St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday celebrated by Irish culture in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland and the nationalism of the Irish people. It highlights special foods like corned beef brisket, boxty, and Irish soda bread. From leprechauns to shamrocks and gingers to traditional Irish music, the festivities are lively. Of course, no celebration would be complete without a pint of beer, preferably dyed green. Beer is a huge part of the festivities, in the celebration of the life of the Patron Saint, Irish Christians removed the restrictions of Lent for this day to have the freedom to celebrate their heritage however they choose. With beer playing such a central role in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, it raises an important question: how does beer impact conditions like PCOS? Is it a harmless indulgence, or could it be doing more harm than good?

How Beer Affects PCOS
A. Insulin Resistance & Blood Sugar Spikes

We restrict ourselves to many things, such as carbs, products high in sugar, and even those that fight our gut microbiomes. However, we have yet to address the elephant in the room: alcohol! Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by brewing and fermenting various cereal grain starches. Beer is high in carbohydrates, which can spike blood sugar and worsen insulin resistance, a key concern for PCOS. Insulin resistance causes the body to respond to insulin inefficiently, which then communicates to the body that more insulin than normal needs to be produced to process sugar. This excess insulin can enhance our testosterone levels, therefore increasing the severity of symptoms of PCOS such as hair loss. acne, irregular cycles, and weight gain. While it’s common to focus on diet and exercise for PCOS management, it’s equally important to evaluate how alcohol consumption fits into the equation. Even occasional drinking can have an impact, so being mindful of your intake can go a long way in supporting hormonal balance and overall well-being.

B. Impact on Hormones

Alcohol is a big complication for insulin levels, which can bring on a disruption in estrogen and progesterone levels, too. Estrogen plays a vital role in sexual and reproductive development, regular menstrual cycles, and fertility. Progesterone supports pregnancy, breast milk production, and regulating the menstrual cycle. It’s pretty obvious what comes with disrupting these hormones (irregular cycles & fertility issues), but alcohol abuse can also lead to estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance occurs when estrogen outweighs progesterone; this has been associated with breast cancer development, uterine fibroids, weight gain, and hair loss. It doesn’t stop there; excessive alcohol consumption can also increase cortisol levels (stress hormone), which can contribute to weight gain and inflammation. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland, and it helps the body maintain stable blood sugar levels, reduces inflammation, influences energy production (metabolism), and allows us to cope in challenging situations using the body’s “fight or flight” response. An increase in this hormone can induce insulin resistance by enhancing the production of liver glucose and holding back insulin secretion. Additionally, cortisol expansion can promote hormonal imbalances and central obesity. This chain reaction of hormonal disruptions can create a cycle that’s difficult to break, making it even more challenging to manage PCOS symptoms. With insulin resistance, estrogen dominance, and elevated cortisol feeding into each other, excessive alcohol consumption can amplify the very issues many women with PCOS work hard to control. Understanding these effects is important so that you can make choices, whether that is reducing your intake of alcohol or choosing beverages that help to bring some balance back to your hormones, well-being, etc.

C. Liver & Detoxification

The effects do not stop at the rise in cortisol levels. Alcohol also impacts liver function, which plays a major role in detoxifying excess hormones such as estrogen. Excess alcohol puts stress on the liver, making it harder to metabolize estrogen and other hormones, which can worsen symptoms like bloating and PMS. Drinking heavily can lead to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, although not directly connected to alcohol, fats begin to build up in the liver, and these large substances can damage liver cells prompting inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Since many women with PCOS already have a higher risk of NAFLD due to insulin resistance, excessive alcohol consumption only adds fuel to the fire, making it even more difficult for the liver to function optimally. With the liver playing such a crucial role in hormone balance, metabolism, and detoxification, prioritizing liver health by reducing alcohol consumption can be an essential step in managing PCOS symptoms and overall well-being.

Is There a PCOS-Friendly Alternative?

• Lower-Carb Alcohol Options: Dry wines or mocktails.
• Alcohol-Free St. Paddy’s Drinks: Festive green smoothies, herbal teas, or kombucha-based drinks.
• Tips for Moderation: If you drink beer, opt for light or low-carb options and pair it with protein and fiber to reduce blood sugar spikes.

St. Patrick’s Day is a perfect time to celebrate with a pint of beer…but it’s worth understanding how alcohol, and beer specifically, could affect PCOS symptoms. From spiking blood sugar and spiking insulin resistance to disrupting hormone balance and gut health, beer’s not exactly a PCOS-friendly choice. But that doesn’t mean you need to forgo the festivities! If you do indulge, combining it with protein and fiber can limit blood sugar spikes. And if you’re passing on the beer altogether, there are tons of delicious and festive drinks to celebrate with instead!

“Saint Patrick was a gentleman who, through strategy and stealth, drove all the snakes from Ireland, here’s a toast to his health. But not too many toasts, lest you lose yourself and then forget the good Saint Patrick and see all those snakes again” – Unknown

Sources:

Mousa, Omar. “Effects of Alcohol on Health and Liver.” Mayo Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic, 3 Sept. 2021, www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/effects-of-alcohol-on-your-health-and-liver.

‌Karagan Osmann. “Understanding the Link between PCOS and Cortisol.” The S’moo Co, 10 Aug. 2023, thesmooco.com/blogs/blog/understanding-the-link-between-pcos-and-cortisol?srsltid=AfmBOooiZJgqk5y2Cq65E_3EofdKfLmmJ53LqVzznqemZbg4oPWkPN-f. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

‌Relton, Ruby. “Alcohol and Hormones: What Is the Link?” Hertility Health, 6 Oct. 2021, hertilityhealth.com/blog/alcohol-and-hormones-what-is-the-link.

nextstepadmin. “How St. Patrick’s Day Became the Biggest Beer-Drinking Holiday in the US – next Step Community Solutions.” Next Step Community Solutions, 15 Mar. 2021, nextstepcs.org/how-st-patricks-day-became-the-biggest-beer-drinking-holiday-in-the-us/.

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