How Beer Can Help You With Exercising?
Beer and exercise probably do not sound like a “perfect” match to most, at first… But you might be quite surprised to learn that science is starting to show us that we might have been wrong in thinking that beer and “getting shredded”, did not belong in the same conversation. That’s what we will discuss in the blog, today! Now, I have said it before, but I have to say it again; I am not a medical professional, and this is not meant to provide any medical advice. What I will do, is share information with you published by medical and scientific professionals so you don’t have to hunt for it yourself!
Germany loves beer, but what you may not have known is that for a very long time, many German endurance athletes have “sworn” by its merit as a “post-training” beverage. It’s not just Germany either, this philosophy is catching a lot of attention across the world, due to new research. For that reason, athletes foreign and domestic alike, are feeling a lot less guilty about that after workout beer. You are probably wondering what the science says about that, now, right? Well let’s take a look, shall we?
Beer and Muscle Soreness: Physical training and sore muscles tend to go together like ham and cheese, but a 2014 study in the International Journal of Kinesiology and Sport Science found that the athletes they observed reported a reduction in “perceived muscle soreness” after drinking beer versus a placebo. I don’t know about you, but I am already, SOLD! Who “likes” being sore?
Beer and Kidney Health: It likely comes as no surprise that intense exercise can cause dehydration, and dehydration can cause kidney stones in some instances. Well, if you like exercise AND beer but you DO NOT like kidney stones, a 2013 study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that “regular, moderate” beer consumption, reduced a person’s risk of developing kidney stones by a whopping 41%, and yes, you read that correctly!
Beer as an Anti-Inflammatory: Okay, this one is a little less about the beer itself and a little more about the hops, IN the beer! Yup, a 2009 study in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that hops could reduce acute inflammation in study participants. And a 2006 study in Planta Medica found that hops could work similarly to traditional over-the-counter COX-2 inhibitors, a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In simpler terms, the active ingredients in hops might be as effective in reducing certain types of exercise-related inflammation as something like Ibuprofen or aspirin.
Beer Consumption and Gut Health: If you have ever beat your own backside at the gym, you know a little “tummy rumble from down under” can really throw your plans off… Oh come on, you can pretend you don’t know what I am talking about, but one brush with the “runners trots”, and you will not soon forget! But do not worry, I have really good news about that, too! Moderate alcohol consumption shows promise in combatting the bacteria often responsible for stomach ulcers, Helicobacter pylori, as reported in a study from The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Beer is also a good source of arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides, the prebiotic food that your good gut bacteria feast on which serves to regulate your gastric “comfort”. Who does not like fewer “belly aches”?
Beer And Bone Health: A surprisingly little-known benefit of consuming beer is its silicon content! That is right! Beer contains a vital mineral that your bones NEED, a lot. A paper published in the journal Food and Science in Agriculture concluded that drinking about three bottles of any beer would satisfy your daily requirement for silicon! What?! “Bartender! I’ll take 3, for my bone health!”
Beer And Your Heart Health: I have talked about this before, and the American heart association has stated that a single beer a day, could raise your “good” cholesterol while reducing your risks for clots and reducing heart attack risks… What athlete does not require a healthy heart? That, being said, the AHA strongly drives home the fact that MODERATION is key!
If all that did not make you want to add beer to your “workout” routine, I don’t know what will! Once again, this is not medical advice, so PLEASE speak to your doctor before adding or changing your lifestyle. I hope you enjoyed this, and maybe even learned something you didn’t know! If you would like to check out my sources for yourself, check out the links provided below!
Cheers!
Ashley
Beer and muscle soreness: http://www.journals.aiac.org.au/index.php/IJKSS/article/view/591/560
Beer and hydration: https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12970-015-0088-5.pdf
https://europepmc.org/article/med/25588064
Beer and post workout inflammation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19655312/
Beer and Bone Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2658806/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jsfa.3884
Beer and Gut Health: https://journals.lww.com/ajg/pages/default.aspx
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21328111/
Beer and Heart Health: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/alcohol-and-heart-health
