^
A
A
A

Will beer help you lose weight?

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
 
Fact-checked
х

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

18 May 2016, 11:15

American researchers have made an interesting discovery that should please all beer lovers. As experiments have shown, this intoxicating drink improves health and helps to lose weight.

This unusual statement was made by employees of the research center at the University of Oregon after a series of experiments with laboratory rodents. During observations of mice that were given large amounts of beer compounds in their food, scientists noticed that the weight of the rodents began to decrease.

During the work, the experts divided all the experimental animals into two groups, all the mice received products with a high fat content, but the second group of rodents additionally received beer flavonoid (xanthohumol). After some time, the scientists noted that the weight of the second group of experimental animals decreased by 22%, compared to the rodents from the first group.

In addition to weight loss, scientists noted another positive aspect of the “beer diet” - the cholesterol level in rodents that consumed beer decreased by 80%.

American researchers are confident that a person will have a similar effect from drinking beer, but to achieve this, they would need to drink more than 1,500 liters of beer daily, which is impossible even for the most ardent lovers of this intoxicating drink.

The author of the research project, Cristobal Miranda, noted that this study demonstrates such a broad effect on health of one compound for the first time. In nature, xanthohumol is found in hops, and in an experiment with mice, scientists gave the rodents 60 mg of this compound per kg of the animal's weight. For a person, this is equivalent to 350 mg per day (with a weight of 70-75 kg), but it will not be possible to get this dose from a beer drink, since for this, as already mentioned, you will have to drink more than 1,500 liters of beer per day.

In real life, a completely different picture is observed: beer lovers develop a so-called “beer belly” and also gain extra pounds, so, according to American scientists, it is better not to abuse the beer drink.

But how much beer can be drunk per day was told several months ago by Spanish specialists, whose unique study literally turned the idea of beer upside down. The Spaniards examined more than 1,200 people, including both men and women, aged 50 to 58 years. During the study, scientists tried to find a connection between the Mediterranean diet and the consumption of the intoxicating drink, as well as to establish the possible influence of nutrition on the development of various diseases. The condition of the volunteers was observed by various specialists who recorded the slightest deviations or violations. As a result, it was found that 500-600 ml of beer per day has a positive effect on human health.

According to scientists, it is in this quantity that the alcoholic drink has a preventive effect on the body - it helps reduce the likelihood of developing diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and also control weight.

Without a doubt, this study will please the male half of the planet's population, but scientists emphasize that one should drink no more than 600 ml of beer per day, otherwise health problems may arise.

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.