Cirrhosis from beer. How beer affects the liver: spectrum of negative effects Clinical manifestations of alcoholic liver damage

Before comparing alcoholic drinks according to the degree of their harmfulness, it should be clarified that any alcohol in excessive quantities is harmful. For men, the permissible dose of alcohol is 10 ml of ethanol, and any dose of alcohol is detrimental to women’s health. Each alcohol affects the body differently. Vodka most affects the brain and pancreas. Beer has a negative effect on the kidneys. Because both of these drinks are metabolized in the liver, they also affect this organ. Experienced alcohol lovers claim that vodka is less harmful to the liver than beer. We invite you to understand this as it really is.

Origins of the Health Claim of Alcohol

At the beginning of this century, a study was conducted in Europe on the effect of eating cheese (a product with 34-50% fat content) on cholesterol levels in human blood. In all but one of the countries participating in the experiment, a correlation was found between the amount of cheese eaten per year and cholesterol levels. The country that became the exception to the rule was France. It was in this country that cheese was washed down with wine.

This phenomenon was called the “French paradox”. It lies in the fact that eating fatty foods in combination with red wine does not cause the progression of atherosclerosis, since wine contains special substances that protect blood vessels from the deposition of cholesterol in their walls. Wine also lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, therefore preventing the development of diseases such as ischemic disease heart disease, hypertension, heart attack, intermittent claudication, impotence. But these results concerned the benefits of drinking no more than one glass of dry red wine per day.

The data obtained were confirmed by other studies, which determined, among other things, what is more harmful, vodka or beer for the liver. It was experimentally found that 50 ml of vodka per day and one glass of beer do not cause harm.

The effect of beer and vodka on the liver

Different types of alcohol negatively affect not only the liver, but also the human body as a whole. The more alcohol you drink at a time, and the more often this happens, the more harm it causes to the body. The effects of beer and vodka on humans are as follows:

depression of the cerebral cortex, thought processes, intelligence;
increased concentration of stress hormones in the blood (cortisol and adrenaline);
irritation of the gastric mucosa, which with chronic use turns into gastritis;
impaired absorption of nutrients throughout the intestine;
metabolic disorders (since alcohol is the fourth “source” of calories);
damage to cells throughout the body from toxic breakdown products of ethanol.

human hepatocyte

Vodka and beer, entering the body, pass through the intestines, where they are absorbed into the blood, and with the bloodstream they immediately enter the liver. It is in the liver that these drinks begin their metabolic journey. Liver cells (hepatocytes) must literally “decompose” the alcohol that reaches them to a form in which it can be safely excreted through the kidneys and urine. The metabolic pathways of beer and vodka are different. Therefore, let’s look into human physiology and figure out what is more harmful, beer or vodka for the liver.

The body views vodka, especially in large doses, as a toxic substance. Accordingly, he fights it like poison. The maximum negative effect of vodka on the body begins an hour after it was drunk. In the liver, algogol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase take turns converting vodka into less toxic metabolic products. A side reaction of these processes is the inhibition of almost all other functions of the organ. The result is the gradual development of fatty liver. These are irreversible changes that over time develop into cirrhosis of the liver. When an organ fails, death occurs.

In this regard, beer causes less damage to the liver. Due to the lower alcohol content in beer, hepatocytes do not have to turn on enzyme systems to the maximum to process it. Beer can only cause significant harm to the liver if it contains flavors, fragrances and other additives from dishonest manufacturers. Fortunately, this happens extremely rarely. At the same time, the official presence of such additives in beer transfers it to the category, according to current legislation.

With excessive consumption of beer, even prepared according to technology, hepatitis can develop. This is an inflammation of liver cells - hepatocytes. This disease can be caused not only by beer, but also by medications, viruses, and fatty foods. But Thanks to its high regenerative ability, the liver recovers quickly.

Interesting fact: drinking one glass of vodka almost completely inhibits fat burning for 6-9 hours. Therefore, people on a diet are completely contraindicated from drinking alcoholic beverages.

In terms of calories, beer is much inferior to vodka. 100 grams of vodka contain 115 kcal, and 100 ml of beer - only 43 kcal. This means that beer can even be called a diet drink. Accordingly, the liver spends less energy processing it than processing vodka.

