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How often have we read articles and news stories touting the health benefits of beer, but also those claiming the opposite?
There is no doubt that beer is a highly nutritious but also alcoholic beverage, and what makes beer a helper or an enemy for health and well-being is the amount consumed.
But let’s take a look at some interesting stories from the past…
In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, beer was a popular drink that was regularly brewed and drunk at home. This beer, which was often referred to as small beer or table beer, was unfiltered, often sweet and did not have the bitterness typical of modern beer as it contained no hops.
The alcohol content of small beer was normally less than 1% and it was a drink for everyone, including children.
As you can imagine, the function of such beer was different from today, and it owed its popularity to its richness in nutrients and relative safety in terms of purity. Thanks to the boiling process during preparation and the low alcohol content, this drink was free from bacteria that usually contaminated the water.
This story shows how beer became popular for practical reasons, but it was also believed to have exceptional health properties.
An Irish friend told me that as late as the 20th century, doctors prescribed the famous Irish stout (the classic black beer) to those who needed more iron in their diet, especially pregnant women.
Even if the high iron content of this beer is questionable, it is rich in minerals, especially magnesium, and at the same time has a low sodium content, which is harmful to the heart in excess.
Beer is a very effective isotonic drink that quickly supplies the muscles with fluid, electrolytes and energy. For this reason, some of my friends who run marathons and ultramarathons drink a glass of beer after crossing the finish line and prefer it to sports drinks.
And they don’t seem to be the only ones…
Beer is rich in vitamins, especially the B group (B2, B3, B5, B6 and folic acid), and contains a high proportion of proteins, especially in beers made with malt.
Thanks to the numerous ingredients of malt and hops used in the brewing process, beer has even more health benefits, as reported in several recognised scientific publications on anti-cancer and anti-coagulant nutrition.
Another aspect that is often discussed in connection with health is the calorie value and alcohol content. The rule here is: so many beers, so many parameters…
…and it seems that moderation and caution are the key words here.
As the consumption and effects of alcohol can have far-reaching social consequences, a public health organisation has set recommendations for a maximum daily alcohol intake. This is a good starting point, but circumstances should be the deciding factor here: any alcohol consumption by pregnant women or children is unjustifiable, and if we drink, we don’t drive! – That’s the last health aspect of beer for today 🙂