What comes to mind when you think of beer? Something that can be bad for the body? Historically beer’s place in our society has more often than not been at the forefront, but what if I told you that this alcoholic beverage that is enjoyed by many contains many nutrients essential to the body. From the times of the pyramids to the middle ages beer has been a form of sustenance. Until this past century beer was considered, at least in America, to be a normal drink consumed by most of the population. Beer, for many years, has appeared as a product that only has negative effects. But, this drink —which is widely consumed today— has countless benefits to the human body if consumed in the proper amount.

Beer provides essential vitamins and nutrients for the body. The body depends on an array of nutrients for the functioning of the body as a whole. As Lourdes Franco Hernandez explains,”Beer has many properties such as low-calories, protein compounds, minerals and trace elements, vitamins A, D and E, polyphenols, carbon dioxide, and antioxidant capacity which make moderate consumption healthy.” Some of the nutrients are those which would not normally be consumed through food consumption every day. For example during the winter the body does not take in as much sun as compared to the summer, and antioxidants that protect from infection might not be obtained through the normal consumption of food. Adrienne a writer for Beer West writes that, “water-soluble B vitamins” can be found in the beer after production as well as “…folate, dietary fiber, silicon, and polyphenols, which have been shown to be antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic, and help regulate blood pressure.” The nutrients found in beer help the body ensure the body functions properly. Through properties such as being antimicrobial the immune system becomes stronger by and as a result prevents infection. Not only nutrients but the regulation of blood pressure also add to the benefits from consuming beer. Dr. Joseph F. Frank professor of food microbiology at the University of Georgia says that, “There is a benefit to having a low level alcohol…The blood platelets aren’t as sticky, [the blood] doesn’t coagulate.” Also, beer offers a healthy amount of silicon to make the teeth stronger and fiber to help the digestive system run smoothly. Antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic nutrients help with preventing infection and various forms of cancers. Beer provides necessary vitamins and nutrients that help the functioning of the body as a whole.

Beer can be beneficial for the human body only if consumed in a moderate amount. The abuse of any substance can likely causes harm to the body. The over-consumption of beer of what is recommended can specifically cause harm for what all the nutrients found in beer prevent when consumed in a moderate amount. According to The Sentinal, a healthy consumption of alcohol is defined as, “A woman should drink no more than two to three units a day, and a man no more than three to four units — with one or two days in the week being alcohol free.” A unit being around half a beer, lets a female drink no more than one and a half beers a day and a man no more than two. Professor Frank mentions that, “Healthy consumption is one to two servings; men two servings per day and women one serving per day.” When consumed over the recommended threshold negative effects occur. In moderate amounts beer can be beneficial to the body.

Negative effects can occur when people drink beer over a certain threshold. Practices such as binge drinking make the drinking of beer not only a unhealthy decision but a dangerous one. Binge drinking is defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as, “drinking so much within about 2 hours that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dL. For women, this usually occurs after about 4 drinks, and for men, after about 5. Drinking this way can pose health and safety risks, including car crashes and injuries. Over the long term, binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs.” The destruction of one’s vital organs are not only at risk but the vitals of one’s body are at risk as well through the overconsumption of beer. As stated in the The Sentinel, “Drinking too much alcohol triggers high blood pressure, which in turn can harm your heart or bring on a stroke…Binge drinkers seem to be more at risk of liver disease.” When consumed over the recommended limit beer poses some negative effects to the body. Professor Frank states that, “If Alcohol level goes way up in the short term then long term effects can occur such as liver disease.” Not only can disease of the liver occur, but other cancers can form as well from overconsumption. An increase in carbohydrates can cause for excessive weight gain. Through the consumption of alcohol in a moderate amount benefits can be seen. Professor Frank continues to state that, “There are benefits to daily consumption in low amounts but after two drinks, the alcohol is in the blood stream from the low levels of alcohol dehydrogenase.” Alcohol dehydrogenase is an enzyme in the liver that breaks the alcohol molecule down making the nutrients and vitamins able to be used can be found in the beer. The over-consumption of beer can be dangerous for the human body.

Beer gives the human body immense benefits but only if consumed in a moderate amount. The over-consumption of any substance can be detrimental for the body which is why moderation must be exercised when drinking malt liquor. The body needs vitamins and nutrients found in beer for the functioning of the body as a whole. Some of the population considers beer to be a dangerous drug, but when the proper precautions are exercised, beer can be one of the healthiest substances when consumed in the safest manner possible.

Bibliography

Adrienne. “Beer and Health.” Beer West FEATURE Beer Its Whats For Dinner Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

Beer & Antioxidants: Benefits in Human Health. Society of Cell Membranes and Free Oxygen Radicals 2013-11-11, 2013. Print.

By, MATT CUNNINGHAM. “It’s Official … Beer Makes You Healthy.” Northern Territory News (includes Sunday Territorian)Print.q

Drinking Too Much is always Bad News. Sentinel, The (Stoke), 2005. Print.

Frank, Joseph F. Personal interview. 28 Mar. 2014.

“Moderate & Binge Drinking.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.