Is it time for a healthy Beer?

Question

Is there any beer on the market that's maybe not as bad for you as the others?

After 5 years of not bothering too much i'm on a push to get fit again and eat all the right things including the 5 fruit/veg a day.

I've given up all the stuff i love such as take-aways, chocolate, etc, doing the daily exercise as well but the beer is something i've realised is the sticking point.

I'n not a massive drinker, just a couple of times a week but i'm not willing to give it up, i don't smoke and with everything else going healthy then i'm happy having a few beers.

I usually drink say 3 draught larger such as Carling then move onto bottled beers like Corona or Bud, i'm not a fan of spirits, brown beers are ok.

The suggestions to stop completely is not an option i'm willing to take, cutting back is an obvious one but not really answer for me.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

First of all there is no such thing as healthy beer... its like sugar free candy. The best you can hope for is less bad. With that in mind, there is absolutely nothing wrong with indulging your pleasures on occasion. It keeps you from falling off the wagon so-to-speak. My first advise is if you are going to do something "wrong", do it right. By that I mean that beer is not good for you no matter what way you cut it. Michelob Ultra is not really low carb, it is just watered down light beer. It actually has about as many carbs and calories as Amstel Light (which is one of the best for you actually). So if you are going to drink a beer, drink a beer you love. Do it in moderation, but you will enjoy drinking 2 beers that you love a lot more than 3 of something that is "better for you"... and if you do not enjoy drinking the beer then what is the point?

Any light beer will be more or less better for you than a dark beer. The basic rule of thumb is the more color, the worse it is for you. The more color means the more carbs and calories. So if you like Bud Light, go for it. If you like Corona, try Corona Light. It is not as good, but it still hits the spot. Michelob Ultra is piss-water, and not any better for you than a Miller Light and not much better than a Michelob Light. Amstel Light is one of my favorites, and one of the best out there as well. Green Light (Rolling Rock's light beer) is pretty good too. Do not be fooled by the commercials that make Michelob Ultra look like a workout in a bottle, all in all most light beers are created equal in the area of carbs and calories.

Answer 2

A lot of people will say Guinness, but this is certainly untrue; this comes from old Guinness slogans... Beer is basically beer. Beer is made from the fermentation of maltose. Unfermented beer is called wort (pronounced wert). Unfortunately, when you add yeast to wort, it rapidly multiplies and consumes most of the health benefiting nutrients, then starts converting sugar (maltose) into alcohol. There is really no significant source of anything, so don't bother choosing a beer based on how much more nutrient-rich it is when compared to another brand, because it's negligible. Now, if you really want to get picky, select an unfiltered, bottle conditioned beer (that puts Guinness out of the question). Filtering will remove proteins. This is possible because the proteins glom onto each other during boiling just like when milk "breaks" when you boil it. This is called hot-break. Even so, unfiltered beer wont contain very much hot-break because clarifying agents (gelatin, carageenan) are added which settle the break to the bottom of the fermenter so it can be removed. Go for a bottle conditioned beer! Bottle conditioning is the process of natural carbonation by means of yeast. You'll know a bottle conditioned beer by examining it. Provided the bottle was stored upright, there will be a layer of sediment on the bottom; this is yeast. Yeast is good for you. It is natures most complete source of vitamin B, which is good, since much of your hangover discomfort is caused by vitamin B deficiency (alcohol impedes absorbtion of vitamin B). BTW, color has nothing to do with nutrition. Guinness is black not because it contains more malt, but because some of the malt and grain used has been roasted black. If anything, this burns off nutrients.

Answer 3

What are you talking about? Beer is very healthy! Wheat! Herbs! Fermentation!

Seriously, if you enjoy it, why not have one or two a couple of times a week? Or better yet, treat yourself to one mini-beer every day. As noted elsewhere, a little alcohol is thought to be good for the body now. And who knows what those "healthy" beers have that will turn out to be the "trans-fat" of the future?

I say this as someone who doesn't like the taste of beer very much. Good for you for cutting down on the take-aways, and getting fit. You don't have to cut everything out, and I would say cutting beer out completely should only be a last option for you.

Answer 4

Beer is probably the worst alcoholic drink you can have if you're on a health kick.

You can try non-alcoholic or low alcoholic beers. As they have no alcohol, they don't have any calories from that, but if sugar is added there'll be hidden calories there.

The higher the alcoholic content, more added calories.

Stay away from canned beer, higher calorie count
Stay away from frothy bitters like guinness or tetleys.

A bottle of Heineken (275ml) is about 85 calories, and is the lowest 'normal' beer i can find.

Carlsburg are also bringing a 2% beer soon, which might be worth having a look at.

Answer 5

Good for you, there's nothing wrong with a pint or 2 a couple of times a week, everything in moderation. Why not take a leaf out of a cocktail book or start a new drink craze by putting a sprout in your beer or even a carrot. The possibilities are endless, Good luck.

Answer 6

They had a low calorie budweiser 5 or 6 years ago and it sunk without a trace, most beer drinkers aren't always interested in the healthy side of it.
If you want healthy drink a non alcoholic beer or drink shandy, sorry i mean Fosters.
I'm doing the same as you mate and i don't really like spirits but i started on vodka and diet coke, now me and a few mates are drinking gin and tonic, their is basically zero calories in it. Takes a few nights to get used to it but you do.

Answer 7

A good Beer has to involve Fermentation-thus Creating Alcohol!
There are range of Low Al. beers like CAUSTHAULER and BECKS.
Also Low Carb Options coming onto the Market Like Michelob Low Carb-(which i prefer!), or Corona Lite(But never taste as Good as Extra!
But that's it for the markets attempt at healthy Beer!

Answer 8

Try sticking to beers with less calories. That doesn't mean you have to suffer! Some better beer has less cals than the cheap stuff:

http://www.united-nations-of-beer.com/beer-calorie-guide.html

Answer 9

The only healthier beer options are the light beers, they are lower in alcohol, but they are also lower in calories!

Answer 10

Michelob Ultra is low carbs so it is the best and if you dont like it, then I believe it is Miller Lite as a close second.