Mouse study

Journal study " Alcohol and Alcoholism", which was published in December 2016, showed that fat formation in the livers of mice that drank pure ethanol and beer deprived of alcohol was the same. However, the beer it contained did virtually no harm to the mouse liver. Researchers attribute this to the antioxidant properties of beer. Thus, in order to reduce the risks to their liver, beer drinkers should consume highly hopped varieties, such as APA.

Results

Summarizing all of the above, vodka can be considered more harmful product for the liver than beer. This applies to both one-time use and long-term results with long-term use. According to its effect on human physiology, vodka causes lasting effects, and its consumption ultimately leads to cirrhosis of the liver. Drinking beer, even if it causes damage to the liver, still does not lead to cirrhosis.

The only disadvantage of beer compared to vodka is the amount of alcohol you drink. The corresponding effect comes already from drinking several servings of vodka. But beer can be drunk in liters. And, accordingly, the more beer you drink, the more damage it can cause to the body.

But, according to some experts, you can die even if you eat a bucket of dumplings at once. Follow moderation and everything will be fine. And leave your opinion about what is more harmful to the liver - beer or vodka.

It is believed that beer is a relatively natural product containing a low percentage of alcohol. Many people are reassured by this statement, and they begin to believe that the intoxicating drink is not so harmful, if you think about it.

And indeed, some studies confirm that beer causes less damage to the liver than pure alcohol (the total dose of alcohol is the same in both cases). Unfortunately, no other studies have yet been conducted comparing the effects of beer with other alcoholic drinks, such as wine or cognac.

Either way, beer contains alcohol. And the destructive effect of alcohol on the human liver has been confirmed repeated and large-scale studies. Even if you don't drink often, you'll still be damaging your liver a little with every glass you drink.

In this article we will look at the effect of intoxicating drinks on the liver, and also tell you how to minimize the harmful effects.

Effect on the liver

Beer is a low-alcohol drink. Sometimes you can see a non-alcoholic variety on store shelves. Beer, of course, contains a significantly lower percentage of alcohol than, for example, vodka, whiskey or cognac.

But this does not mean that this drink is safe for our liver and the body as a whole.

Most beers contain an average of 4-8% ethanol. In low alcohol, this content is 0.2-0.6%.

The so-called non-alcoholic variety in reality also contains a certain percentage of alcohol in its composition, it’s just that there is much less of it than in other varieties.

Regardless of what type of beer you drink, pay attention to the following facts about the effects of any alcohol on the liver:

If the critical volume of alcohol consumed has exceeded all norms, then the liver begins to fail and ceases to cope with all the loads that fall on it. The gland does not have time to filter out all incoming substances, which leads to toxins entering the human body. They cause destruction of brain tissue and the nervous system;
If alcohol is consumed in such volumes systematically, the liver blocks regenerative processes in its tissues. Dead cells begin to be replaced by a fatty layer, the increase of which leads to the development of cirrhosis and hepatosis.

Long-term effects of regular consumption

Uncontrolled consumption of a foamy drink in unlimited quantities can cause the development of many serious diseases of the liver gland.

Most often, large doses of beer lead to the development of the following disorders:

Liver failure;
Alcohol-type hepatitis;
Cirrhosis;
Fatty hepatosis.

In addition to the malfunction of the gland, other tissues of the body are also adversely affected: hair falls out and thins, nail plates peel off, the skin becomes dry, dehydrated and flabby, appetite worsens, and concentration is impaired.

1. Hormonal disorders

Males suffer from this to a greater extent.

Regular consumption of beer causes hormonal imbalance, which is expressed in an enlargement of the pelvis and mammary glands, changes in the timbre of the voice, and the appearance of a saggy belly.

Most often, such manifestations can be eliminated by switching to a diet and refusing to drink alcohol (especially beer). Physical exercise is also a great way to get rid of imperfections.

2. Alcohol-type hepatitis

Young people are most often affected by this pathology. Inflammatory and infectious processes develop, which the organs cannot cope with on their own.

Lack of proper therapy will ultimately lead to the formation of a malignant tumor and then death.

3. Fatty hepatosis

Fatty hepatosis is the chronic accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of the liver, which leads to blockage of vascular channels and gland cells. This process starts with unlimited alcohol consumption.

