Beer for gastritis: is it safe to drink and in what doses?

Alcohol often causes complications of chronic diseases, including gastritis. In order not to provoke an exacerbation, it is better to give up alcohol forever, but if this does not work out, then you should at least follow some rules. The first of them is strict adherence to the amount of drink, the second is that if sharp pain appears in the epigastric region, urgently call a narcologist.

What is alcoholic gastritis

Gastritis is a stomach disease manifested in the form of erosions that become inflamed and bleed, thereby causing discomfort in the patient. More often caused by uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The inflammatory process is caused by strong alcoholic drinks, in which the ethyl alcohol content reaches 20% or higher. The cells of the stomach are restored over time, but with prolonged drinking, this is more difficult to do, since they are constantly destroyed.

Alcoholic gastritis is divided into two types:

• Acute symptoms appear suddenly after drinking alcohol in large quantities once. It is characterized by all the symptoms of the disease. During attacks of vomiting, not only mucus can be observed, but also traces of blood. This indicates the appearance of erosion.
• Chronic rarely has obvious signs of development, and therefore may not be diagnosed for a long time. At a later stage, it manifests itself in the form of morning vomiting, frequent feelings of thirst, loss of appetite and a feeling of hunger.

In the second case, remission (signs of the disease do not appear) and exacerbation (manifestation of characteristic signs) are possible.

A number of reasons contribute to the formation of alcoholic gastritis, including:

• genetic predisposition;
• stress, psycho-emotional stress;
• abuse of tobacco products;
• severe fatigue due to physical exertion;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• poor nutrition, protein deficiency in the body;
• problems with excess weight;
• excessive consumption of drinks with high caffeine content;
• negative impact of professional working conditions.

Accelerates the development of the disease and drinking alcoholic beverages in uncontrolled quantities.

The stomach secretes acid and powerful enzymes that help break down food quickly. To protect other organs from this acid, there is a special membrane; its irritation promotes inflammation.

The breakdown products of ethyl alcohol have a strong negative effect on many organs, but the liver and stomach are always the first to suffer. And therefore, with prolonged drunkenness, serious problems arise with these organs.

It is important to know

Gastritis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the inner walls of the stomach, caused by the bacterium H. pylori, which settles on it, destroys its cells and causes an inflammatory process. Gastritis is divided according to the nature of its manifestation into acute and chronic, hyperacid, hypoacid, atrophic, erosive, etc.

In case of acute gastritis, the patient has the opportunity to get rid of this disease through adequate treatment and dietary nutrition. Beer as a food product for this type of disease is acceptable under certain conditions. As for the chronic form of gastritis, for patients who have it, beer, like any other alcohol, is contraindicated.

Symptoms of the development of alcoholic gastritis

An exacerbation of the disease is accompanied by pronounced symptoms, the intensification of which can occur due to alcohol or food intake.

The first signs of exacerbation of gastritis:

• frequent vomiting, nausea;
• loss of appetite, not feeling hungry;
• feeling of heaviness in the stomach;
• diarrhea or constipation.

The symptoms of the disease caused by alcohol abuse are slightly different from the acute form. Painful sensations are replaced by pulling sensations in the epigastric area. In addition, there is vomiting with the presence of blood or bile, shortness of breath, tremors of the limbs, and rapid heartbeat.

Often alcoholic gastritis is accompanied by low or high acidity. In the first case, there is discomfort in the stomach and a burning sensation in the chest. In the second - nausea in the morning, a feeling of acid in the mouth.

The severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the disease and the form of its course.

The main difference between alcoholic gastritis and other types of this disease is the disappearance of symptoms after taking a minimum dose of ethyl alcohol.

Alcoholics with chronic addiction may experience the following complications:

1. Tachycardia, which appears due to damage to the cardiovascular system and increased heart rate.
2. Problems with sensitivity in the limbs, poor coordination, and problems with movement. They begin due to damage to the nerve fibers that connect organs and limbs to the spinal cord and brain.
3. Muscle atrophy, which occurs as a result of a decrease in the volume of muscle tissue, which causes weakening.

If treatment is not started in a timely manner, the consequences can be different, including internal bleeding.

Nonalcoholic beer:

• B vitamins;
• iron;
• minerals;
• malt;
• sugar;
• carbohydrates;
• hop;
• carbon dioxide;
• syrup;
• 0.2-0.1% ethyl alcohol;
• distilled water.

Classic beer:

• B vitamins;
• iron;
• minerals;
• 2-7% ethyl alcohol;
• malt;
• sugar;
• carbohydrates;
• carbon dioxide;
• syrup;
• hop;
• distilled water.

Diagnosis of alcoholic gastritis

It is worth saying right away that only an experienced doctor can diagnose gastritis, since the symptoms are similar to other diseases. Therefore, the patient is offered to undergo a full examination, which includes:

• studying the patient’s complaints and medical history, determining hereditary predisposition to the disease. Conducting research to identify the consequences of binge drinking;
• personal examination, including palpation of the abdomen and checking for muscle laxity;
• prescribing a laboratory test for the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori in the body. Its presence indicates inflammatory processes in the stomach;
• taking a blood test. Gastropathy is characterized by an increased number of leukocytes, and possible blood thickening due to dehydration. This occurs as a result of diarrhea and frequent vomiting;
• The FEGDS procedure will help identify erosions and ulcers on the mucous membrane;
• At the discretion of the attending physician, ultrasound, manometry, spiral CT, and biopsy are additionally prescribed.

Impact on the male body

There are features of the harmful effects of intoxicants depending on gender. The negative impact of beer on the male body primarily concerns sexual weakness. And although men deny this fact, abuse directly affects the quality of intimate life.

