Next time you’re at the local watering hole or bottle shop, don’t be surprised if you’re surrounded by blondes. No doubt you’ll want to look good, and there might even be an urge to suck in your gut in just a little. Basically, these blondes are very concerned about your carbohydrate intake, but they still want you to enjoy a beer. Welcome to the low-carbohydrate beer revolution, where sales are skyrocketing and every second brand has blonde in the title. But sadly, the joke is on us. Here’s how I’d sum up the low-carb beer phenomenon:
Switching to a low-carbohydrate beer might seem like a good way to keep your waistline in check – but don’t be fooled. Calling a beer ‘low-carb’ (or blonde for that matter) doesn’t disguise the fact that these drinks are still high in kilojoules.
Most of the kilojoules in beer come from alcohol (which is the fattening ingredient), not the carbohydrates. All beer has relatively low-carbohydrate content. A typical low-carbohydrate beer contains around 130 kilojoules and 1 gram of carbohydrate per 100 ml. This is only slightly less than regular beer which contains 150 kilojoules and 3 grams of carbohydrate per 100 ml.
Low-carb beers still contain empty kilojoules (no nutrients or fullness), so if you don’t burn off the excess, they can contribute to weight gain. Beers with low alcohol content are a better choice for the weight conscious. They contain approximately 100 kilojoules and 3 grams of carbohydrate per 100mls.
If you enjoy the taste of low-carbohydrate beers, they can be part of a healthy lifestyle if consumed in moderation – like any alcohol. Their kilojoule and carbohydrate content is slightly less, but not by enough to classify them as a good choice. Don’t be conned into thinking these beers are healthy, low in alcohol, or that you can drink more of them. And don’t rely on beer manufacturers for dietary advice. At the end of the day, keep your beer intake to a minimum if you are serious about losing body fat (even if there’s a blonde on the label).
Did you assume that low-carb beers were healthier? Do you think it’s misleading to call a beer low-carb?
We accept
