The Effect Of Beer On Cholesterol And Triglycerides
There are not a lot of studies specifically examining how beer can affect your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Most studies include many types of alcoholic beverages to examine their effect on cholesterol, triglycerides, and heart health as a whole. In these studies, the type or brand of beer was not usually noted.
Studies have examined the consumption of beer products on lipids in amounts ranging from 60 to 340 mL daily for a duration between 4 and 6 weeks on average.
In some studies, people drinking at least one beer beverage a day saw an increase in healthy high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by up to 11%. Additionally, unhealthy low-density lipoprotein levels in some studies were lowered by up to 18%, although some other studies did not see a significant decrease in LDL.
The manner in which beer may affect your lipid levels is not known.
One study showed that consuming one beer daily could reduce the oxidation of LDL. However, consumption of three or more beers daily actually promoted LDL oxidation. Studies have shown that oxidized LDL can promote inflammation of the inner lining of blood vessels and contribute to the formation of atherosclerosis, which leads to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Red Wine And Type 2 Diabetes
Even though some alcoholic beverages increase blood glucose levels, research indicates that drinking red wine may actually be beneficial to those suffering from type 2 diabetes.
In a recent study out of the Annals of Internal Medicine, it was found that drinking red wine in moderation can decrease the chances of developing heart disease in those suffering from type 2 diabetes.
In this study, greater than 200 research participants were watched for up to 2 years. One group were instructed to drink a glass of red wine every day with supper, while others drank white wine and still others drank mineral water instead. All participants ate a Mediterranean-type diet that didnt restrict the intake of calories.
The study lasted 2 years. After 2 years, those who drank red wine had elevated levels of HDL cholesterol and decreased total cholesterol than were found in people who drank white wine or only drank mineral water. There were also benefits in the blood glucose level in the red wine drinking population. Researchers believed that drinking moderate amounts of this type of alcoholic beverage along with eating a healthy diet may moderately decrease the risk of heart disease.
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Drinking Alcohol And Cholesterol Levels
The subject of alcohol and cholesterol levels has been widely studied. There is now medical agreement that drinking in moderation benefits cholesterol levels.
Overview
III. Research
IV. Resources
Unfortunately, many people dont know the benefits of moderate drinking on cholesterol levels. Or they think the benefits apply only to red wine. However, they also apply to white wine, beer, and distilled spirits. Spirits include whiskey, rum, tequila, brandy, gin, etc.
I. Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat thats in the human body. Cholesterol consists of LDL . Also of HDL cholesterol. Total cholesterol is LDL level plus HDL level. A high total cholesterol level is predictive of heart diseases. That includes heart attacks and strokes.
HDL is good cholesterol. It removes cholesterol from cells that have accumulated too much. It then takes it to the liver for disposal.
LDL is bad cholesterol. It moves cholesterol from the liver or small intestine to newly formed or growing cells. This is a necessary function. But too much cholesterol in the blood can build up and stick to the walls of the arteries.
II. Plaque
This buildup is plaque. It can cause narrowing and hardening of the arteries. Plaque buildup can break away and cause heart attacks and strokes.
Regular moderate drinking raises the level of good cholesterol. At the same time, it lowers the level of bad cholesterol. The alcoholic beverages can be beer, wine or distilled spirits.
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It Makes Your Blood Platelets Less Sticky
Platelets are a type of blood cell that form clots by sticking together. When your platelets are stickier, it raises the risk of forming a blood clot that can travel to your heart and cause a heart attack or to your brain where it can lead to a stroke.
Studies show that light or moderate wine drinking can reduce platelet aggregation and coagulation, reducing the risk for heart attacks and strokes. In a laboratory study reported in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, researchers combined platelets with red wine, extracted red wine polyphenols or non-wine alcohol. They then evaluated the impact on platelet aggregation. The red wine and isolated red wine polyphenols both inhibited aggregation dose-dependently while non-wine alcohol did not inhibit aggregation.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Understanding Blood Pressure Levels
Research participants provided details about their drinking habits via a questionnaire that was part of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionâs National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The study defined moderate drinkers as those having 7 to 13 drinks per week, while heavy drinkers downed 14 or more drinks on a weekly basis.
Investigators measured blood pressure during in-home interviews and at a mobile examination center. Pressure is gauged in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. The top number represents how much pressure is pushing against artery walls as the heart beats, and the bottom number represents pressure when the heart rests between beats. Readings were categorized according to American Heart Association standards.
Based on their findings, study authors determined that the likelihood of having elevated high blood pressure was on average 19 percent greater among moderate drinkers and 44 percent higher for the heavy drinkers compared with those who never drank.
Compared with the never-drinkers, moderate drinkers had 53 percent higher odds of having stage 1 hypertension and 100 percent greater odds for stage 2 hypertension.
