Beer is a relatively low-alcohol beverage that influences a wide range
of health aspects such as the cardiovascular system, the immune system,
the nervous system, and mental illness. (Getty Images)
Moderate beer consumption is associated
with improved physical and mental health, increased social support, and
better well-being, according to a study by public health researchers at
the University of Murcia in Spain.
The study
analyzed data involving 33,185 adults and found that non-excessive beer
consumers had better physical, mental, and emotional health indicators
than former drinkers and teetotallers.
- Former
drinkers showed worse indicators of self-perceived health, physical
health, mental health, and social support than abstainers.
- The research, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nutrients in
March, emphasizes the association between moderate beer consumption and
positive health outcomes while acknowledging the need for further
investigation.
- Beer's influence on health is attributed to
alcohol-related and non-alcoholic components, such as minerals,
vitamins, and polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties.
- Moderate beer consumption can also positively
impact mental health due to the social nature of drinking, particularly
in Mediterranean countries like Spain.
- The findings
align with other meta-studies indicating that low doses of alcohol can
benefit heart health and the immune system, supporting the notion of a
J-shaped curve for alcohol consumption and health outcomes.
