Beer contains many useful substances, but you should not count on improving health: the diuretic effect of alcohol, phytoestrogens and appetite stimulation neutralize the positive effects of beer. Gastroenterologist at the Center for Molecular Diagnostics CMD Obninsk Federal Budgetary Institution Rospotrebnadzor Central Research Institute of Epidemiology Irina Ivanova told socialbites.ca about this.
“Beer is comparable to orange juice in terms of magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and potassium content. However, due to its strong diuretic effect, these and other trace elements are lost in the urine. Beer contains vitamins B1 and B2, as well as nicotinic and folic acids. First, it helps reduce blood cholesterol and widen blood vessels; the latter has a positive effect on hematopoiesis. However, this benefit is offset by the fact that beer drinkers often gain weight around the waist due to increased appetite and stimulation of insulin release. “This already threatens diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,” Ivanova explained.
Despite the fact that beer contains some alcohol, a glass of vodka is “hidden” in a two-liter bottle of beer. The doctor stated that, therefore, you should not drink beer frequently, and if a person cannot go without drinking for three days, this is already alcoholism.
Non-alcoholic beer is also not harmless. More hops are added for flavor. This plant has a beneficial choleretic effect, contains flavonoids that improve the functioning of the kidneys and bladder.
“But hops contain phytohormones similar to female estrogens. As a result, men develop more fatty tissue, muscle mass decreases, gynecomastia (enlargement of the mammary glands) develops, and also libido and spermatogenesis decrease,” the doctor said.
Additionally, sulfur oxide is added to beer as a preservative, which has a bad effect on the microbiota. Because of this, immunity is impaired and the production of many beneficial substances that affect mood and brain functions decreases. Both reaction speed and cognitive abilities suffer. The effects of alcohol are especially dangerous for people under the age of 21.
“According to neuroscientists, by the age of 21 the cerebral cortex matures in the frontal lobes, which are responsible for our social behavior. Alcohol and its metabolite acetaldehyde inhibit this process,” the gastroenterologist added.
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