All about beer
Unlike most other things we consume in our diet, beer contains a lot of water and only a little bit of sodium . It’s this lopsided water-to- salt ratio that causes potomania in high-risk individuals, especially when one’s intake of sodium and protein-rich foods is also low.
The excessive consumption of beer in particular, which has a low solute content ( sodium concentration, 1.8 mEq/L; potassium concentration, 7.2 mEq/L), to the exclusion of other solute intake may result in severe hyponatremia .
Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily raises your blood pressure , but repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases.
Beer and Nutrition
Regular Beer | Michelob Ultra | |
---|---|---|
Magnesium | 21mg | 14mg |
Phosphorous | 50mg | 28mg |
Potassium | 96mg | 60mg |
Sodium | 14mg | 11mg |
“Adults above the age of 50 are at much higher risk of heart attack and stroke than they are of any possible harmful effects to light-moderate drinking,” Klatsky says. “So even if they have high blood pressure, they could see the health benefit from something like a glass of red wine a day.”
You should avoid drinking alcohol if you take medications to treat high blood pressure , such as: Accupril (quinapril) Capozide (captopril/hydrochlorothiazide) Cardura (doxazosin)
Chronic heavy drinking is known to elevate blood pressure. Sodium sensitivity also tends to raise blood pressure. New research indicates that withdrawal from heavy drinking may derange sodium metabolism in such a way that a person’s sodium sensitivity is increased, leading to higher blood pressure.
Hyponatremia occurs when sodium levels in the blood are too low . Symptoms include lethargy, confusion, and fatigue. It can result from underlying conditions, such as kidney failure, or other factors, such as drinking too much water or taking certain medications.
” Drinking alcohol lowers our inhibitions and increases our hunger hormone which in turn can lead us to eat more. As alcohol is full of sugar we can often crave the salty foods to offset the sweetness of the alcohol .”
Moderate drinking — one drink a day for women and two for men — appears to protect some people against heart disease. One drink is 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. Alcohol may help your heart in a few ways: It raises HDL or ” good ” cholesterol.
Drinking alcoholic beverages, including beer , by healthy people seems to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Moderate alcohol use (one to two drinks per day) reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, and heart attack by approximately 30% to 50% when compared with nondrinkers.
Whiskey is known to reduce the risk of stroke by reducing both bad cholesterol and blood clots. This can greatly lower your risk of a heart attack as well. It can lower your blood pressure by relaxing the walls of the arteries, which creates better circulation.
Spin the bottle: The ultimate list of healthier beers Yuengling Light Lager . Abita Purple Haze. Guinness Draught. Sam Adams Light Lager . Deschutes Brewery Da Shootz. Full Sail Session Lager . Pacifico Clara. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
Over the long term, drinking beer regularly but moderately in portions of less than 17 oz (500 ml) per day doesn’t seem to lead to an increase in body weight or belly fat ( 7 , 8 ). Nevertheless, drinking more than that could very well lead to significant weight gain over time.
Therefore, while beer contains a fair amount of carbs, its sugar content tends to be quite low. Beer’s sugar content is comprised of 80% fermentable sugars and 20% oligosaccharides. Yeast can’t digest oligosaccharides, but neither can your body. Thus, beer’s final sugar content may still be quite low.