Whether you’re heading to a pub after a long week at work or just want to open a beer on a hot day, beer is an integral part of many people’s daily lives. In fact, the average American adult 21 and older consumes about 28.2 gallons per year, according to Beer Info. However, beer isn’t for everyone — and it’s not just those who don’t like the taste that should give up that beer.continue reading Six types of people who shouldn’t drink beer found, according to doctors.
When it comes to opening a bottle of beer, little consideration is given to sugar content. While ingredient lists don’t always list sugar as an ingredient, it is produced naturally when grains are fermented by yeast.
Mount Sinai gastroenterologist Jonathon Kung, MD, said: “Beer can quickly raise blood sugar in a patient, or in a fasted state, insulin and potentially lead to hypoglycemia, which is also dangerous.”
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If you’re trying to lose a few pounds, you may want to stay away from this popular alcoholic beverage. “Beer contains 100 to 200 calories with little nutritional value,” Kung said.
According to published in nutrients, a daily beer intake of 500 ml or more (that is, about 16.9 ounces) increases the risk of not losing weight, especially in men. For those trying to lose weight, drinking beer can prevent them from reaching the daily calorie deficit they need to lose weight. Swap a beer for a water bottle to save those empty calories.
Those following a gluten-free diet should try to avoid beer as it may cause future digestive problems. “Beer often contains gluten, which triggers an inflammatory response in the gut in many patients, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms,” Kung said. There are gluten free beers out there that may be better for those with food sensitivities.
Stomach problems are no fun for anyone, especially those with irritable bowel syndrome. “Beer often causes bloating, gas, diarrhea and sometimes abdominal pain by irritating the intestinal lining or causing fluid retention in some patients,” says Kung.
While drinking beer after a long week sounds like a good idea, if you have liver disease or cirrhosis, you’ll want to stay away. “Beer is an alcohol that, when metabolized by an already stimulated liver (usually in the case of cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, or autoimmune disease), further accelerates damage to the liver parenchyma, ultimately leading to decreased liver function, ‘ said Kong.
When it comes to preventing heartburn, you probably know to avoid acidic or fatty foods, but according to Kung, beer should also be added to that list. “Beer is known to impair the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter (which separates the stomach from the esophagus) to close, causing more acid to reflux into the esophagus, leading to heartburn symptoms.”
Kathy Clark
Casey Clark is currently a journalism student at Hofstra University with a passion for food, beauty and entertainment.read more