When the gland stops coping with all the toxins that alcohol carries, it stops the regeneration of its own tissues.

As in the case of cirrhosis, a layer of fat begins to accumulate in the gaps left after the cells die. Usually this pathology is a precursor to cirrhosis.

4. Cirrhotic lesion

Many people doubt whether cirrhosis can occur from drinking regular beer. Despite the fact that the percentage of alcohol in beer is low compared to other alcoholic drinks, a large amount of drunk foamy drink has a more harmful effect on the organs than the same vodka. People rarely limit themselves to one glass of drink; they sometimes drink more than 2-4 liters per day.

Regular consumption of large quantities of alcohol blocks the regenerative functions of the liver. Regenerative processes fade, and the liver begins to deteriorate. The “gaps” are filled with fat. This leads to the development of cirrhosis.

What does pain after drinking mean?

With all that said, the potential for acute liver pain immediately after drinking beer should be discussed. Why does this happen and what should be done?

There are many reasons for the appearance of such pain (each worse than the other).

Here are some of the main reasons why the liver gland may hurt immediately after drinking beer or any other alcohol-containing drink:

Hepatic fibrosis. This is not the most common disease among alcohol addicts, but this does not make it any less unpleasant. The disease occurs when gland tissue begins to enlarge and grow, occupying the space around the venous network. Pain occurs even without drinking alcohol. Associated symptoms are bitter belching, nausea, lethargy and weakness. If left untreated, cirrhosis may develop;
Hepatomegaly. The pathology develops against the background of a malfunction in the process of protein metabolism in the gland. Usually occurs without visible symptoms, but in people, often drinking alcohol the right side may ache;
Alcoholic type steatosis. One of the most common pathologies among alcohol addicts. It occurs against the background of regular consumption of high doses of alcohol-containing products. One of the symptoms of this disease is constant pain in the right side, a feeling of heaviness on the liver.

Diet also plays an important role here. An abundance of fatty, fried, spicy, smoked foods and alcohol add up not only to the development of pathologies of the liver, but also of the pancreas.

Naturally, the liver can also hurt with developed pathologies described in the previous paragraph. So at the first symptoms, stop drinking beer and any other alcoholic beverages and run to the doctor.

Should I give preference to the non-alcoholic type?

This drink can only be called non-alcoholic only conditionally. Any type of beer contains alcohol, one way or another. It’s just that in this type of drink its percentage is much lower than in others.

But this does not mean that this variety will not cause harm to the body. In fact, non-alcoholic beer also has a destructive effect on the liver and kidneys, you just need to drink a slightly larger dose for noticeable changes.

But of course, when choosing the lesser of two evils, you should give preference to non-alcoholic beer.

4 rules for minimizing harm

IN modern conditions It is quite difficult to completely give up drinking alcohol. What bar get-togethers with friends are complete without a glass? good beer? In such situations, you should always remember the measure, and also resort to some preventive measures to minimize the unpleasant consequences of drinking a foamy drink:

Know your limits. In fact, this rule applies to many areas of our lives. Drink only a high-quality product in small quantities. Take long breaks between uses;
Take restorative medications. The day after the party, you should take anti-hangover medications. Similar products are available in any pharmacy. They are aimed at eliminating the symptoms of a hangover and accelerating the removal of toxins from the body. Also drink as much as possible more water with lemon;
Take milk thistle decoctions and tablets. During the period when you do not drink any alcohol-containing drinks, make it a rule to take medications based on milk thistle herb. It contains components that trigger regenerative processes in liver tissue;
Start eating right. No matter how hackneyed this advice may be, follow it. Healthy eating will help significantly reduce the load on the liver, which, in turn, will help it recover several times faster.

If you were young and followed all these simple rules, but the disease has developed, then immediately consult a doctor and start treatment. The key to successful therapy lies in its timeliness and complexity. Be sure to avoid alcohol in any form. Even if the can says “non-alcoholic”, don’t rush to grab it from the shelf. Any type of beer contains alcohol, just in some places there is more of it and in others there is less.

Is there any benefit?

Surprisingly, along with everyone else harmful properties foamy drink exist and beneficial effects. Of course, beer can have a positive effect on the body only if you do not have any contraindications to its consumption, and also when adequate measures are taken. It is best to use so-called “live beer”; it does not contain preservatives or taste stimulants.

