Remember This While Drinking Beer in Summer
Don’t consider beer as a thirst quencher
Chilled beer should never be used as a thirst quencher. Beer is a great refresher but has an alcohol content between 4.5 per cent to 8 per cent, which gets absorbed quicker than water in the body. Hence, excessive consumption of beer during summer can lead to dehydration. It is therefore always suggested to drink water a lot of water after beer consumption.
Avoid driving after drinking beer
As pointed out, alcohol in the beer gets absorbed by the body at a very fast rate. Be it summer, monsoon, or winter, avoid driving after drinking beer. Though beer is considered a low alcohol product please keep in mind that even a couple of drinks of strong beer can result in a failed breath analyzer test and with driving laws in the country becoming stricter with hefty fines and even jail terms it is just not worth it.
Avoid mixing beer with barbecue
Favorite barbecued foods like seafood, liver, and meat have high purine content and the same is the case with beer. Taken together would result in dangerously high levels of purine in the body which might lead to gout. In extreme cases, carcinogens like benzopyrene released during the barbecue process will get absorbed at a much quicker rate when mixed with the alcohol in beer, hence increasing health complications. One should therefore stick to simple finger foods like nuts, nachos, fried or roasted chicken, fish, or fries.
Don’t drink ice-cold beer
There is a difference between chilled and ice-cold beer. While chilled beer is refreshing and soothes the body, ice-cold beer can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal issues as the temperature of the gastrointestinal tract decreases rapidly. This ends up affecting blood flow which can ultimately affect the digestive system. So, if you suffer from diarrhea after a drinking bout, consider drinking beer at a higher temperature the next time. Also, avoid the temptation of adding ice to beer though it would become warmer as you consume your drink. Ice melts and would dilute the beer taking away much of its flavor and taste.
Avoid if dieting or pregnant
Though beer contains approximately the same calories as that of a soft drink, it contains a lot of nutrients in the form of various types of vitamins. It is also a good appetizer and leads to a craving for more food which can be awful if you are on a strict diet and counting every single calorie. However, ensuring that you eat healthy foods it would result in less calorie intake but being careful with the number of drinks you consume is the key. Likewise, for a pregnant woman, the alcohol gets mixed in the blood which is also supplied to the fetus and can affect its development. Say a big no to beer if you are pregnant or suspect pregnancy.