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Health

Forget Water: Drinking Beer Post-Workout Is Better for You, Scientists Say

Apr. 9, 2011 7:21am Emily Esfahani Smith

Via the blog JammieWearingFool comes news of this scientific report that says drinking beer after working out is actually better for you than drinking water. And who are we to argue with science?

The Telegraph:

A beer after playing a game of football, a long run, or a strenuous round of golf can be good for the body, scientists say.

In a rare piece of good news for those who like a pint, Spanish researchers say beer can help someone who is dehydrated retain liquid better than water.

Prof Manuel Garzon, of Granada University, also claimed the bubbles in beer help to quench the thirst and that its carbohydrate content can help to replace lost calories.

Prof Garzon asked a group of students to do strenuous exercise in temperatures of around 40ºC (104ºF). Half were given a pint of beer, while the others received the same volume of water.

Prof Garzon, who announced the results at a press conference in Granada beneath a banner declaring “Beer, Sport, Health”, said the hydration effect in those who drank beer was “slightly better”.

Juan Antonio Corbalan, a cardiologist who worked formerly with Real Madrid football players and Spain’s national basketball team, said beer had the perfect profile for re-hydration after sport.

He added that he had long recommended barley drinks to professional sportsmen after exercise.

Previous studies have shown most alcoholic drinks have a diuretic effect – meaning they increase the amount of liquid lost by the body through urination.

Dr James Betts, an expert on nutrition and metabolism at Bath University, said a moderate amount of beer might be just as good as water at helping the body retain liquid, but that he doubted it could be any better.

Dr Betts said: “If you are dehydrated to start with following exercise, a beer, as opposed to a spirit, probably does not have a high enough concentration of alcohol to induce a diuretic effect.”

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Comments (66)

neozon
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 5:43pm
Was this imported bottle water or tap water from spain. Cause, that would explain a lot why the beer was better.

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mossbrain
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 3:11pm
I hike a lot and I’ve noticed the quickest way to drain my energy to to eat or rest. I stay with gatorade type drinks and a few peanut butter or cheese crackers at most. Caffeine gives energy, food takes away energy.

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TheGreyPiper
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 2:11pm
Andy Capp has been right all along!!!

Really tho’, in Britain they give new mothers Guinness during their hospital stay because it’s so packed with good stuff.

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clockwatcher
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 12:42pm
“Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy”, Ben Franklin

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Ducky 1
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 12:36pm
Not good for you if you have Celiac disease ………it is made from gluten.

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jaycee11
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 11:49am
Does it mention anything about vodka and water? huh, huh, huh, huh?!

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BubbaT
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 11:38am
Who wants a 6 pack when you can have an 8 pack. WOOP!

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crazytalk
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 11:13am
Had a couple before I went running the other day. Cut bake on the pain experienced when running, except for the fall in the blackberry bushes.

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Stevsea
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 11:07am
“Beer is proof that GOD loves us and wants us to be happy.” Benjamin Franklin

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ShyMan
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 11:02am
There’s a study for everything.

Next thing you know they’ll say, “brushing your teeth with cocaine powder is healthier than brushing with ammonia. And we have the study to prove it.”

Here’s a study for ya.

“According to recent data, you’ll probably live to at least 65-75 unless you get run over by a train or catch an incurable disease.”

Or,

“A recent study shows that most people will die of natural causes.”

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Bronco II
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:13am
Talk about bloating look at Al Gore and Alec Baldwin now that’s brew bloat. LOL

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HOPEYCHANGY
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:13am
No kidneystones either……It’s not the beer that is unhealthy, it’s the steamed crabs, brauts, buffalo wings, clambakes,…….etc,…..

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Morningbird
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:04am
Once again we see that the old ‘experts’ were wrong. The news of beer being healthy is great!

Great article!!

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loadingmyclips
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:36am
too bad it doesn’t help cure cancer, this chemo sucks

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conservativeBC
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:33am
tip

Fox Envy: MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough Says Without Fox Glenn Will Fade To Irrelevance

http://conservativeblogscentral.blogspot.com/2011/04/fox-envy-msnbcs-joe-scarborough-says.html

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Notlad
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:27am
Sure, beer may be better than water post work out, but protein+carbs is better than both.

