⚠️This fact has been debunked
This is factually incorrect and the myth-busting story is more interesting than the false claim. Alcohol beverages contain some minerals but nowhere near all 13 essential minerals. The debunking reveals important nutritional science.
Despite claims that alcohol beverages contain all 13 essential minerals for human life, this is false—most alcoholic drinks contain only trace amounts of a few minerals like potassium and magnesium, and relying on them for nutrition would be both ineffective and dangerous.
Can You Get All Essential Minerals from Alcohol?
You might have heard the claim that alcoholic beverages contain all 13 minerals essential for human life. It sounds almost too good to be true—and that's because it is. This persistent myth has circulated online for years, but the science tells a very different story.
The 13 Essential Minerals
First, let's talk about what we actually need. The human body requires 13 essential minerals to function properly: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chloride, magnesium (the macrominerals), plus iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, and selenium (the trace minerals). These minerals play crucial roles in everything from bone health to nerve function to oxygen transport.
Miss out on any of these, and your body starts to break down in specific, measurable ways.
What's Actually in Your Beer or Wine?
Alcoholic beverages do contain some minerals—that part's true. Beer and wine can have modest amounts of potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Wine contains small amounts of iron and calcium. But here's the problem: the concentrations are nowhere near what you'd need for proper nutrition.
A typical glass of wine might contain:
- 5-10% of your daily magnesium needs
- 3-5% of your daily potassium
- Trace amounts of iron and calcium
- Almost no iodine, selenium, or zinc
You'd need to drink dangerous amounts to meet your mineral requirements—and by then, alcohol poisoning would be the least of your problems.
The Missing Minerals
Several essential minerals are virtually absent from alcoholic beverages. Iodine, critical for thyroid function, isn't found in any significant amount. Selenium, which protects cells from damage, is similarly scarce. And while beer contains some zinc, it's not enough to sustain proper immune function and wound healing.
The myth likely persists because alcohol does contain more minerals than, say, pure water or soda. But that's an incredibly low bar.
Why This Myth is Dangerous
Beyond being factually wrong, this claim is potentially harmful. It suggests that alcohol consumption could be nutritionally beneficial, which contradicts decades of health research. The World Health Organization and countless medical authorities agree: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to overall health.
Mineral deficiencies cause real problems—anemia from lack of iron, osteoporosis from insufficient calcium, thyroid disorders from iodine deficiency. These conditions require proper nutrition, not alcohol.
Where the Claim Comes From
This myth likely originated from the fact that grains and grapes—the raw materials for beer and wine—do contain minerals. During fermentation and processing, some minerals carry over into the final product. Marketing departments and internet rumors did the rest, transforming "contains some minerals" into "contains all essential minerals."
It's a classic case of a kernel of truth being stretched beyond recognition. Yes, there are minerals in alcohol. No, you can't sustain human life on them. If you want to meet your mineral needs, reach for leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy—not a bottle of wine.