free beers often taste different from regular beers—they may be sweeter or less carbonated, for example. They also tend to be more expensive, as the alternative grains and adaptations add to production costs.

Some beers are labelled as "gluten-removed", meaning they are made with grains that contain gluten, but the gluten has been removed during production. However, it is not possible to completely remove all traces of gluten from these beers, and experts recommend that those with coeliac disease avoid them.

So, if you have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance, you do not have to give up beer completely. Just be sure to choose a beer that is labelled as gluten-free, and always read the labels carefully.

Raises blood pressure

Drinking three or more glasses of beer a day can lead to high blood pressure and make existing hypertension worse. This is true for both men and women.

Beer contains alcohol, which can cause a temporary increase in heart rate. When consumed in excess, beer can lead to an ongoing increase in heart rate. This can contribute to higher blood pressure.

Who Is at Risk?

People with existing cardiovascular issues are particularly vulnerable to the blood pressure-raising effects of beer.

Moderate alcohol consumption is generally defined as one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. However, for people with certain medical conditions or who are taking certain medications, any amount of alcohol can be unsafe.

Other Health Effects of Beer

In addition to raising blood pressure, excessive beer consumption can lead to a range of other negative health effects, including:

• Weight gain and obesity
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Alcohol dependency
• Sleep disorders
• Dehydration
• Weakened immune system
• Increased cancer risk
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Digestive issues
• Mental health issues

Causes heartburn

Beer is a popular alcoholic drink that can have adverse effects on health when consumed in excess. One of the short-term effects of drinking beer is heartburn, a burning sensation in the throat or chest that often leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and may lead to inflammation of the food pipe. Here are some ways in which beer can cause or worsen heartburn:

• Interaction with gastric acid: Beer contains stimulants that interact with gastric acid in the stomach. This interaction can trigger gastro-oesophageal reflux, where the acidic contents of the stomach flow back into the food pipe, causing heartburn.
• Increased acid production: Alcohol in beer can stimulate the stomach to produce more acid. This excess acid can irritate the oesophagus and stomach lining, triggering heartburn symptoms.
• Relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter: Alcohol can cause the lower oesophageal sphincter, a muscle that acts as a valve between the stomach and oesophagus, to relax. This relaxation allows stomach acid to flow back up into the oesophagus, causing heartburn.
• Disruption of the digestive system: Beer can damage the tissues in the digestive tract, impairing the intestines' ability to digest food and absorb nutrients properly. This damage can worsen existing digestive issues, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and increase the risk of heartburn.
• Changes in hormone levels: Alcohol in beer can interfere with hormone production and regulation, including hormones that control digestion and acid secretion in the stomach. This disruption can lead to increased acid production and impaired digestion, triggering heartburn.
• Interaction with medications: Beer may interact with certain medications, such as antibiotics and painkillers, increasing the risk of heartburn. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin, which are commonly used to treat pain and inflammation, can irritate the stomach and increase the risk of acid reflux and heartburn when combined with beer.
• Alcohol intolerance: Some individuals may have an intolerance to alcohol or specific components in beer. This intolerance can trigger an immune response, including the release of histamine, which can cause heartburn symptoms such as a burning sensation in the chest or throat.
• Dietary factors: The consumption of beer is often accompanied by dietary choices that can contribute to heartburn. Fatty and spicy foods, which are commonly consumed with beer, can relax the lower oesophageal sphincter and increase stomach acid production, triggering heartburn.
• Dehydration: Beer acts as a diuretic, causing increased urination and dehydration. Dehydration can affect the production of stomach acid and digestive enzymes, impacting digestion and potentially triggering heartburn.
• Weight gain: Beer is high in calories and can contribute to weight gain, especially when consumed in excess. Increased abdominal fat, often referred to as a "beer belly," can put pressure on the stomach and lower oesophageal sphincter, increasing the risk of acid reflux and heartburn.

It is important to note that the risk of heartburn from beer consumption can vary depending on individual factors such as age, gender, medical history, and tolerance to alcohol. Additionally, drinking beer in moderation, such as one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men, may reduce the likelihood of experiencing heartburn while still enjoying the potential health benefits associated with moderate alcohol consumption.

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