Working Out? Have a Beer!

One of my workmates, who’d just started a weight loss programme, asked me recently, if in addition to all the dietary changes he’d already made, he’d have to give up his beer as well. I could tell from his expression how painful it would be for him if he had to. The good news is he didn’t have to and neither do you. 

Not only will beer not hurt you, but it might actually be good for you. As it turns out beer actually contains anti-oxidants, vitamin B and chromium which are good for your heart and help turn carbohydrates into energy. Taken in moderation it may reduce your cholesterol, risk of heart disease, some cancers, and help you live longer. But the key word here is moderation. Some doctors suggest a beer or two a day, and even suggest that some beers may be healthier than others, saying that darker beers like Guinness may be better for you. Personally I like a beer or two a week and an occasional glass of wine with my meals or on special occasions. Both have health benefits.

It turns out that the hops contained in beer, have flavonoids, which have many health promoting effects. Some of the activities attributed to flavonoids include: anti-allergic, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. The flavonoids quercetin is known for its ability to relieve hay fever, eszema, sinusitis and asthma. Other sources of flavonoids include: apples, apricots, blueberries, pears, raspberries, strawberries, black beans, cabbage, onions, and parsley, just to name a few.

Mind you, if the closest you get to a bicep curl is raising a bottle or glass to your mouth, that’s not going to do you much good, especially if you don’t practice good nutrition or exercise. Your arms may get well developed from lifting those oversized beer mugs but it won’t be long before your six pack turns into a real keg. One beer contains between a hundred and one hundred and twenty calories. Two or three of them would be the equivalent of a burger or two. The problem is that because of the way the body metabolises alcohol, any excess carbs consumed will be stored as fat. The rule about caloric intake and expenditure still apply here. If you continue to consume more calories (whether from beers or burgers) than you burn through exercise or activity, the more weight you’re going to pack on.

Quite apart from the danger of developing a beer gut if you exceed the recommended intake, there is the danger of developing liver damage, high blood pressure and cancer, and becoming an alcoholic. Also drinking in excess will cancel out any exercise you do because you’ll be burning off beer calories rather than actual fat.

Another important point to note is that drinking beer cannot and should not replace your consumption of water, especially immediately after a work out. While beer is 93% water it cannot replace good old H2O. Remember beer is a diuretic, so make sure you consume enough water, or you will become dehydrated. 

So if you are going to drink, make sure you stick to the recommended one or two beers, in combination with an adequate intake of water and make sure you eat well and exercise to avoid that beer gut. If you already have a beer gut, now might be a good time to cut back on the beers or cut them out all together, start eating enough healthy calories and workout regularly, and remember “not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer." -Dave Barry

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kendal Burton is a Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor and Sports Nutrition Specialist.