Benefits of beer:

Slightly lowers blood pressure;
Has a diuretic effect;
Removes unwanted salts from the body;
Strengthens vascular walls;
Improves appetite;
Prevents premature aging.

Of course, these effects should not be taken as a reason to drink beer if you have any illnesses accompanied by these symptoms. This is more of a pleasant bonus when drinking beer correctly, and not a way to cure something.

Conclusion

Despite all the assurances of beer manufacturers, this drink causes the same harm to our body as any other alcohol. Having made sure that the product contains a small percentage of ethyl alcohol in its composition, people begin to pour liters of this “safe” potion into themselves without measure.

Ultimately, it all ends in alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. So don’t be fooled by the external harmlessness of beer. Moderation is good in everything, and even more so when it comes to consuming foods that can harm your liver.

Not everyone knows how beer affects the liver. Many people believe that this low-alcohol drink is completely harmless and drink it in large quantities. However, in this case, liver cells are gradually destroyed, which leads to alcoholic hepatitis and even cirrhosis. It also negatively affects the central nervous system, kidneys, pancreas, and reproductive organs. 2-3 bottles of quality beer per week are safe for a healthy person - this is what doctors say.

Harm of beer to the body

Disputes about the effect of this drink on the human liver have been going on since the time of the famous medieval physician Paracelsus. Most current doctors claim that it has a negative effect on the organ, but some even see benefits in it.

Serious scientific research there has been no research on this topic.

All data is based on the results of animal experiments and WHO statistics on the prevalence of liver disease in people who drink low-alcohol drinks.

Liver pain after beer

Often, people who are prone to over-indulgence in this drink, first occasionally, and then regularly, have pain in the right hypochondrium after drinking beer. This symptom indicates a negative effect of beer on the liver.

To understand the reasons for this phenomenon and assess its danger, you need to remember that the liver is the main filter of the body. All toxic substances pass through it. Here they are broken down and the resulting products are excreted. Liver cells - hepatocytes - have the ability to regenerate. But large doses of toxic substances destroy them, gradually leading to organ diseases.

The most dangerous toxin for the liver is alcohol. In a healthy body, when taken in small quantities, it is broken down into water and carbon dioxide by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase and does not harm the liver.

With regular consumption or large doses of alcohol, the enzyme cannot cope with the load, and ethyl alcohol begins to destroy liver cells.

A pathological process develops, which in the initial stages causes pain in the right hypochondrium, and later leads to serious illnesses.

A low-alcohol drink affects the human liver more slowly than whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, tequila and other products with a high alcohol content. However, even with the consumption of small doses, it is possible severe symptoms(pain, nausea, diarrhea, swelling). This reaction can be caused by:

unhealthy diet (abuse of fatty, fried, salty foods);
previous viral hepatitis;
hereditary predisposition;
weak immunity;
avitaminosis.

The presence of gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, obesity, and arterial hypertension can also cause liver pathologies in beer drinkers.

Long-term consequences

The appearance of pain in the right hypochondrium after beer libations can be the first “bell” that indicates serious malfunctions in the liver, because destroyed hepatocytes are replaced by connective tissue. The functions of the organ decrease, swelling develops, which leads to an increase in the size of the liver and its pain.

The harm of beer to the liver also manifests itself in steatohepatosis, when normal cells of the organ are replaced by fat cells. Often, with prolonged excessive use of the drink, the following pathologies develop:

Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious disease manifested by jaundice, vomiting, constant diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It should not be confused with viral hepatitis B or C. Alcoholism is not contagious.
Further death of hepatocytes causes general intoxication of the body, ending in chronic renal failure.
Acute alcoholic hepatitis leads to stagnation of bile, a significant decrease in immunity, failure of the spleen and is a harbinger of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is fraught with death. Therefore, the answer to the question whether beer can cause cirrhosis of the liver is yes.

This course of events shows what will happen to the liver if you drink beer in excessive quantities every day. Doctors say that a healthy man can drink no more than half a liter of beer 2-3 times a week without harm to his health. For women, this dose is 0.3 l.

