What happens to your body if you consume beer everyday ?

While the occasional indulgence might be harmless, the journey of daily consumption traverses perilous terrain, laden with risks that demand vigilance and moderation. 

13 May 2024

By Ishika Kumar

In the United States, a typical beer measures 12 ounces (equivalent to 355 mL). Enjoying one or two standard beers daily, each comprising 12 ounces or 355 mL, could potentially offer health benefits for your heart, bones, blood sugar levels and dementia risk. However, excessive alcohol consumption heightens the likelihood of various health complications, such as depression, increased body weight and liver disease.

Beer, a time-honoured brew cherished across cultures, bears both the warmth of tradition and the weight of modern health concerns. While the occasional indulgence might be benign, the repercussions of daily beer consumption warrant a closer look. From liver damage to disrupted sleep, here’s an intricate examination of what imbibing beer daily may entail for your well-being.

1.     Weight Gain: A prominent repercussion of daily beer consumption is the insidious creep of weight gain. Beer is laden with calories when consumed excessively, which can lead to an expansion of one’s waistline. Studies, such as one in ‘The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition’, have connected the association between habitual beer intake and abdominal obesity, shedding light on the role of beer’s carbohydrate and alcohol content in exacerbating this particular concern.

2.     Liver Damage: The liver, sentinel of our internal ecosystem and bodily functions, bears the brunt of excessive alcohol consumption for ages. This has been the relationship between the liver and excessive consumption of alcohol, and the same is true with beer. Daily beer consumption elevates the risk of liver diseases, from fatty liver to cirrhosis. Research articulated in the Journal of Hepatology elucidates the perilous journey chronic beer consumption charts for the liver, marked by inflammation, scarring and the ominous spectre of failure.

3.     Cardiovascular Perils: While moderation in alcohol intake has been linked to better heart health and cardiovascular benefits, daily beer consumption ventures into hazardous territory and the opposite spectrum of these benefits. Studies elucidated in the ‘European Heart Journal’ highlight the stark correlation between excessive beer consumption and cardiovascular maladies like hypertension and stroke, casting a shadow over heart health.

4.     Mental Health Toll: Beyond the physical realm, daily beer consumption casts a net of danger over overall mental well-being. The spectre of depression and anxiety looms large for those who tread the path of heavy beer consumption, as indicated by research in the ‘Journal of Affective Disorders’, painting an alarming picture of the toll imbibing beer daily takes on the psyche.

5.     Sleep Disruptions: Contrary to its reputation as a calming elixir, daily beer consumption can sabotage sleep. While it might beckon the weary consumer into a deep slumber, the quality of rest is compromised. Studies in the ‘Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine’ attest to fragmented sleep, riddled with awakenings and interruptions, that accompanies pre-slumber post-beer consumption.

6.     Cancer Risk: The shadow of cancer constantly looms over habitual beer drinkers, with ethanol’s conversion into carcinogenic acetaldehyde posing a menacing threat. The National Cancer Institute’s sobering revelation underscores the link between alcohol consumption, including beer, and various kinds of cancers, a stark reminder of the stakes involved.

Navigating Moderation

As with many indulgences, the key lies in moderation. While guidelines prescribe a ceiling of one drink for women and two for men, individual factors like age, weight and overall health steer the ship of tolerance. Knowing one’s limits and adhering to them is paramount to steering clear of the health quagmire of heavy drinking.

The Duality of Beer 

Amidst the ominous clouds of health concerns, rays of hope peek through. Beer, in measured doses, has been associated with benefits, from bolstering bone density to mitigating dementia risk. However, these glimmers of hope are eclipsed by the overarching spectre of excessive consumption, which unravels the fabric of well-being.

In the tapestry of daily life, beer occupies a storied place, steeped in tradition and camaraderie. Yet, beneath its effervescent facade lies a tapestry of health concerns, from liver woes to mental health tolls. While the occasional indulgence might be harmless, the journey of daily consumption traverses perilous terrain, laden with risks that demand vigilance and moderation. 

In the grand symphony of life, the key to harmony lies in savouring life’s pleasures in moderation, lest they transform into instruments of affliction.

Joyville