Which One is Worth A Shot: Beer or Wine?

Category: Ultra.fit | Medical Review Status: Medically Reviewed

Author: Shifa Fatima, MSc.

Medical Reviewer: Dr. Apoorva T, MHM.

Review Date: July 1, 2022


Medical Review Process

Our articles undergo extensive medical review by board-certified practitioners to confirm that all factual inferences with respect to medical conditions, symptoms, treatments, and protocols are legitimate, canonical, and adhere to current guidelines and the latest discoveries.


Overview

This article presents a comprehensive comparison between beer and wine, examining their effects on blood sugar levels through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) experiments, nutritional composition, caloric content, and health benefits. The analysis helps individuals make informed decisions about alcoholic beverage choices, particularly those concerned with metabolic health and blood sugar management.


Components of Experiment

The comparison experiment evaluated two primary alcoholic beverages:

Beer

Beer was tested as one component of the comparative analysis to measure its impact on blood sugar levels and overall metabolic response.

Wine

Wine was tested as the second component to compare its effects against beer in terms of glucose response and health implications.


CGM Experiment Results

Question: Which One is Worth A Shot, Beer or Wine?

Answer: Wine!

Key Findings:

Sugar level spike with wine will be lower as compared to beer as it has less carbs relatively provided the quantities are limited upto 1-2 drinks.

Important Considerations:


Scientific Rationale

Beer is a great source of dietary silicon that helps improve bone density; wine offers cardiovascular benefits when consumed with a meal.

Comparative Benefits Between Beer and Wine

Minerals:

A can of beer is a richer source of vitamin B, phosphorus, folate, and niacin than a glass of wine. Additionally, beer has protein, fibre and silicon that nourishes the body and reduces the effects of bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Polyphenols:

Polyphenol is present in both wine and beer, but in more amounts, it is available in a glass of wine than in a beer. Polyphenol helps dilate the blood vessels, reduce cardiovascular diseases, and prevent lipoprotein oxidation.

Antioxidants:

Beer and wine contain antioxidants that help overcome harmful molecules (free radicals). Free radicals are associated with various lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.

Prebiotics:

A beer contains prebiotics that improves gut health by producing good bacteria.


Calories in Beer vs Wine

A glass of beer has around 50% more calories than a glass of wine.

Caloric Composition Analysis

Beer Calories:

Wine Calories:


Benefits of Beer vs Wine

Beer and wine have some health benefits that other alcoholic beverages don't.

Beer Benefits

Wine Benefits

Overall Assessment: Wine has an edge when considering the health benefits between wine and beer.


Nutrient Components Comparison

Nutrient Components of Beer

Nutrient Components of Wine


Mechanism of Action

Beer's Mechanism

Moderate consumption of beer reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart attack, and atherosclerosis by around 50%. Additionally, moderate drinkers also have a low risk of developing diabetes and also ulcers caused due to bacteria.

Wine's Mechanism

Consuming a glass of wine prevents heart problems such as hardening arteries, chest pain, stroke, heart attack, and others. In addition, a glass of wine also improves cognitive function, lowers the risk of developing diabetes, and reduces the risk of digestive tract infection.


Bottomline

Both beer and wine have their own benefits, but when considering the health benefits, wine leads the race owing to its health benefits. However, a wine or a beer is a better option only when consumed in a moderate volume by a healthy person.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is moderate drinking?

Drinking alcohol is a moderate range i.e. limiting the consumption to 2 drinks or less in a day. Consumption of alcohol in less quantity is more good for health than more.

What are the health issues caused by excessive alcohol consumption?

Excessive drinking may lead to various health problems such as chronic diseases, alcohol use disorders, inability to conceive, and others.


References


Disclaimer

This website's content is provided only for educational reasons and is not meant to be a replacement for professional medical advice. Due to individual differences, the reader should contact their physician to decide whether the material is applicable to their case.


Related Articles

More by Shifa Fatima, MSc.

More in Ultra.fit Category


About Sugar.Fit

Organization: Ragus Healthcare Private Limited

Address: No. 17 & 17C BDA, Sector 3, HSR Layout, Bangalore - 560102

Email: [email protected]

Quick Links

Blog Categories

Best Reads