Brown, blonde, white, light, thick, with or without alcohol... beer, a fermented extract of malted barley grains, is the most consumed drink in the world (approximately 2.031 billion hectoliters), with nearly 6,500 liters swallowed every second. You don't need to be a statistics pro to know that the following news should interest more than one. According to a study conducted by a team of Portuguese researchers and published in 2022 in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, chugging a 33cl beer every day would be beneficial for the health of our intestines.
The intestinal microbiota, a complex ecosystem
At the heart of our intestinal system lies a complex ecosystem, apPelé microbiote, composé de milliers de micro-organismes tels que des bactéries, levures, virus et champignons. Une flore souvent sous-estimée, bien qu’elle joue un rôle important sur notre bien-être physique en influençant la digestion ou le système immunitaire, mais également sur notre bien-être mental. Considéré par de nombreux médecins et scientifiques comme le "deuxième cerveau" humain, il agit sur notre équilibre psychologique. Sa grande diversité est un facteur déterminant pour son bon fonctionnement. Quand une alimentation saine et équilibrée favorise, entre autres, la prolifération de bonnes bactéries dans les intestins, la prise d’antibiotiques va au contraire en éliminer un bon nombre et par conséquent.Disturbing the microbiota and impacting our overall health. After this little overview of what is happening in our gut, here is exactly what the study says about the benefits of moderate but regular consumption of beer on our intestinal microbiota. Polyphenols, a preventive role against certain diseases Roughly, beer is composed of 90% water, malt, hops, and yeast for alcoholic fermentation. And according to the study, consuming this drink in small daily doses helps develop the intestinal microbiota. To reach this conclusion, researchers asked 22 healthy men to consume 33 cl of beer per day for four weeks. Half of them drank non-alcoholic beverages and the other half drank 5% alcohol beer.During the test period, none of the volunteers saw their weight and body fat mass increase. However, all participants (beer consumers with and without alcohol) experienced a significant diversification of their intestinal ecosystem and may have even strengthened the body's protection against cardiovascular risk. These positive effects are attributed to polyphenols, nutrients with antioxidants from malt and hops. They also promote a good glycemic balance, combat cholesterol oxidation, reduce artery blockage, impact insulin resistance, and high blood pressure. However, the study has some limitations, as it was only conducted on a small sample of men. The team plans to conduct a second similar study with a larger number of participants, including women.
Opting for Alcohol-Free Options
As explained above, the study shows that alcoholic beers do not provide any additional benefits compared to alcohol-free drinks. And contrary to popular belief, Santé Publique France specifies that " health risks of alcohol consumption exist from the first daily drink. Alcohol consumption is responsible for numerous diseases (cerebral hemorrhage, cancers, hypertension, etc.) and is currently one of the leading causes of preventable mortality with 41,000 attributable deaths per year".
Without wanting to spoil the fun, opting for alcohol-free options seems to be the best choice for health.
L'Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, so remember to consume it in moderation.