Risks were higher for heavy drinkers they faced a 69 percent greater chance of developing stage 1 hypertension and 140 percent greater chance for stage 2 hypertension compared with those who totally avoid alcohol.
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Dont Drink Beer To Lower Cholesterol
Itâs possible that one beer a day might improve lipid profile and lower oxidation of LDL in some cases. Drinking three or more beers may adversely affect your lipid profile, heart health, and increase your risk of getting certain diseases, such as some types of cancer, high blood pressure, and stroke.
This trend has also been noted with other types of alcohol. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not drink too much beeror any alcoholic beverage for that matterif you are concerned about your heart health.
The World Health Organization has stated, based on recent studies, that no amount of alcohol intake is safe for health.
The American Heart Association recommends that if you do drink alcohol, males should limit to no more than one to two 12 ounce servings of beer daily, and females should limit to no more than 12 ounces of beer a day. Twelve ounces roughly equals 350 mL of beer.
If you do not typically drink, the American Heart Association cautions that you should not start drinking beeror any other alcoholsolely for the purpose of improving your heart health.
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Health Benefits Of Polyphenols
Foods that are highest in polyphenols include:
- spices: cloves, peppermint, star anise, oregano, sage, ginger
- cocoa powder and dark chocolate
- black, green, yellow, white, oolong tea
- berries: elderberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries
- red wine
- nuts
- olive oil
Youve probably seen tea along with these other foods on lists of foods with tremendous health benefits. Interestingly, theyre all part of the Mediterranean diet too.
The polyphenols in tea and all of these foods help protect cells from oxidative damage. They also help reduce inflammation in your body, blood vessels, and brain.
Eating more polyphenol-rich foods is linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
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How Much Alcohol Is Safe To Drink
To stay in good health and avoid illness, the government recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, for men and women.
To keep the risks down:
- spread your units out across the week
- have some alcohol-free days
- avoid drinking more than six units in six hours, which counts as binge drinking thats less than three 175ml glasses of wine or three pints of beer.
If you have high cholesterol or FH, it should be OK to drink alcohol within these limits. There are some health problems and treatments which can mean its safer to avoid alcohol all together. Speak to your doctor or nurse about whats safe for you.
In the past, it was thought that drinking in moderation was good for your heart. Its now believed that the only possible benefits are for women over 55 when drinking 5 units a week or less, and the benefits are modest.
We dont recommend drinking alcohol to improve your health, as you will improve your health more by eating well and being active. With alcohol, the cons could out way the pros.
How much is a unit of alcohol?
A unit of alcohol is roughly the amount your body can clear from your blood in one hour. Its the equivalent of 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol.
Different drinks contain different amounts of alcohol, as some are stronger than others. For example, a 175ml glass of wine can contain anywhere between 1.9 and 2.4 units. It can be surprising how many units are in your favourite drinks, and how quickly they add up.
14 units is roughly:
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Alcohol can increase your levels of triglycerides. Along with LDL cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides raise your risk of heart disease.
Excess alcohol consumption also increases blood pressure and can lead to obesity both additional risk factors for heart disease.
To reduce the risk of heart disease and other risks from alcohol, limit your intake to no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 drinks per day.
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Drinking Too Much Alcohol Regularly
While having the occasional drink to celebrate a special occasion may not derail your health goals, regular alcohol use could be sending your cholesterol soaring.
“Drinking more than a moderate amount of alcohol per day may lead to increased cholesterol levels,” says advanced practice registered dietitian Becky Kerkenbush, MS, RD-AP, CSG, CD, FAND, president of the Wisconsin Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A study published in the journal Alcohol found that excessive drinking, whether occasionally or regularly, may increase LDL “bad” levels.
“Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, which is close to the 9 calories per gram provided by fat. Carbohydrates and protein provide 4 calories per gram. If someone is drinking more than a moderate amount of alcohol daily, this can lead to excess calories and weight gain,” says Kerkenbush.
On the other hand, occasional red wine consumption may help lower LDL cholesterol and alcohol as a category has also been linked to increased levels of “good” HDL cholesterol when consumed in moderation. However, “If you don’t drink red wine, there’s no need to start for health benefits,” Kerkenbush adds, as there is no proven cause-and-effect link showing any heart health-related benefits from drinking any form of alcohol.
Is Alcohol Always Bad For Cholesterol
So, does alcohol cause high cholesterol in every situation?
In excess, alcohol can be a factor in high cholesterol levels. But in moderation, alcohol is not always a bad thing. In fact, some studies suggest that red wine can actually increase HDL levels, due to chemicals called polyphenols.
Its important to point out, however, that these same beneficial compounds are available in ordinary grapes and other fruits such as blueberries. And, according to the American Heart Association, regular exercise is much more effective at raising HDL levels than drinking wine.