Effect on other body systems

The liver is the organ that first takes on alcohol intoxication. If its operation is disrupted, ethanol and the toxic products of its breakdown enter other organs with the blood, which leads to adverse consequences:

Beer abuse affects brain function (memory deteriorates, alcoholic dementia develops, speech and vision are impaired).
The reproductive system suffers: phytoestrogens contained in the drink cause impotence in men, and menstrual irregularities may occur in women.
By causing deformation of red blood cells, alcohol leads to hypertension, tachycardia, and heart rhythm disturbances.

Alcohol destroys the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract, impairs the functioning of the pancreas, suppressing the production of digestive enzymes and insulin.

Is there any benefit

The harmful effect of beer on the body is due to the presence of small amounts (2-27%) of alcohol in it. Therefore, a number of researchers claim that with moderate consumption of the drink, it is beneficial for a healthy person.

This opinion is based on data on the content of useful substances in natural drinks:

vitamins B1, B2, B9, C, PP, necessary for metabolism;
potassium, which improves heart function, and silicon, which increases the elasticity of blood vessels;
polyphenols (rutin, quercetin, anthocyanins, etc.), which have antioxidant effect, normalizing fat metabolism.

Beer lovers also claim that the drink helps remove fluid from the body, thereby improving kidney function.

However, in practice, according to doctors, these positive effects are inferior to the negative effects. For example, after drinking 2-3 bottles, the diuretic effect will lead to increased excretion of potassium from the body. The phytoestrogens contained in the drink can disrupt hormonal status, leading to the appearance of a “beer belly” in men and an increase in mammary glands, which makes the figure effeminate. In women, given the high calorie content of beer, its excessive consumption quickly leads to excess weight gain.

How to reduce harm from beer

This is the favorite drink in Europe. Germans, British and Czechs drink on average more than 100 liters per year per person; in the Russian Federation this amount does not exceed 30-35 liters. Our ratio of strong alcoholic drinks is the opposite.

Most true beer connoisseurs in Russia prefer to drink it in bars, where it is sold on tap in barrels, while the rest buy bottled product in stores.

Let's consider which drink to choose so that it is of high quality and brings as little harm to the body as possible. To protect yourself, you should follow the following rules:

Buy imported beer (Czech, Austrian, German). It is “alive”, with a minimum of preservatives, and has a stable foam. You need to look for it in popular beer bars. Store-bought (for example, “Bavarian”) is in most cases produced in Russia.
When purchasing a drink in a store, choose glass bottle. Remember: even small doses of alcohol destroy plastic during storage. Beer in cans develops a metallic taste over time.
Choose products only in dark glass, because in the light they lose their taste.
Be sure to check the date of manufacture of the bottled drink and its shelf life. If it exceeds 30 days - in beer increased content preservatives.

Popular beer bars serve salted, dried fish, squid, and chips as snacks. But excess salt in the body puts a lot of stress on the kidneys and leads to edema. The most useful snacks for beer are considered boiled crayfish or shrimp.

Most best option to minimize the harm from beer is to drink it in moderation.

Is non-alcoholic beer harmful to the liver?

Non-alcoholic beer is produced from regular beer by removing ethanol from it using special technologies. At the same time, it loses its taste and some of the nutrients, but there is still alcohol - its amount is slightly above 1%.

Such a low alcohol content has its pros and cons. For example, a glass of such beer can be safely drunk to quench your thirst. Moreover, Japanese doctors have identified its inhibitory effect on the growth of malignant tumors.

On the other hand, teenagers who drink this “safe” beer forget that even medicine in large doses becomes poison, and they begin to abuse the drink. Beer lovers, when driving, drink a can or two every day, without thinking that the estrogen content in it is no different from regular alcohol and leads to the same consequences.

In such cases, non-alcoholic beer affects the liver in the same way as regular beer - hepatocytes are gradually destroyed, which leads to fatty hepatosis or fibrosis. People with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and gallbladder need to remember this - these problems can provoke liver diseases.

What is more harmful to the liver – vodka or beer?

The answer seems obvious - after all, vodka contains 40° ethanol, and beer has an average of 3-9°. However, you should not assume that vodka is more dangerous, because a shot of vodka (50 ml) contains less alcohol than a bottle of beer (500 ml). Therefore, the harm of the drink depends on the doses taken. Nevertheless, there are criteria that allow us to assess the degree of harm:

the calorie content of vodka is 7 times higher than beer, therefore, in the first case, the likelihood of fatty liver degeneration is higher;
doctors believe that beer alcoholism develops faster, which is often observed in young people;
Beer, unlike vodka, contains preservatives, which can also be toxic;
vodka provokes appetite to a greater extent; as a snack they prefer fatty, fried, smoked foods, which negatively affect the liver.

