Homebrewing is a raising trend and there is no doubt that people are recognizing a good beer over a bad beer any day of the week. However, the impact the beer has on our health should be a priority and drinking should be done moderately.
Homebrewed beers are brewed differently than commercial beers and thus we can expect more from it, especially regarding their health benefits.
Moreover, not all beers are equal, so some types are healthier than others.
So, are homebrewed beers healthy or at least healthier than commercial beers?
Homebrewed beers are healthier than most commercial beers. When you brew a beer at home, you choose your own ingredients and control the process. Homebrewed beer contains antioxidants, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, magnesium, riboflavin, niacin, and more.
My grandpa always began his morning with a shot of Jägermeister, as he believed it helped his bowel movement.
Did it help and is it scientifically proven? Yes, it is, the herbs found in Jägermeister are a medicine when consumed with moderation.
A similar analogy can be applied to beers, and this is the reason why I like to have a glass of beer with my launch from time to time.
Beer is good for you in moderate amounts
I will refer to moderate drinking as one beer for women and two beers for men a day, or 9 beers for women and 14 beers for men per week.
These numbers also take the standard ABV of around 5% into the equation.
It is super important to understand that the following benefits only apply to light to moderate drinking!
In other words, drinking above moderate levels will easily overshadow the benefits and hurt you due to your high alcohol intake.
This is yet another reason why you should enjoy low ABV beers more often than high ABV beers.
1. Good for the heart and cardiovascular system
Beer is good for the cardiovascular system and thus helps in the prevention of heart diseases and strokes.
Moderate beer intake results in a significant increase in the antioxidant capacity of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and facilitates cholesterol efflux. This may help in the prevention of lipid deposition in the vessel wall.
Moreover, while the obvious benefits for the cardiovascular system were observed, this moderate level of drinking didn’t cause any change in functions of the liver and kidneys nor promoted obesity levels.
This means that moderate drinking indeed doesn’t hurt the body, but comes with meaningful health benefits for it.
However, this study confirmed that high alcohol intake is directly connected with an increase in heart diseases and stroke. Therefore, take this seriously, and remember to only drink in acceptable amounts, or enjoy low ABV beers.
2. Controls sugar levels (good for a diabetic)
Light to moderate beer drinking can positively affect the levels of sugar which is meaningful to people with diabetes.
A large study of 70,500 participants associated moderate beer drinking (up to 14 a week for men and 9 for women) with 48% and 53% lower risk of diabetes for men and women.
Moderate alcohol intake is associated with the prevention of developing type 2 diabetes and appears to reduce insulin resistance.
One study connected moderate alcohol intake with better Insulin sensitivity, adiponectin levels, and lipid profile in postmenopausal women.
This, however, doesn’t apply to brews with high levels of sugar. Fortunately, beers rarely contain higher sugar levels because most of it is fermented.
3. Good for bone density
Moderate beer intake is connected with improvement in bone mineral density in men and postmenopausal women.
However, once again high alcohol intake can lead to detrimental effects on bone mass.
Silicon found in beer is associated with increased bone mineral density. Silicon is naturally part of grains and thus is found in high amounts in any beer type.
It has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
4. Cognitive health enhancement
Beer can positively affect problem-solving skills and boost creativity.
This study tested how alcohol in people affects problem-solving skills compared to sober individuals. They found out that it indeed helped with solving more pieces of the puzzle in a lesser time.
This makes sense, the best artists in the world like Van Gogh were known to drink amid the creation of their best pieces and you surely feel more relaxed after a couple of beers.
This is nothing new, and this is probably the number one reason why people enjoy drinks, but sometimes they overdo it and end up with a blackout.
Personally, I enjoy a beer in moderation and focus on its taste, alcohol is just a plus but it can easily get out of hand and become a disaster.
5. Possible prevention of dementia
Moderate beer drinking may indeed help in the prevention of dementia, but drinking too much can promote such disease.
This study associated that people who were absent from alcohol or enjoyed more than 14 drinks per week during their midlife, experience a greater risk of developing dementia later in life.
What’s interesting about this is the fact that often in life, you have to find a middle ground and stick to it.
As it’s said, everything is poisonous when overused.
6. Beer protects your teeth
Homebrewed hoppy beers like IPAs or pilsners have lots of tannins that are found in hops and serve as antioxidants.
Tannin kills bacteria in your teeth which can otherwise cause inflammation or lead to cavities.
So, next time have a beer before calling a dentist but do not overdo it or it’s going to counterfire!
Also, homebrew beer contains small amounts of calcium which strengthens the teeth, however, milk, cheese, and similar products are way better sources.
What beer types are better for health?
As we know, not all beers are equal, so just as some are better in taste, some are healthier than others.
Ales are usually healthier than lagers because they are brewed with more ingredients such as more hops or more grain.
Stouts are among the best types when it comes to healthy drinking because they contain low ABV while containing high amounts of B vitamin. This, however, doesn’t count for imperial Russian stouts that have more than 10% alcohol.
While most nutritious stuff comes from grains, anti-inflammatory stuff comes straight from the hops. So, hoppy beers like IPAs are naturally good for anti-inflammatory properties.
Low ABV beers simply mean less bad alcohol effects on your body which means that you can have a pint more without regretting it. This is the reason why Guinness advertised their beer as a healthy addition for pregnant women. Later, they couldn’t continue with the campaign because even 4.2% of alcohol is still alcohol.
However, this amount of alcohol is not a big deal and grown-ups can easily handle it.
Secondly, these low ABV beers are quick to make because the lesser the ABV, the lesser the time it needs to condition for. This is great news for homebrewers who want to brew a beer and enjoy it in a couple of weeks instead of waiting for months.