The charming flavor of beer makes it a popular choice for many at the dinner table, but some people should avoid drinking it as it can be harmful to their health. Let's take a detailed look at the groups of people who should avoid beer.
Patients who should not drink beer
1. Diabetics
One liter of 12-degree regular beer produces the same amount of heat as 800ml of milk or 500g of lean meat, or 250g of bread. If a diabetic person consumes a large amount of beer without controlling other foods, it will cause blood sugar levels to rise, leading to acidosis and worsening the condition.
2. Patients with high blood pressure
Beer is rich in tyramine, which can promote the release of adrenaline from sympathetic nerve fibers, causing strong contraction of small arteries throughout the body, a sharp rise in blood pressure, and even triggering a hypertensive crisis.
3. Patients with chronic gastritis
Drinking beer for patients with chronic gastritis can inhibit or reduce the synthesis of prostaglandin E in the gastric mucosa, causing damage to the gastric mucosa and leading to symptoms such as bloating, a burning sensation in the stomach, belching, and loss of appetite.
4. Pregnant and postpartum women
Beer is brewed from barley. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, barley is considered to have an effect of suppressing lactation. Beer made from it can inhibit milk secretion, affecting breastfeeding. Furthermore, alcohol can be passed to the child through the umbilical cord or breast milk, affecting the child's brain development.
5. Patients with urinary system stones
According to research, the wort used to make beer not only contains calcium and oxalic acid but also compounds like uridine and purine nucleotides. These substances interact to increase the amount of uric acid in the body and promote the formation of kidney stones. Therefore, patients with urinary system stones should drink as little beer as possible, or none at all.
6. Patients with liver disease
Their liver function is impaired. Ethanol and acetic acid are metabolized into acetaldehyde, which can lead to necrosis or degeneration of liver cells. It also affects the liver's metabolic functions for proteins, bilirubin, drugs, etc., leading to a relapse or worsening of the liver disease.
7. People taking certain medications
Drugs like Furazolidone and Eunonyne can increase the body's sensitivity to beer, causing adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. Additionally, beer can enhance the irritant effect of antipyretic and analgesic cold medicines on the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, one should avoid drinking beer when taking the aforementioned medications.