Thus, to the question of what is worse for the liver - beer or vodka, there is no clear answer. Both drinks, taken in excessive quantities, pose a huge danger to the organ. If healthy people drink alcohol in small doses, it does not cause negative consequences.

Alcoholic beverages are a frequent attribute of holidays, corporate events, parties and simply meetings with friends. The most popular drinks available on the tables are vodka and beer. They have their admirers who know the many advantages of vodka and beer, despite the harm to health.

All alcoholic drinks have harmful effects on the body. Drinking beer, vodka, wine, cognac in large quantities disrupts the functioning of internal organs. The liver and brain are primarily affected.

What is more harmful to the liver – vodka or beer? Can I drink wine if I have hepatitis C? Alcohol standards and caloric content – we will answer all questions in detail.

Vodka and liver

Which alcoholic beverage causes more harm to the body? First, let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of vodka. The drink contains ethyl alcohol and ordinary purified water. In addition, additives are used to soften the taste.

The beneficial properties of the alcoholic drink are based on the medicinal properties of ethyl alcohol, which is the basis of the product. The benefits appear only with rare and moderate use.

The advantages include natural composition, good warming effect, possibility of cooking at home, medicinal properties with low consumption, long shelf life.

Therapeutic effects appear against the background of moderate consumption of vodka:

Prevention of respiratory and cold pathologies.
Improved appetite.
Prevention of the development of ischemic heart disease.
Stabilization of blood pressure indicators.
Normalization of sleep, fight against insomnia.
Reducing the risk of developing arthritis and angina.
Cancer prevention.

In large volumes, vodka can “harm” the liver, leading to the development of irreversible changes that can be fatal.

Negative influence

When consumed in moderation, vodka does not cause serious harm to the human body. In small quantities, ethyl alcohol is a medicine. But if you drink a lot, it can transform into poison.

People suffering from alcohol addiction, according to statistics, most often suffer from cancer pathologies. Alcoholics die from heart attacks and strokes. Vodka is a strong toxin that leads to intoxication of the body, which negatively affects the functionality of the liver.

A high-calorie alcohol-containing product can destroy the human body from the inside, leading to various diseases. In turn, disorders affect the quality of life and its duration.

Beer and the human liver

So, how does beer affect people's livers? It all depends on the amount of beer consumed. Natural high-quality beer is a good source of B vitamins and helps form red blood cells. There's a lot in beer minerals– iron, copper, magnesium and phosphorus. The full functionality of the body as a whole depends on them.

If the recommended limit for alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer is not exceeded by on an ongoing basis, then the drink is exclusively beneficial. Beer normalizes metabolic processes, promotes cleansing of toxic substances and toxins, reduces blood pressure in hypertension, prevents atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels and cardiovascular disease. The foamy drink stops the aging process.

Beer lovers offer the following arguments in its defense:

Easy to drink, quenches thirst well.
Pleasant taste and aroma.
A good diuretic.
Minimum amount of ethyl alcohol in the composition.
Toning effect.
Low calorie content (compared to other alcoholic products).

The effect of beer on the liver, consumed rarely and in small quantities, is extremely positive. Malt drink helps the gland remove waste and toxic substances from the body.

Harm of malt drink

Manufacturers are modernizing the malt drink production process to reduce the cost final product. And this affects the quality. Natural ingredients are replaced with artificial substances. And the presence of female sex hormones has a detrimental effect on the male body if beer is consumed frequently.

How does beer affect the human liver? The drink promotes the destruction of liver cells, leading to diffuse changes in the organ. In the stronger sex, due to excessive consumption, problems of a sexual nature appear and the belly grows.

Beer contains alcohol, which has a detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system. The “safest” diseases resulting from drinking beer are high blood pressure and tachycardia. Frequent consumption increases the risk of cancer, pancreatitis and gastritis.

Beer has a negative effect on the brain, causing red blood cells to stick together, causing oxygen starvation and brain cells to die.

Beer drinks are addictive and high in calories, which leads to weight gain.

