Does beer make you fat?

The beer is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. In the case of Spain, it is estimated that each Spaniard drinks 46.4 liters of beer per year , which is around four glasses per week. Although the figure seems very high, the truth is that it is far from the consumption of other countries such as Germany or the Czech Republic, with 116 and 134 liters per person, respectively.

Of course, in relation to health, many people wonder if beer makes you fat ; We’ve all heard of the “beer belly” from time to time. Well, then we are going to explain this topic in detail, although we can already anticipate that contrary to what is believed, beer is not fattening as long as it is consumed in moderation.

Is beer really fattening?

Beer is a drink that has been consumed for several thousand years and that has a great social component; We usually take it accompanied by family or friends, especially in bars and restaurants. It has a relatively low alcohol content, but it is still important to consume it in moderation. Nutritionists explain that the ideal amount of beer per day is a 200 ml glass.

It is worth noting that beer provides very few calories and saturated fat to the body; a 250 ml glass has about 90 calories . The vast majority of soft drinks and sugary drinks easily exceed this caloric intake.

So, it is time to ask yourself why beer is said to be fattening. Well, it is due to the foods with which we usually accompany this drink, such as chips and sausages; foods rich in saturated fats that do the body no good.

Therefore, beer is not fattening ; it is a drink that can be part of a healthy diet. Of course, you have to avoid taking it with certain foods.

The beers with less calories

Not all beers have the same composition and, therefore, their calorie intake may vary.

• Lager beer: 90 calories.
• Black beer: 112 calories.
• Non-alcoholic beer: 40 calories.
• 0.0% beer: 24 calories.

Thus, the caloric intake of beer depends largely on its alcoholic content. Therefore, in weight loss diets it is convenient to bet on non-alcoholic beers.

What are the benefits of beer?

Beer has a great selection of benefits that are worth learning about. It is a drink made with water, barley and hops that plays a leading role in the prevention of certain diseases.

Beer is one of the most nutritious drinks out there. It has a high content of B vitamins , as well as minerals such as magnesium or calcium. It also has a relatively high percentage of fiber, so it helps improve intestinal transit.

Cardiovascular diseases

Numerous studies have confirmed that moderate beer consumption can have very beneficial effects on cardiovascular health . This drink prevents the oxidation of cells and, in addition, increases the amount of HDL cholesterol, thus protecting the heart from diseases such as heart attack.

Neurodegenerative diseases

Although it seems incredible, the beneficial effect of beer against certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s has also been demonstrated . This has a scientific explanation: moderate beer consumption significantly reduces the bioavailability of aluminum in both plasma and brain tissue, which is related to some neurodegenerative conditions.

More years of life

Another of the great benefits of beer is that it has great antioxidant properties . Therefore, it is a great drink to avoid the aging of the cells and, therefore, the separation of some degenerative diseases.

Healthier bones

Beer contains ingredients such as silicon, which improves bone density , thus preventing bone loss; something extremely important, especially in older people. A great drink to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis .

Is wine or beer better for health?

One of the most common questions among adults is whether wine or beer is better for health. Well, we are going to analyze both drinks from two points of view: alcohol content and calories.

Alcohol content

The alcoholic graduation is the proportion of ethanol that a certain drink has. In the case of red wine, it is usually between 12º and 15º; As for beer, it generally does not exceed 6º.

Of course, when it comes to getting drunk, not only the alcohol content is taken into account , but also the amount of drink that is taken and how long it takes. Well, in general, beer is consumed more quickly and it is estimated that it takes 62 minutes to pass into the bloodstream; the time it takes for the wine to make it is 54 minutes.

Which one makes you fatter?

First of all, we are going to explain how the body metabolizes alcohol, which is largely processed in the liver. When alcohol is infused, it causes an increase in liver fat production . Thus, excessive alcohol consumption can cause fatty liver problems in the medium and long term.

In relation to the number of calories in beer and wine, there is no doubt that wine has more. However, it must be taken into account that the influence of wine on glucose levels is much less.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that beer itself is not fattening . What’s more, it is a drink with a great selection of benefits for both physical and mental health. However, when consuming it, avoid doing so by accompanying it with certain foods with a high caloric content, rich in fats and industrial sugars.