Wanting to crack open a cold one this summer but thinking it will ruin your health and fitness goals? Most people do not associate beer or drinking alcohol with their health, but I am here to tell you that it can be possible to consume beer in a healthy manner. They do call me the "wine nutritionist" after all so I have some insight on this subject. Let’s look at these 3 tips to focus on consuming beer in a healthy way.
Eat before drinking
I will oftentimes hear people skipping meals in order to feel “less bad” about the calories they consume through alcohol. Choosing alcohol calories over food calories is one of the unhealthiest ways to go about consuming alcohol and beer. It is a good idea to eat a nutritious meal before drinking because you not only get in the nutrients your body needs, but will feel fuller meaning you will not get the urge to consume more beer than you should.
Stay hydrated
This one is very important. Alcohol is a diuretic which means that it can cause dehydration. Make sure that you drink plenty of water when you know that you will be drinking beer that day or evening. Drinking water in between your beers is a way to stay hydrated and feel better if you end up consuming one too many.
Steer away from ultra-light beers
While ultra-light beers may say they contain lower calories, this is usually because they have switched out regular grains for synthetic ones. Although lighter beer can be lower in calories and alcohol content, you are not getting the same nutrients as a regular beer. This can lead to you compensating for it by drinking more beer.
Opening up a cold one at your favorite restaurant, brewery, or relaxing day at the beach can be healthy in moderation when remembering these tips. If you are struggling with your mindset around food or beer or how to go about eating and drinking in a healthy way, I would love to help you.