Hallelujah: Beer Hydrates Better Than Water

Hallelujah: Beer Hydrates Better Than Water

Now, there's no reason to wait for that post-hike beer

At last, I no longer have to act ashamed whenever people discover my hydration bladder is full of Miller High Life—I'm simply ahead of my time. Our pal Science now says that beer, yes beer, is more effective for rehydrating the body than plain ol' water. I think I'm not alone when I say that this qualifies as news on par with peace in the Middle East.

Researchers at Granada University in Spain found this Nobel Prize-worthy discovery after months of testing 25 student subjects, who were asked to run on a treadmill in grueling temps (104 degrees F) until they were as close to exhaustion as possible. Half were given water to drink, and the other half drank two pints of Spanish lager. Then the godly researchers measured their hydration levels, motor skills, and concentration ability.

They determined that the beer drinkers had "slightly better" rehydration effects, which researchers attribute to sugars, salts, and bubbles in beer enhancing the body's ability to absorb water. The carbohydrates in beer also help refill calorie deficits.

Based on the results of the study, researchers recommend moderate consumption of beer as a part of athletes' diets. "Moderate consumption" for men is 500ml per day, and for women is 250ml per day.

Goodbye Gatorade, hello Pabst Blue Ribbon: This opens the door to a whole raft of new athlete beer sponsorships. Hopefully we'll see Lance replace the water bottle on his bike with a 40 of St. Ides in the next few months. (In fact, maybe that's why he didn't win the Giro d'Italia.)

This of course doesn't mean anything for hydration outside of strenuous exercise, but I'm not taking any chances—best to start hydrating now. [cracks open can of Lone Star]

 
Do they know that alchohol and water aren't friends in Spain?

I always finish a workout with a Guiness... it's a meal-replacement shake....

 
heck, most domestics are basically just flavored water anyway :P

I always finish a workout with a Guiness... it's a meal-replacement shake....
Actually there has been a study done that shows drinking a 24oz Guinness glass with a meal is beneficial at preventing heart clots. In one study with dogs, Guinness was proven to break up these clots in their blood causing the same effect that low dose asprin or red wine does. This has to do with the antioxidants in the beer. In fact, in England, and still in Ireland, post-op patients and blood donors are given Guinness because of it's high amounts of iron.

And for the calorie counters out there:

Guinness 125 calories 10 carbs

Budweiser 143 calories 10.6 carbs

Coors 148 calories 11.3 carbs

MGD 143 calories 13.1 carbs

Michaelob 155 calories 13.3 carbs

 
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