THE ESSENTIAL
- High and frequent consumption of alcohol can promote the occurrence of chronic diseases (cirrhosis, cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, etc.).
- An American study suggested that beer consumption could be associated with a poorer lifestyle compared to wine consumption.
- Beer drinkers were notably less active and more likely to smoke.
In France, it is estimated that alcohol consumption is responsible for 49,000 deaths per year, according to figures from the Ministry of Health and Access to Care. In addition to the risks directly linked to alcohol consumption, could the type of alcoholic beverage we drink have a link with our lifestyle? In any case, this is what a recent study published in the journal suggests Nutrients.
Beer drinkers at greater risk of sedentary lifestyle
During the research, the team from the Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans (United States) conducted a survey of 1,900 American adults who reported consuming alcohol. The scientists compared the diet quality of participants who consumed only beer (38.9%), only wine (21.8%), only spirits (18.2%), or a combination of types of alcohol (21%). They then measured self-reported eating habits with the Healthy Eating Index, a tool that assesses diet quality compared to public health recommendations.
According to Madeline Novack, lead author of the study and chief resident in internal medicine at Tulane School of Medicine, none of the groups evaluated reached the score of 80 points, which is considered an adequate diet on the index. healthy eating score of 100 points. However, it was beer drinkers who obtained the lowest score, 49. As for wine drinkers, they obtained a score of 55.
In addition to having lower quality diets, he also observed that beer drinkers were less active and more likely to smoke cigarettes compared to people consuming wine.
Certain foods could influence alcohol choice
Several hypotheses have been put forward to understand these differences in lifestyle between beer and wine drinkers. For Madeline Novack, beer is often consumed at events where the foods available are high in fat and sugar (crisps, processed products, etc.). Wine, especially red wine, is more often present with meals consisting of meat, vegetables and dairy products.
Another possibility: food choices influence the choice of alcohol consumed. In detail, fried and salty foods make you thirsty, which can lead you to drink beer.
After a certain consumption, two drinks per day for women and three drinks per day for men, alcohol is a risk factor for certain chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, liver pathologies (cirrhosis) and pancreas or cardiovascular disorders. It is therefore essential to put in place preventive measures to limit these risks.
