St Patrick’s Day is great excuse to drink a pint of Guinness (or three) but the famous stout isn’t just about getting merry – it also was used in medicine once upon a time
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St Patrick’s Day is here and many people will be necking pints of Guinness to celebrate – but did you know that the stout was actually used in medical practice not just in pubs?
The black stuff is much-loved by the Irish, Six Nations fans and now Gen Z women as a whole. Though, it was equally loved in the healthcare industry once upon a time thanks to its ‘special’ ingredient.
Despite common knowledge that alcohol can be harmful to both physical and mental health when consumed in excess, Guinness was historically handed out as a post-appointment tonic.
It wasn’t provided as a treat for enduring surgery or as a celebratory gesture following childbirth. Instead, Guinness was believed to possess numerous health benefits and, until not so long ago, was even offered to blood donors in Ireland.
The reason behind this practice lies in the fact that the creamy Irish dry stout, which dates back to 1759, is rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin B.
When you donate blood, you lose about 220-250 mg of iron. The NHS Blood Donation service explains that “if too much iron is taken out of storage and not replaced through dietary sources, iron stores may become depleted and haemoglobin levels fall.”
To prevent a drop in iron levels, it’s advisable to include iron-rich foods like red meat, fish, and spinach in your diet. Interestingly, until 2010, Guinness offered a complimentary pint to blood donors in Ireland due to its high iron content.
In a 2022 appearance on Lorraine, Dr. Hilary revealed that he used to recommend Guinness to patients. He explained: “I used to prescribe it, you know, on the wards.
“There’s plenty of iron in there for oxygen supply to the body through red blood cells. And it’s also got some vitamin B in it, which is very good for brain function, which is why the Irish are so intelligent, of course.”
Additionally, a 2003 study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that consuming a pint of Guinness daily may be as effective as taking low-dose aspirin in preventing heart clots that increase the risk of heart attacks.
However, this doesn’t mean you should rely solely on Guinness for your iron intake or overindulge in it. Moderation is key, but it’s a good excuse for an occasional pint.
Elsewhere, Senior Features Writer Layla took off to Dublin for the day in pursuit of Ireland’s best pint of Guinness. It proved to be quite the journey but she managed to secure quite the pint in quite the pub…