What is more harmful - beer or vodka?

Medical experts have not come to a consensus, and are still arguing about which drink is more harmful - beer, vodka or wine. In any case, the alcohol in the composition will have a negative effect on the human liver. And if there is a history of gland disease, then the destructive processes are accelerated.

A small amount of alcoholic beverages will not cause liver damage. For example, 500 ml of beer or 50 grams of vodka several times a week. If abused, the harmful consequences will soon make themselves felt.

Even beer, which harms the liver less than vodka, can have a detrimental effect on the functionality of the organ if consumed in liters every day. At the same time, malt drink promotes addiction.

Alcoholic form of toxic hepatitis.
Fatty infiltration of the liver.
Alcoholic cirrhosis.

In many alcoholics, the liver literally begins to “fall off” due to frequent and prolonged consumption of alcohol.

Vodka is a distillation product with special additives, and beer is a fermentation product that contains yeast. If you combine vodka and beer, the human body is saturated with a high concentration of harmful impurities, and this has a detrimental effect on the digestive process and worsens well-being.

A small amount of vodka passes through the gastrointestinal tract and is not absorbed into the mucous membrane. If you drink vodka with beer, the mixture of beer + vodka will linger in the stomach for a long time. Alkaloids will increase intoxication. The liver cannot cope with the high content of dangerous substances, as a result of which toxins can enter the blood.

Acceptable rate

Any alcoholic product is both beneficial and harmful to the body. Everything depends on the dosage used. Thus, the permissible dose of a beer drink for men is 200-500 ml per day, 4-5 times a week. For women, the dose is 200-300 ml per day.

No harm male body 50 grams of vodka several times a week, and for women 30 ml of any strong alcoholic drink 1-2 times a week. If there are serious chronic diseases Alcohol consumption must be permitted by the attending physician.

Calorie content of the drink

The degree is responsible for the calorie content of alcoholic beverages. The higher it is, the more caloric the product is. So, 50 g of vodka contains 110 kcal. This is commensurate with a standard portion of porridge with the addition butter. The calorie content of beer depends on the strength. On average it is 30-50 kcal per 100 ml. A light drink has less calories.

Alcohol harms the kidneys

The kidneys filter the blood, cleanse it of toxic substances, poisons and waste. They, together with the liver, bear the “main” blow against the background of alcohol consumption. To get rid of alcohol in the blood, the kidneys distill large amounts of biological fluid. To do this, they work with increased load.

In alcoholics, impaired renal function is not a rare occurrence, as is dehydration, since alcoholic beverages have a diuretic effect.

As a result: drinking any alcohol-containing liquid has a negative effect on liver function. And in the presence of chronic pathologies of the gland, destructive processes can accelerate, which leads to a deterioration in well-being and a decrease in life expectancy. Only moderate and infrequent consumption of alcohol will not cause harm.

Doctors have no disagreement about how beer affects the liver and the body as a whole. This drink is classified as alcoholic, although the ethyl alcohol content in it is minimal. The fact is that the harm of alcohol increases not with a single excess of the permissible dose, but with regular use, even in small quantities. It has been proven that beer, if you drink it every day, completely rearranges the course of metabolic processes at the cellular level, poisons the body and can cause.

The role of the liver and the effect of alcohol on it

The liver is the body's main filter. It neutralizes poisons and toxins, which include ethanol processing products. If they enter the blood regularly, it does not have time to cope with its functions and builds up toxic substances in its own cells. Over time, these changes become more severe and difficult to treat.

A dangerous consequence of exposure to regular doses of ethyl alcohol is alcoholic liver disease. It is a complex of changes caused by the toxic effects of alcohol and its processing product, acetaldehyde. It develops in several stages:

liver steatosis (fatty hepatosis, fatty liver) – the appearance of fat inclusions in hepatocytes;
– inflammation of the liver parenchyma, which develops by analogy with poisoning;
The most recent and dangerous stage of alcoholic liver disease is cirrhosis, the gradual death of healthy tissue with its replacement by a connective tissue scar, which can lead to hepatic coma.

