Does beer cause constipation?
In this brief guide, we will discuss the following question, “does beer cause constipation?” and other queries related to the subject.
Does beer cause constipation?
Yes, beer may cause constipation if consumed excessively since it contains alcohol. As known, heavy alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration because it reduces the secretion of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which helps the body in holding the water, so the person will pee more, this is the diuretic effect of low ADH secretion.
In the case of dehydration caused by the excess alcohol intake, the body through the large intestine absorbs the water from the waste before it leaves the body leading to hard and dry stool and difficult defecation.
Regarding the bowel movement and the peristalsis, drinks with low alcohol content like beer and wine increase gastric motility whereas drinks that contain more than 15 percent alcohol are slower and reduce the intestinal peristalsis thus prolonging the fermentation of foods by the gut microbes that leave you gassy and uncomfortable.
Moreover, alcohol not only leads to prolonged food fermentation by the gut microbiota but also is a reason for bacterial overgrowth in the intestine, leading to constipation and bloating.
People metabolize alcohol differently, for some alcohol can cause constipation and for others, alcohol has an opposite effect and can cause diarrhea.
Constipation is defined as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation is having less than one stool per week and is usually caused by the slow bowel movement and can lead to abdominal pain and discomfort. However, constipation is related to many reasons other than alcohol:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Poor physical activity
- Some medications
- Low fiber diet
- High intake of processed food
How to prevent constipation while drinking?
Here are some tips to prevent constipation while drinking:
- Drink water and avoid sugary drinks for rehydration
- Avoid caffeine since it is a diuretic
- Keep moving this increases the bowel movement and reduces constipation
- Take prebiotics as a supplement to introduce healthy bacteria into your gut
What can drinking beer every day do?
Drinking excessively and every day can have serious health problems such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems, liver damage like liver cirrhosis, obesity, excessive weight gain, memory problems and not to forget the risk of becoming alcohol dependent.
Also, it is a risk factor for many cancers like breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and rectal cancer.
These problems are seen in the long term. Drinking in moderation is safe and doesn’t have harmful effects.
However, according to the 2020-2025 dietary guidelines for Americans, it is advised to limit alcohol intake to 2 or less drinks per day for men and 1 or less for women in order to avoid alcohol-related harm. Also, it doesn’t recommend people who don’t drink at all start drinking for any reason.
Does beer make you poop?
Yes, beer can make you poop but as said before people metabolize alcohol differently, for some it causes diarrhea and for others, it leads to constipation. Usually, alcohol irritates the lining of the intestine leading to pooping of a diarrhea-like nature.
This might be worsened if the drink is high in sugar or sugar-rich juices or mixed with energy drinks because generally, sugar or caffeine present in energy drinks stimulates the bowel movement causing people to poop more often.
If you drink excessively and heavily on a daily basis, about four drinks in less than two hours, alcohol can start damaging the intestinal lining because the liver can metabolize so much alcohol in an hour.
The damage and the inflammation of the intestinal lining reduce the gut microbes’ capacity in absorbing the nutrients needed by the body for appropriate functioning, thus anything that is not absorbed by the body will pass through the gut and will be excreted in the stool.
People used to regularly and excessively drinking may experience more gut problems due to the damage to their intestinal lining.
How does alcohol affect the gastrointestinal tract?
Alcohol affects the gastrointestinal tract, depending on the type of alcohol and the frequency of alcohol consumption. Usually, all types of alcohol but more specifically the fermented drinks like wine and beer increase the acid secretion and reduce the pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter leading to acid reflux.
Low doses of alcohol increase gastric emptying whereas, high doses of alcohol reduce bowel motility and gastric emptying leading to constipation.
Moreover, the chronic alcohol intake can cause irritation to the stomach lining leading to gastritis, stomach, and diarrhea.
Other FAQs about Beer that you may be interested in.
Can beer be refrigerated twice?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we discussed the following question, “does beer cause constipation?” and other queries related to the subject.
