Dr. David Williams, a professor of chemistry at the University of Wales, reports in the journal “Chemistry In Britain” that a pint of beer a day can be part of a weight-loss program.

He states that beer is 93% water, contains no sugars or fat and only low levels of additives. In addition to carbohydrates and protein, beer contains liberal amounts of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. Add to this the vitamins folic acid, Niacin, pantothenic acid (B3), riboflavin (B2) and pyridoxine (B6). Living beer from Belgium, beer re-fermented in the bottle and keg, contains even more of these goodies, because of the presence of living yeast.

Laws and rules in the USA prevent the brewers to advertise the health benefits of drinking beer on a daily basis in moderate quantities, even though beer has more beneficial effects than other products, for which health benefits are claimed all the time, like orange juice. The key word is ‘moderation’. As with everything, TOO much is never good. Too much speed crashes cars, but cars are not outlawed. Too much sugar creates diabetes and obesity, but sugar is not outlawed. Too much sun, too much water, too much ..., you understand.

Hundreds of studies from around the world have shown in the last twenty years that moderate beer drinkers live longer than teetotalers or alcoholics. And more studies show that moderate beer drinkers live happier and have less medical complaints. Women and men, young and old, both sexes are helped by a regular glass of beer.

Unfortunately, the so-called ‘beer-belly’ makes people doubt the beneficial effects of beer during a weight-loss program. Though it has been scientifically proven that the beer-belly is created by all the fatty and salty food eaten while drinking beer and/or watching TV from of a deep couch.

It’s not the beer, it’s all those eatables that ruin your figure and give you a beer belly. Most studies have shown that moderate beer drinkers do not weigh more than those who abstain. Quite the opposite! In fact, some research has even shown that moderate drinkers actually weigh somewhat less. This applies in particular to women. Women who drink in moderation tend on average to weigh slightly less than women who do not drink any alcohol.

Four glasses of Wittekerke or any Pilsner beer contain approximately half as many calories as four glasses of soft drink. And who says you have to drink 4 glasses?
The calories in your glass of beer are only a fraction of the calories in the salty “nibbles” and potato crisps that accompany the beer.

Thus, enjoy your favorite beer and hold off on the snacks. You might even lose weight doing so. More on the subject at beer&health.com.
Newsletter April / May 2005