We generally know that a regular beer with alcohol is unhealthy, but what about non-alcoholic beer? Is there actually no alcohol in non-alcoholic beer? And what about comparison with soft drinks? Finally, is it wise for alcoholics to consume non-alcoholic beer?
Is non-alcoholic beer actually alcohol-free?
First of all, it must be corrected that non-alcoholic beer is alcohol-free. This is not the case, the percentage is of course much lower than that of normal beer. In the Netherlands, the rule applies that it may contain up to 0.1% alcohol. Non-alcoholic beer is just beer, it is made in the same way. It only differs in the part that alcohol is added. As a result, the taste does differ, it is personal whether you like it just as much as a normal beer.
Alcohol
Alcohol is a poison for the body, which is why the liver has to work hard to get the alcohol out of the blood. The toxins are given priority over carbohydrates and fat, so the metabolism is disrupted. The fat and carbohydrates are stored and therefore not processed, so it is not wise to eat a lot and then drink a few beers.
Non-alcoholic beer does not have all these disadvantages because the percentage of alcohol is negligible.
Comparison with soft drinks
Beer without alcohol can be considered a soft drink, how does it compare to well-known soft drinks such as orange and cola?
|
100 ml |
Alcohol-free beer |
Coke |
Orange |
|
energy (kcal |
26 |
41 |
42 |
|
Protein (g) |
0.2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sugars (g) |
6.1 |
11 |
11 |
|
Sodium |
2 |
6 |
1 |
|
Potassium (mg) |
28 |
1 |
0 |
|
Calcium (mg) |
5 |
2 |
5 |
|
Phosphorus (mg) |
12 |
0 |
20 |
|
Magnesium (mg) |
4 |
0 |
0 |
As shown in the table, non-alcoholic beer has fewer calories than orange and cola. The number of grams of sugar is also a lot lower. This makes non-alcoholic beer healthy compared to soft drinks. Too much sugar is converted into fat, so it is positive that non-alcoholic beer contains less of it. The number of sugars in our daily diet is generally too high.
Non-alcoholic beer contains important building materials in addition to fewer sugars. For example, non-alcoholic beer contains magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. Non-alcoholic beer also contains important vitamins, including vitamin B.
Research into health effects of alcohol-free beer
Non-alcoholic beer ensures that marathon runners recover faster, research has been done into this. 277 men participated in the study. Half received non-alcoholic beer and the rest a drink that resembled the taste, but was not. A placebo. They didn’t know which of the two they took. The study started three weeks before the marathon and ended two weeks after the marathon. The men who drank alcohol-free beer suffered less from diseases and also had less inflammation in the body than the non-alcoholic drinkers. The researchers think that these results from alcohol-free beer are because it contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are so-called phytochemical substances that bind free radicals in the body so that their harmful effect is limited.
Non-alcoholic beer for alcoholics?
It seems logical. Put alcoholics on non-alcoholic drinks and the problem is solved. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. There is indeed alcohol in non-alcoholic beer, which can make it a lot more difficult for the recovering alcoholic. The smell of any type of beer can also cause them to fall back on the drink that is addictive to them. This is because the scent can increase dopamine levels, which makes them want more. So it is best to also stay away from non-alcoholic beer.
