Tag: Beer Calories

Todays questions were a perfect way to introduce our new Friday Q and A. Keep them coming and we’ll do our best to answer them.

Question: Is beer really a good post workout beverage?

Jeremy Miller, Steamboat, Colorado

Answer: Believe it or not scientists say a beer after a strenuous workout can be good for the body. Beer has been shown in studies to rehydrate better than water can. The carbonation in beer helps quench thirst while the carbohydrate content helps to replenish calories burnt while working out.

My strength and conditioning mentor used to train a guy who drank a considerable amount of beer- mostly post workout. Acknowledging that he was maybe drinking a little too much they gradually tried to ease back his beer intake and noticed that he had more and more trouble recovering from workouts. He was even experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness more often than he used to.

They eventually made the connection that a large part of his calorie and carbohydrate intake he’d been getting from beer post workout was no longer going into his muscles and was hindering his recovery. As a result he needed to re-introduce good foods to make up the missing calories and replenish his energy stores.

A cardiologist who has worked with professional basketball teams suggests that beer has the perfect post workout make up, adding that he has long recommended the use of barley drinks to professional athletes following exercise.

Another study demonstrated when 2 groups of athletes were put through the same rigorous workout and half were given water and half beer, those who drank brewskis re-hydrated better.

While some argue beer has such a powerful diuretic effect due to the alcohol drinking only one after a workout doesn’t contain enough to cause any notable water loss.

Regardless, it always comes back to moderation. Having a beer after a good hard workout is beneficial and not a problem. 3 or 4- you’d be over doing it. Just to play it safe be sure to follow up with a glass of water!
 

Question: What’s the difference between white and brown rice?

Albert Yew, Wichita, Kansas

Answer: Both brown and white rice have very similar calorie contents at 4 calories per gram. The main difference lies in the processing and nutrient content.

White rice has the husk bran and germ removed leaving nothing but the starchy center. In the refining process several vitamins and minerals are lost such as b vitamins and iron.

And losing the bran isn’t that great since it has been shown to reduce LDL or bad cholesterol in blood- improving cardiovascular health.

Sometimes these nutrients are re-added to highly processed white rice but it’s never quite as good as the real thing. A very important mineral usually not added back to refined rice is magnesium which is essential in muscle relaxation. (Quick side tip: If you ever experience muscle spams or cramps, first check that your hydration levels are up to par and secondly your magnesium intake)

It is tough to argue against white rice considering over half the world lives on it but much like any grain- the more you strip it down and refine it the less nutrition it will yield.

So, sure you can live on white rice as it provides the same amount of energy as brown rice but you certainly won’t thrive on it because you’ll be losing out on all the b-vitamins, iron, magnesium, trace fatty acids and fiber.

Go for brown if you have the option.

Albert and Jeremy, thanks for some great questions and as always keep them coming.

Stay Strong,

Drew

Click Here and Start Earning Your Beer

A question people ask (or avoid asking) is, “How many calories are in Beer?”

It would seem that everyone has their own expertise when it comes to calorie counting however when it comes knowing how many calories are in beer and alcohol, most fail to realize what they are consuming.

This article will explore the amount of calories in beer, demystify the correlation between beer and the belly, as well as point out the nutritional aspects of beer when consumed in moderation.
 
 

Unfortunately A lot of Beer =’s A lot of Beer Calories

 
There are thousands of beer varieties and brands out there (thank you, thank you and thank you) each with a varied calorie content.

What it boils down to is this; the amount of calories in beer depends primarily on the alcohol content.

There are approximately 7 calories per gram of alcohol. The higher the alcohol content- the more calories a beer will have. Generally Light Beer has a lower alcohol percentage and therefore has a lower number of calories.

Because we live in a nation that is obsessed with knowing the calorie content of what we are consuming beer companies paste labels on the sides of light beer bottles and celebrate the reduced calorie content. They also make claims that the light beer in question comes with the same great taste as the regular stuff. We’ll let you be the judge of that.

In contrast you won’t find the caloric value on a regular beer. According to Malt Beverage Labeling Regulations only beer wanting to claim the title “light or lite” have to put their respective calorie content somewhere on the bottle.

Over the last few years we have seen a surge of ultra light beers that now have 50-70 calories however not all light beers contain fewer than 100 calories. On average a 12oz serving of light beer has anywhere from 100 to 130 calories. Therefore if you plan on drinking a dozen light beers in one sitting you are adding over 1000 calories to your daily needs.

A typical 12oz beer contains anywhere from 150-200 calories. Here are the nutrition facts from a can of Budweiser:

The difference between a light beer and a regular beer could be at times as little as 20 calories. Are you really willing to sacrifice taste for a measly 20 calories? I for one am not.

A common myth is darker beer contains more calories than its lighter counterpart. Remember, the number of calories in beer depends on the alcohol content and not the color or texture. The color is determined by the malt and hops used in production.
 

Beer- a healthy treat

 
Contrary to popular belief drinking beer has been associated with many health benefits and a few bonuses. The bonuses to drinking beer are as follows:

• Increased Confidence
• You and/or the opposite sex appear better looking
• You think you are good at Karaoke

And

• Beer is actually FAT FREE. (This can be confusing… more on this topic later)

And now the healthy side effects to moderate beer consumption:

Beer contains some healthy nutrients- Protein, Potassium, Folate, Vitamin B12 and Selenium.

Yes, they are in small amounts but this is still way better than downing a 2 liter of soda/cola which contains nothing healthy and has 240 grams of sugar.

Moderate consumption of beer has been shown to increase cardiovascular health by raising good cholesterol levels. It also acts as a natural blood thinner decreasing the risk of clots.

Furthermore, Beer has high water content and is known as a diuretic which can both be associated with lowering the risk of kidney stones. You’ll understand this if you have ever had to break the seal after consuming a few brews.
 

Consuming beer calories in moderation is the key

 
The Dietary Guidelines recommend that if alcohol is consumed it should be no more than two drinks for men and one drink for women in a 24 hour period.

Drinking two regular beers has approximately the same caloric value as eating a double hamburger or two slices of cheese pizza so choose wisely and stick to moderation when consuming frosty ones.

When spreading the word of our Beer Belly Be Gone (3BG) – Fat Loss System we often hear this reply – “But I don’t drink beer and I still have a belly.”

The message is constant and we firmly believe that men who do not drink beer can still develop a beer belly based on poor eating habits and lack of exercise.

A high calorie diet of processed foods and restaurant-sized portions will lead you down the path of the dreaded beer belly. Extra helpings over the holidays can add up if one does not exercise. If you want to get rid of your beer belly fat follow these simple beer belly exercises that will help shed pounds and inches from your waistline.
 

Beer Calorie wrap up

 
The danger lies in it being easy to consume “liquid” calories and when there is alcohol involved our judgment becomes skewed. This makes it even easier to fall off track and the very reason you need a firm goal to succeed.

Drink to enjoy beer and not just to get drunk. Drink in moderation, savor the taste of beer, eat the way the body was designed to eat, implement some sweet full body workouts into your routine and you’ll never have to worry about the measly 20-calorie difference between a light beer and a good beer.

Cheers,

Jon

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