Anything to justify a beer, right?

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- TheGreyPiper
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 2:12pm
  I’ll drink to that!
  
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9thCommandment
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:23am
The problem is eating the bratwurst dog that came with the beer.

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streetrodder
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:09am
Six months from now there will be another study saying, new studys show water is better than beer after a workout.

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101
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:08am
Negative effects of alcohol on muscle building

The biggest reason why alcohol is one of the worst things you can do for muscle building is because it directly slows down protein synthesis. If protein isn’t being snythesized you can’t build muscle. To make matters worse, protein is always being broken down, its the balance between anabolism(protein sythesis) and catabolism (protein breakdown). New proteins have to be created (synthesized) to replace those destroyed in what is called protein turnover. When there is more protein synthesis than catabolism, you gain muscle. So by slowing down alcohol stopping protein synthesis, it is actually causing muscle loss because proteins are being broken down, but less are replacing them.

According to studies I’ve seen, the protein synthesis drops about 20%. Protein synthesis doesn’t return to normal until the body eliminates alcohol from the blood. Alcohol also is shown in studies to lower testosterone levels. This will also have a significant impact on your ability to gain muscle.

Negative effects of alcohol on fat loss and bulking

Not only is alcohol bad for muscle building, but its bad for losing fat and bulking. Normally your body burns a steady amount of fat in the kreb’s cycle. However, when alcohol is present, your body will prefer to use alcohol instead of fat, which is 7 calories per gram! Alcohol is almost as calorie dense as if you were drinking pure fat. Even during bulking alcohol will lead to excess fat gain. You will gain a lot of excess fat because your body can’t burn any fat. You’re already at a surplus for calories during bulking making you susceptible to some fat gain. Throw alcohol and it’s effect on testosterone and fat burning and you’ll look fat and bloated instead of muscular at the end of your bulk.

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- flyoverbob
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:43am
  anal
  
  Report this comment
- The Truth Seeker
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:53am
  Not anal, accurate. However, I would like to propose a “Beer Summit” to discuss this further…..
  
  Report this comment
- Markhg
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:29am
  Give Bob a break. He acted stupidly. It’s been my experience that the original comment is accurate. If I work out and don’t abstain from drinking alcohol, it’s a futile effort.
  
  Report this comment
- OneRepublic4us
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:42am
  A new study also shows that some, not all beers have nitrites in it that causes Alzheimer’s.
  
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- Rice Water
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 10:59am
  You may have a point there, but only if one’s goal is to “bulk”.
  
  If I may explain, “bulking” involves thousands of dollars worth of “supplements”, pointless regimens of lifting large amounts of weight (which, I should point out, have no useful purpose other than making one better at lifting large amounts of weight), and eventual joint injuries. It serves no useful purpose outside of “Jersey Shores”, and will make you a soft, lumpy shadow of yourself by age 30.
  
  One needs to build cardiovascular strength through running and sports. Boxing, racquetball, soccer whatever. They all encourage the focus and drive necessary to make the body to function as it was meant to.
  
  And a beer & a cigarette afterwards just rocks.
  
  Report this comment
- hypnos
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 12:51pm
  Sounds like your pint is half empty.
  
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- mossbrain
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 2:58pm
  Flyoverblob, that’s the funniest one word post ever.
  
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- Dogbertdave
  Posted on April 10, 2011 at 12:00pm
  I’ll drink to that Beer Summit.
  
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- DAG
  Posted on April 10, 2011 at 9:49pm
  > anabolism(protein sythesis) and catabolism (protein breakdown)
  
  Is this the origin of canabalism?
  
  Report this comment
headbtweenlegs
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:46am
You can pay scientist to say about anything…Next week butter can cure athletes foot..Cheers! Drink Up while you can….

