Constipation is a miserable, uncomfortable, often painful experience that many people will try virtually any solution to resolve. Alcohol, primarily beer, is not one most would associate with helping the condition, but the carbonation boasts a natural stimulation for the bowels to relieve constipation.
Alcohol, in general, is a known diuretic, a reason it’s suggested to drink plenty of water when consuming liquor. Drinking as much as one glass of water following a beer, spirit, or glass of wine is recommended. It would be best to drink plenty of water before heading out for the evening and returning home after being out.
While the alcohol in beer also creates a diuretic effect, softening stool, the bubbles break waste up, allowing it to pass through the intestine much more smoothly. Alcohol is also a relaxant, so the intestine muscles release more readily, thus the diuretic effect. It’s suggested, though, that some beer is more capable of constipation relief than others.
Let’s review which beer has the potential for the greatest relieving effects against constipation and learn some of the reasons why.
Types Of Beer That Help Relieve The Effects Of Constipation
While alcohol acts as a diuretic, it’s also a dehydrator. That can mean it dries the body out, particularly if you don’t consume plenty of water. Drinking water before, during, and after a night out is wise. When there’s no hydration, the stool becomes dry and hard, making it too tough to pass, creating constipation.
When consuming beer, it’s suggested that the combination of the carbonation and the diuretic in the alcohol can help relieve constipation. The diuretic softens while the bubbles keep the stool broken up to help it readily pass through the intestines. Certain types of beer have the potential for greater effectiveness.
Let’s look at the ones most likely to provide relief and learn what it is about them that creates that result.
Dark beer is more effective than lighter options
When considering your options to keep your bowels functioning the day after a night out, try to stick with darker beers like porters and stouts instead of going for the light choices. These have a higher content of fiber than other beers. Fiber can naturally relieve constipation and is a critical component of the diet for helping to keep bowel movements regular.
That’s not an indication that you need to drink beer to get your fiber. Still, if you like to drink beer, this is a more body-conscious way to do so.
Alcohol-free beer for those who want a beer but want to avoid the alcohol
Beer can still help prevent constipation even when you avoid the alcoholic component. The alcohol-free beer boasts comparable benefits for relieving the condition as its alcoholic counterpart. You can have the taste and the effects without the possibility of drunkenness or a hangover – or potentially constipation.
Again, these beverages are carbonated, with it being possible that the bubbles stimulate the bowel into reacting. Since there’s no alcohol, dehydration is neither an issue nor a diuretic component. That means no drying, hard-to-pass stool, and no loose bowels.
Craft Beer boasts of providing a number of varied beneficial ingredients
Within craft beer, numerous ingredients add to digestive health, including herbs, spices, and varied fruits. With digestion optimally functional, the body’s other systems should also be at their best, including the bowel. However, it’s important to remember you will still have the alcohol content, the dehydrator.
While part of beer, the carbonation, acts to help with constipation, the other part, the alcohol, serves as both a diuretic and a dehydrator. That means it can cause loose, albeit dry, hard stool.
Should You Consume Beer To Relieve Constipation?
If you’re constipated, beer isn’t a remedy a medical provider naturally recommends for relieving the condition since no concrete scientific evidence proves its capacity to alleviate symptoms associated with constipation.
Beer is an alcoholic beverage doctors will advise patients to consume in moderation, with a standard serving being “12 ounces.” It’s essential to avoid overindulging to prevent the possibility of developing a habit.
While the substance has the potential to relieve some symptoms associated with constipation, it’s not a cure-all. There are downsides to consider, as mentioned throughout.
The alcohol in beer acts as a dehydrator
While drinking beer, it’s essential to drink plenty of water alongside the alcohol to stay hydrated. If not, the alcohol can cause the stool to become dry and hard, difficult to pass, making the constipation worse.
Drinking too much beer can become a problem
If you overindulge in beer due to a problem with constipation, alcohol use disorder can develop. There are other healthier ways to deal with constipation without abusing alcohol. It’s essential to keep your consumption within moderate limits. That means standard servings of roughly 12 ounces.
You can also avoid alcohol altogether by drinking alcohol-free beer with the same relieving effect as regular beer. Non-alcoholic looks, acts, and even tastes comparable to beer with the same carbonation; it just doesn’t have the alcohol or the adverse effects.
Water is a more effective remedy for constipation relief
For every mug of beer you drink, have a glass of water. That’s true with any alcoholic drink. Drink plenty of water before going out for the evening and consume loads of water when coming home afterward.
The reality is the water will, in fact, keep the system moving, preventing constipation, and allowing easy bowel movements. Drinking as many glasses of water as you can comfortably consume each day is suggested. You’ll experience constipation less often when you keep your body well-hydrated.
Final Thoughts
The variations of beer boast an all-natural method for helping with symptoms of constipation. The bubbles from the carbonation help to stimulate the bowel. Some forms have greater amounts of fiber, while others have varied ingredients to improve digestion, enhancing the body’s overall functionality.
A priority is drinking adequate water and consuming moderate beer to avoid dehydration and for the consideration of optimum overall wellness.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
