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Beer is an effective remedy for runny nose and colds
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Winter frosts are already in full swing, so it's time to look for recipes for warming drinks, such as ginger tea, mulled wine and punch, which will help you survive the cold and ease the symptoms of a cold. But to the list of healthy drinks in winter, it is worth adding another, but completely unexpected, since they like to quench thirst on hot summer days, but not in cold and frosty weather.
Japanese scientists have discovered that beer, a favorite of many, can help cure runny noses and colds. Researchers from Sapporo Medical University have discovered that one of the main ingredients of beer, responsible for its bitter taste – hops – contains a substance called humulone, which can effectively protect the body from respiratory syncytial virus infection and also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
"RSV can cause serious conditions such as pneumonia and is also dangerous for toddlers, causing difficulty breathing. However, there is currently no vaccine against the virus," said lead author Dr. Yunai Fushimoto.
During the winter, the respiratory syncytial virus often causes cold-like symptoms in adults.
A team of scientists hopes that they may soon be able to create a non-alcoholic drink containing humulone that could be consumed not only by adults, but also by children.
This is not the first time the world has heard about the health benefits of beer. Not long ago, Alexis Nazard, the commercial director of Heineken, said that beer is not only a natural drink, but also very healthy. Mr. Nazard explained that beer contains far fewer calories than a glass of milk, and in addition, beer is one of the few drinks that are natural and “clean”, because it contains hops, water, barley and yeast – components that have a beneficial effect on the human body.
There have been many studies that were aimed at identifying the beneficial properties of the foamy drink. The results obtained by experts cannot be called unambiguous. Some of them deny any benefit from drinking alcoholic beverages, including beer, while others, on the contrary, indicate that a glass of beer will not only not harm, but will also have a beneficial effect on the body. In particular, experts from the University of California have discovered that beer is a source of dietary silicon, which helps fight osteoporosis due to its ability to increase bone density.
And Spanish scientists from the University of Valladolid say that dark beers, such as Guinness, contain iron.
Whatever the scientists' conclusions, they all agree on one thing - excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can lead to weight gain, dehydration and other health problems.
This is especially true considering that humulone is found in beer in very small quantities, so in order for it to take effect and demonstrate an antiviral effect, one person must drink at least 30 cans of beer with a volume of 350 milliliters.
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