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:26am
  You can also get a poll to reflect any position you favor by how you phrase the questions. That is how CNN<ABC <NBC< CBS< PMSNBC<REUTERS<BBC<AL-JAZERRA< And the DEMOCRAT party can all get the same results. Go Sam Adams Lager, Rolling Rock.
  
  Report this comment
- thepatriotdave
  Posted on April 10, 2011 at 2:04am
  Are you suggesting that Butter doesn’t work? I hope not, I convinced my wife it would stop her feet from stinking. She had better NOT find out cause I’m having fun watching her slip and fall, especially in the Kitchen. It’s gotten so bad she now just sleeps on the floor.
  
  ; -)
  
  The Tea Party Revolution Continues…
  http://www.AmericasTeaPartyNews.com
  
  Report this comment
Snappingturtle
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:46am
Don’t tell the progressives that beer is good for us. They might repeal the 21st amendment.

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teddrunk
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:36am
This study was done by Dr. Coors Miller, and his assistant Dr. Bud Weiser.

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- BIGJAYINPA
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:46am
  Now if they would just release a study of the beneficial effects of Irish Whiskey I would be happier than a puppy with two peters(loved City Slickers)
  
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travlman77
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:32am
Finally some good news!

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flyoverbob
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:31am
I should be the healthyiest man alive.I say skip the workout

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- BIGJAYINPA
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:44am
  You got it Bob. Bag the workout just pass me a brew!!!! BEER- It’s what’s for dinner.
  
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- Stevsea
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 11:05am
  “Beer, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.”
  
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- Hemispheres2112
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 2:40pm
  Mmmmmmm….BEER.
  
  Report this comment
Exrepublisheep
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:30am
Is walking to the kitchen “Working out”?

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- Deane
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:55am
  no wonder i see so many drunks at the gym!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- ExpertShot
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:58am
  Forget walking to the kitchen, what about changing the remote? LOL.
  
  Report this comment
- Stuck_in_CA
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:27am
  It always used to work for me…I didn’t start feeling crappy, until I quit the 12-pack-a-day routine! ;^)
  
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- EnoughBS
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:51am
  I live in New Orleans and it is traditional to have a drink post-run. They even set up beer tents at race finish lines! A cold one after a long run on a sticky summer day.. nothing beats it.
  
  Report this comment
- grandmaof5
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 8:56am
  So with the difference of opinion, those who prefer to believe beer is better drink beer, and those that don’t, drink water. So with the difference of opinion, those who are hyperventilating over global prefer to think it exists, and those with a brain, don’t. Isn’t it great? Science is what we want it to be.
  
  Report this comment
- grandmaof5
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:04am
  Whoops, that is “global warming”. Oh, that first cup of coffee…..
  
  Report this comment
- Libertyluvnmomma
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 9:13am
  Of course beer is good for you. it works well in dulling the senses so even conservatives will be sleeping when we need a call to action.
  Scientists- paid for by big pharma everywhere.
  
  Report this comment
- rdk
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 10:25am
  Only if you extend yourself by opening the refrigerator door.
  
  Report this comment
- GONESURFING
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 12:51pm
  This is the best news I’ve heard in awhile. But seriously, I never feel like a beer after working out, which I do a lot, except after a late afternoon golf game. Used to run but now cycle for exercise, and the best thing is to replace the lost salts and electrolytes with a sports drink. Never feel like a beer in the day time period. For me it has to be at night after all the work is done. I do like a good beer though when the day is over.
  
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- BeerSnob
  Posted on April 9, 2011 at 1:08pm
  What is this “workout” you speak of?
  
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- thepatriotdave
  Posted on April 10, 2011 at 1:58am
  I didn’t need no stinkin scientists to tell that to me. Beer is good any time. And when I become President, everyone gets FREE Beer. DUI fines will triple for all registered Democrats, Greens, etc.
  
  The Tea Party Revolution Continues…
  http://www.AmericasTeaPartyNews.com
  
  Report this comment
- Clive
  Posted on April 11, 2011 at 5:34pm
  “after a strenuous round of golf”…. who thinks golf as being strenuous?
  
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spiffy06
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 2:02pm
These scientists were defiantly drunk when they “figured this out”

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