In other words, while small amounts of red wine may not make your cholesterol worse, it shouldnt be your go-to for balancing your LDL/HDL levels.
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Is It True That Wine Lowers Your Bad Cholesterol
Q: Is it true that wine lowers your bad cholesterol?
A: First of all, what is bad cholesterol? The term refers to low density lipids found in the bloodstream. High levels of LDL can contribute to atherosclerosisthe hardening and narrowing of arteries due to plaque depositwhich can lead to heart disease.
In clinical studies, some foods and drinks, especially wine, have been shown to lower LDL. But according to Miriam Pappo, a registered dietician and director of Clinical Nutrition at Montefiore Medical Center, There is conflicting evidence on this. Antioxidants in general have been shown to lower bad cholesterol and increase HDL, also known as good cholesterol. She continued, The antioxidant resveratrol, found in wine, might be the key ingredient in wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce bad cholesterol or LDL, and increase good cholesterol HDL. Much resveratrol research, however, has been performed on animals and in larger doses than would be found in normal wine consumption.
Pappo pointed out that several major studies on this topic have produced different results. The 2005 French Paradox study showed that alcohol found in red wine increased HDL but did not decrease LDL. Researchers in Madrid, meanwhile, found that red wine could lower LDL levels by 9 percent in healthy people and by 12 percent in less-healthy people.
Have a question about wine and healthy living? .
How Do I Know If I Have High Cholesterol
Many Australians don’t know they have high cholesterol, because there are no symptoms. High cholesterol can only be detected through a blood test.
Some people have a condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia where a genetic problem leads to high cholesterol. About one in 500 Australians has this condition and many dont know they have it. If you have a family history of high cholesterol or of heart disease at a young age, ask your doctor about your risk.
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Don’t Drink Beer To Lower Cholesterol
It’s possible that one beer a day might improve lipid profile and lower oxidation of LDL in some cases. Drinking three or more beers may adversely affect your lipid profile, heart health, and increase your risk of getting certain diseases, such as some types of cancer, high blood pressure, and stroke.
This trend has also been noted with other types of alcohol. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not drink too much beeror any alcoholic beverage for that matterif you are concerned about your heart health.
The World Health Organization has stated, based on recent studies, that no amount of alcohol intake is safe for health.
The American Heart Association recommends that if you do drink alcohol, males should limit to no more than one to two 12 ounce servings of beer daily, and females should limit to no more than 12 ounces of beer a day. Twelve ounces roughly equals 350 mL of beer.
If you do not typically drink, the American Heart Association cautions that you should not start drinking beeror any other alcoholsolely for the purpose of improving your heart health.
Can Alcohol Affect A Cholesterol Test
Absolutely. Heres why.
Much of the alcohol that flows into your system after tipping back a glass finds its way to your liver for a digestive after-party. Alcohol is broken down in your liver and reconstructed as cholesterol and triglycerides.
The more you drink, the more your levels of cholesterol and triglycerides rise. As you might imagine, high levels of either type of this waxy fat are not exactly desirable for managing cholesterol or optimal health.
People who drink a lot of alcohol tend to have very high triglycerides, says Dr. Cho. That can be a concern because elevated triglyceride levels can increase your risk for diabetes, pancreatitis and stroke.
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Shifting Benefits And Risks
The benefits and risks of moderate drinking change over a lifetime. In general, risks exceed benefits until middle age, when cardiovascular disease begins to account for an increasingly large share of the burden of disease and death.
- For a pregnant woman and her unborn child, a recovering alcoholic, a person with liver disease, and people taking one or more medications that interact with alcohol, moderate drinking offers little benefit and substantial risks.
- For a 30-year-old man, the increased risk of alcohol-related accidents outweighs the possible heart-related benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.
- For a 60-year-old man, a drink a day may offer protection against heart disease that is likely to outweigh potential harm .
- For a 60-year-old woman, the benefit/risk calculations are trickier. Ten times more women die each year from heart disease than from breast cancer . However, studies show that women are far more afraid of developing breast cancer than heart disease, something that must be factored into the equation.
Can Drinking Alcohol Affect Cholesterol Levels
Can a few glasses of wine after work affect cholesterol? Alcohol is filtered through the liver and cholesterol is produced in the same place, but its effect on heart health really depends on how often and how much you drink.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced in the body, but it can also be obtained from food. One type of cholesterol, called low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, builds up in the arteries and forms plaque.
This plaque can restrict blood flow to other parts of the body or cause plaque clots to flake off, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
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Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Cholesterol
So, drinking alcohol raises the triglycerides and cholesterol in your blood. If your triglyceride levels become too high, they can build up in the liver, causing fatty liver disease. The liver cant work as well as it should and cant remove cholesterol from your blood, so your cholesterol levels rise.