It contains phytoestrogens, which are an analogue of the female sex hormone. Abuse of intoxicating drinks is accompanied by hormonal imbalances, resulting in the following:

• the belly and chest grow;
• fat is deposited in the hips and waist area;
• testosterone production decreases;
• the amount of hair on the body decreases;
• the timbre of the voice changes;
• potency worsens;
• the quantity and quality of seminal fluid decreases;
• sperm motility deteriorates.

According to biological characteristics, a man turns into a woman, which affects his success in bed, as well as reproductive function. The chance of becoming a father is becoming less and less, infertility and impotence . Of course, such disorders develop over the years, and not all at once.

But the negative impact of beer on a man’s body is not limited to problems in intimate life. All organs suffer, excess weight appears, which increases the risk of diabetes, heart failure, arterial hypertension, heart attack and stroke.

Is it possible to drink alcohol with gastritis?

The answer to this question is obvious. But, unfortunately, this is not the case. There are various misconceptions and myths. Some believe that ethanol can have a beneficial effect on the disease and kill pathogenic bacteria. Allegedly, alcohol, through disinfection, can cope with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. However, this is a myth. Any amount aggravates the situation, since even a minimal dose of alcohol increases the amount of hydrochloric acid in the body.

There is also an opinion that if you drink during gastritis, there will be no complications. If you take Enterosorbent or another drug like Omez before taking it. But that's not true. The consequences are immediate and often unpredictable.

Ideally, when diagnosed with gastropathy, it is better to completely abandon ethanol, even in small quantities, since even a healthy body is not always able to cope with it. But, if you can’t refuse, then at least follow the recommendations of your doctor and not drink during the acute course of the disease.

Alcohol is allowed only during remission and in limited quantities. A number of rules must also be followed:

1. Eliminate surrogates and give preference to quality drinks. After all, taking questionable drinks can result in heartburn and even lead to an exacerbation of the disease.
2. Drinking on an empty stomach is prohibited, as this may cause an exacerbation of gastritis.
3. Before drinking alcohol, you need to eat enveloping food (oatmeal) or a decoction of flax seeds.
4. Don't forget the snack. But at the same time, avoid fatty and smoked foods.
5. For alcoholic gastritis, you are allowed to drink one glass of dry red wine once a week. This will help reduce pain, speed up metabolism and stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid. But this is only indicated for low acidity. In other cases, it is better to abstain.
6. Do not mix medications with ethanol. After all, this combination prevents the absorption of beneficial substances.

Remember that gastritis and strong alcoholic drinks are incompatible concepts. The narcologist decides whether it is possible to drink alcohol, based on the patient’s condition and the stage of the disease.

Literature:

1. Konovalov, Ivan Ilyich. Treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer / I. I. Konovalov. – M.: Knowledge, 2001. – 64 p.; 20 cm. – (New in life, science, technology).
2. Diseases of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Clinic, diagnosis and treatment [Electronic resource]: textbook: for the system of postgraduate and additional education of doctors / [Trukhan D.I., Tarasova L.V., Filimonov S.N., Viktorova I.A.]. – St. Petersburg: SpetsLit, 2014. – 157.
3. Trukhin, Dmitry Ivanovich. Gastroenterology. Internal diseases: a textbook for students studying in the specialty 06010165 – General Medicine and 06010365 – Pediatrics / D. I. Trukhan, I. A. Viktorova. – St. Petersburg: SpetsLit, 2013. – 367 p.
4. Gastroenterology: reference book / [Baranovsky A.Yu. and etc.] ; edited by A. Yu. Baranovsky. – Moscow [etc.]: Peter, 2011. – 506 p. : table; 21 cm.

What alcohol can you drink if you have gastritis?

If you can’t stop drinking, then reduce the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink and also give preference to:

• Red wine

Allowed only with low acidity of gastric juice. White wine is prohibited, and red wine is limited to one glass.

• Beer

An innumerable number of myths are associated with this drink, since patients registered with gastroenterology are sure that it can be drunk without restrictions. But this is a fundamentally erroneous opinion. Beer contains yeast, which negatively affects the gastrointestinal tract. In rare cases, you can only drink unfiltered beer, but you should completely forget about the drink in cans.

• Cognac

The permissible dose is 50 ml, once a month. This is a rule that must be followed.

With alcoholic gastritis, it is important to know that it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol on an empty stomach, as this provokes a complication of the disease.

But you should give up sparkling wines, vodka, vermouth, and cocktails in cans forever. They increase acidity and increase the risk of erosion on the walls of the stomach.

Remember that there are no good alcoholic drinks, and therefore it is better not to drink if you have gastritis. There is only one exception - one glass of wine, once a month.

How is non-alcoholic beer produced?

Non-alcoholic beer is made using several rules:

1. Stopping the fermentation process. Thanks to this, the amount of alcohol in the drink is reduced. The resulting drink has a different taste and structure from the classic drink.
2. Dealcoholization. Using this technique, alcohol molecules are evaporated from the finished product through complex double filtration. In this case, the original structure and bitter taste are preserved.
3. Fermentation. This method involves sharp cooling of the resulting product, as a result of which the destruction of the yeast begins.

General recommendations for alcoholic gastritis

If the doctor has diagnosed gastritis, then take care of your health. Comprehensive treatment, which involves a narcologist, a gastroenterologist, a psychologist, and a psychiatrist, will help with this.

Following the recommendations will help minimize pain:

1. Quit smoking.
2. Follow a diet (selected by your doctor).
3. In case of exacerbation, add meat and fish broths to the diet.
4. Have dinner a maximum of a couple of hours before bedtime.
5. Take a course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor after receiving the diagnostic results.

If you follow the advice and consult a doctor, such digestive pathologies can be eliminated. Getting medical help in a timely manner will help you deal with the problem faster and minimize the harm caused by alcohol.