The popularity of Guinness and other Irish stouts spikes every year around March 17th. A few decades ago, at least, it was promoted as “good for you” on its promotional posters.
But could something as creamy, rich, and satiating as beer be included on a list of beverages that are good for you? Or have they just gotten lucky with their advertising? We dug into the beer’s background, consulted brewmasters, and highlighted Guinness’s best and worst features in this article.
The taste
Suppose you’re in good health and have been given the okay to drink beer. You may be curious why Guinness makes you feel full even if it has fewer calories and less alcohol than other beers.
It’s a nod to the high level of craftsmanship required to make and serve a pint of Guinness. Nitrogen gas has been added to Guinness beer at the packaging stage for over fifty years, resulting in finer, more persistent bubbles and a more delicious mouthfeel. And it softens the roasted barley’s strong burnt flavor. There is a small amount of nitrogen in each can of Guinness, which is located around the pouring widget.
Carbon dioxide and nitrogen are combined in a unique tap that dispenses Guinness. The smartest and brightest graduates from Irish universities were regularly recruited by Guinness and put to work on the company’s many projects regardless of their majors. One of these was a Guinness-specific faucet with 11 nozzles for creating the perfect foam head.
Surprisingly, the foam lasts for a very long time. You can make a funny face in the foam of a freshly poured Guinness, and it will still be there when you’re done drinking it.
The negatives
Drinking too much Guinness, like any other alcoholic beverage, can affect judgment and lead to weight gain. Liver disease, pancreatitis, and high blood pressure are just some of the many health issues linked to heavy drinking (defined as more than 15 drinks per week for men or more than eight drinks per week for women) and excessive drinking (5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women in about two hours).
As stated by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, “alcohol is the most widely used addictive compound in the United States: 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence, and several million more engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems.”
While some research suggests that drinking alcohol in moderation may benefit heart health, women who drink alcohol regularly risk developing breast cancer at an increased rate.
Years ago, in Ireland, a doctor might have recommended Guinness to a pregnant patient or a nursing mother. Today, however, doctors (especially in the United States) warn against drinking any alcohol at all during pregnancy.
Alcohol is a known teratogen, which can cause birth abnormalities if used during pregnancy. One assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive gynecology at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital warned that it could harm the fetus’s developing brain and other organs. There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; hence it is strongly advised that women refrain from drinking at all costs.
Should you drink beer while nursing? There is a cultural belief in Britain that drinking Guinness while breastfeeding is beneficial to the baby.
For a considerable time, beer was considered a galactagogue or lactation stimulator. According to irishtimes.com, nursing mothers in Ireland used to be given a bottle of Guinness daily while in the hospital.
Once upon a time, before the effects of alcohol were well understood, anemic people and nursing mothers were given Guinness Original (often known as Guinness Extra Stout, based on where it was served) because it included living yeast, which had a high iron concentration.
Ingredients in beer have been linked in some research to increased prolactin, a hormone needed for milk production; however, other research has found the opposite true. Whatever the results, it appears that the alcohol in beer nullifies any advantages linked with higher prolactin secretion.
Problems arise when alcohol momentarily suppresses the milk ejection reflex and overall milk production, especially when consumed in significant quantities, and alcohol consumption permanently reduces milk supply.
Eating barley or consuming commercial barley drinks is an option that poses fewer health risks than beer.
There is one more piece of evidence that beer is bad for breastfeeding mothers should consider. Any alcohol used by a breastfeeding woman poses a risk to her infant. Breast milk contains alcohol, threatening a newborn whose brain is still growing after birth.
Guinness has not spread the urban legend that drinking beer while breastfeeding is healthy, and the company does not endorse this practice.
The positives
Stout is the traditional style of Guinness, which is a sort of ale. Its robust charred flavor and highly dark color come from the grist (grain) used to make it, which contains a large quantity of roasted barley. While you wouldn’t consider beer as nutritious as vegetables, some of the nutritional claims made for stouts and other beers may be true.
Antioxidants, B vitamins, silicon (that might adequately defend against osteoporosis), soluble fiber, and prebiotics (which encourage the development of “good” bacteria in your gut) can all be found in relatively high concentrations in most beers.
Even among other stouts, Guinness may be superior to some extent. One study found that Guinness had the highest folate content among the imported beers studied. Vitamin B9, or folate, is essential for cell division and the synthesis of DNA as well as other genetic material. Their findings showed that stouts have an average folate content of 12.8 micrograms or 3.2% of the RDI (recommended daily allowance).
Guinness is high in fiber because it is brewed with a significant proportion of unmalted barley, which has more fiber per gram than malted grain.
Hopefully, more good news concerning Guinness: Compared to other beers, it has a relatively low-calorie count despite its robust flavor and smooth texture. There are 125 calories in a 12-ounce bottle of Guinness Draught. Heineken has 142 calories per 12 ounces, Budweiser has 145 calories per 12 ounces, and Samuel Adams Cream Stout has 189 calories per 12 ounces. By the way, one can of Guinness Extra Stout in the United States contains 149 calories.
Considering that beer’s primary source of calories is alcohol, this makes sense. While Budweiser, Heineken, and Samuel Adams all clock in at 5% ABV, Guinness Draught comes in at a more manageable 4.2% ABV.
USDA’s nutritional recommendations for Americans suggest that drinking no more than 2 drinks per day for males and one drink per day for women may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s definitely more good news!
Final words
Unfortunately, we have to be the bearers of terrible news to anyone who thinks Guinness has any positive effects on one’s health. Guinness won’t help you bulk up or get rid of the flu.
Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, puts significant time and resources into advocating for responsible drinking and informing the public about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. On its DrinkIQ page, you’ll find details like the number of calories in various alcoholic beverages, how the body handles them, and the situations in which drinking is risky, such as while pregnant.
Suppose you are pregnant, nursing, or have any other medical condition where alcohol use is not recommended. In that case, most medical professionals in the United States encourage you to abstain entirely from alcohol.
So enjoy one of St. Patrick’s Day’s iconic drinks this year while considering the potential health advantages and risks.
Infoceptor's editorial team handpicks all of the products and services it recommends, regardless of external influences. Affiliate links appear in some of our stories. We may receive an affiliate commission if you purchase something through one of these links, which helps us stay independent and support our great team.
