What happens to your brain when you drink a beer when you finish working? Have you ever wondered about that? For many people, having a beer at the end of the day has become kind of a ritual. Some of them do it to relax, disconnect from their problems, and sometimes to share a moment with their partners.
This could have some benefits, but also some risks if this becomes too frequent. So, let’s see why this could be negative for your brain.
Some people have a beer after work
Many workers end their day feeling mentally or physically exhausted, so having a beer can feel like a pause that helps release all that tension and makes them feel their personal time has started.
What’s important is the environment in which they are having a beer because when this moment is shared with workmates, this can help improve working relationships. In some types of jobs where teamwork and creativity are very important, such as advertising or communication fields, these meetings can even encourage collaboration and productivity. The relaxed setting can help people feel more open, making it easier to share ideas.
Possible benefits
Some experts point out that having a beer in moderation can reduce stress of the day since alcohol has a relaxing effect that lowers the feeling of emotional pressure. This can improve the wellbeing and help the person feel calmer.
Sharing a beer with other people can also help feel like someone is listening to you and that you are not alone, which is something particularly positive when the day has been difficult or with a heavy workload.
Regarding physical health, some experts mention that consuming beer occasionally could have some benefits like:
- It may have possible positive effects on cardiovascular health.
- It could help with controlling hypertension.
- It might provide small amounts of minerals and fiber.
These effects, however, are mostly associated with certain types of beer, such as craft or unfiltered beer. But it is important to understand that the scientific evidence for these benefits is limited.
Effects on the brain
When someone drinks beer, the brain experiences temporary changes because alcohol acts on the chemical substances that influence our mood. This is why, after a beer, some people may feel more relaxed, less pressure, or even more sociable.
However, this effect can also be lying to you since if you start depending on this feeling to feel good, the brain starts to get used to this. With the passage of time, this can provoke the opposite: more anxiety, more sadness, or mood changes.
This is why we insist on the importance of consuming this drink with moderation.
Don’t make it a daily routine
The main risk of this relaxing action is to do it everyday. Having a beer everyday can lead you to dependency, as we said before. What’s more, excessive consumption can affect the liver, the cardiovascular system, sleep, and emotional balance. It can also increase anxiety or depression over time.
Organizations such as the World Health Organization point out that there is no completely safe level of alcohol consumption. If alcohol is consumed, it should be done in moderation and with great care.
This should be a reminder for readers that there are non-alcoholic or 0.0 beers that allow people to enjoy the same moment without any risk to the brain or overall health.
So…
Having a beer after work can be pleasant and help you relax, especially when done in good company and in moderation. However, the most important thing is to maintain balance.
Relaxation is valuable, but it should be achieved without putting the health of the body or the brain at risk. True well-being always comes from responsibility and self-control.