Beer is no less harmful to the body than other types of alcoholic beverages. However, the maximum permissible doses of this drink will be greater than for vodka or wine. You can drink up to 500 ml (for men) or 330 ml of beer (for women) per day without fear of developing alcoholic cirrhosis after a few years. The permissible dose of champagne or wine is 200 (100) ml, and cognac or vodka - 50 (30) ml per day. These data are averaged; the rate of destruction depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the activity of enzymes that process alcohol.

Beer belly is the result of excessive consumption of fatty and fried foods, and the drink only increases appetite

Composition of beer and its effect in the body

Beer is a low-alcohol drink. It contains ethyl alcohol in small quantities, and in some varieties its content can reach 14%. The maximum permissible safe dose of this drink per day will depend on this indicator (on average - 40 g of ethanol).

In addition to the main component, there are other additives that are harmful to the liver:

toxic stabilizers;
cobalt;
carbon dioxide;
salts of heavy metals;
phytoestrogens;
products that are formed as a result of fermentation are fusel oils, acetaldehyde, methanol and various esters.

A drinking person can be distinguished even visually, and this is due to the harmful effects of toxins on his body. After beer internal organs cannot work as usual, there is a failure of the digestive, endocrine and other systems. Persons who drink alcoholic beverages regularly, including beer, complain of a characteristic set of symptoms:

painful sensations in the right hypochondrium, in the liver projection area;
decreased concentration;
rapid weight gain;
indigestion, flatulence.

If your liver hurts after drinking alcohol-containing drinks, this may indicate the onset of alcohol-related illness. Over time, the processes of secretion and outflow of bile are disrupted, which is why food is not absorbed in the intestines. It begins to ferment and poison the body with toxic compounds. In later stages, the skin becomes pale or yellow, and the condition of the skin, hair and nails deteriorates.

How safe is non-alcoholic beer?

The theory that types of alcohol with high ethanol content are more harmful has no basis. According to statistics, low-alcohol drinks are more likely to cause addiction and provoke the development of dangerous diseases. Non-alcoholic beer is not a safe analogue of a regular product for several reasons:

it is impossible to make beer without a minimum amount of ethanol, so the percentage of alcohol in this drink can be up to 5%;
To improve taste and extend shelf life, harmful stabilizers, preservatives and dyes are added;
Psychologically, a non-alcoholic product does not cause concern, therefore it often becomes the cause of beer alcoholism.

There are no ways to drink beer regularly and at the same time protect yourself from its harmful effects. Non-alcoholic varieties are a marketing ploy that makes you buy alcohol and not think about the consequences. To avoid various diseases, it is worth observing the culture of drinking alcoholic beverages and choosing quality products. If beer has a shelf life of more than a day, this indicates a large number of harmful stabilizers. However, even the most popular natural varieties are harmful and can have detrimental effects on health. The reason they rarely cause alcoholism is because they are of a higher price category, so few people use them daily.

Non-alcoholic varieties also have a harmful effect on the liver, so consuming them regularly is not recommended.

When can beer be useful?

If you drink beer rarely, do not exceed permissible limits and choose high-quality products, it will not provoke the development of liver diseases. With a one-time intake of this drink, minor changes occur that cannot be called dangerous:

blood pressure levels decrease due to vasodilation;
a diuretic effect appears, while salts are removed from the body, and potassium and magnesium compounds are retained (with regular use, the opposite effect is observed);
antioxidants of high-quality beer (flavonoids, catechin, phenols) strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
Appetite is stimulated due to the drink’s effect on fatty acid metabolism.

The harm and benefits of alcohol are determined by the culture of its use. It has been proven that the cause of beer belly is not the drink itself, but the abundance of fatty foods in the diet. Beer is usually consumed with high-calorie meat dishes and fried snacks, and its components increase appetite. 1 liter of drink contains no more than 400-500 calories, and if you drink it rarely, it does not affect your figure. The phytoestrogens that are in its composition provoke the accumulation of fat in the lower part of the body, including in the abdominal area.

The effect of beer on the liver is dangerous changes in its structure, which can lead to serious consequences. This drink contains ethanol, fermentation products, stabilizers and other harmful chemicals. They are added to impart a rich taste and smell, extend shelf life and improve foam properties. Drink beer, like other alcoholic drinks, healthy person is not prohibited, but it is important to comply with acceptable standards and give the liver the opportunity to cleanse itself of toxins. Quality beers have no aftertaste, do not last long, and their foam is not too concentrated and settles quickly.