Three Cheers For Beer! Why It’s A Good Thing

When it comes to imbibing, many triathletes choose to steer clear of beer. But is that a mistake? In fact, can beer be a valuable training aide? Opinions differ (for instance, check this article out), but Adam Kenlinson thinks we can all enjoy a tipple or two.

Written By: Adam Kenlinson
During university I had a friend who would say, “Beer is food—let’s eat!” Guess what. He was right. Though he didn’t realise it at the time, beer is actually packed with nutritional benefits. No more endless reasoning to justify tossing back a cold one after a hard session or race—moderate beer consumption is actually a perfectly acceptable post-workout pursuit.

A fermented beverage, beer has been a diet staple for thousands of years in almost every society across the globe. Although the ingredients have varied, beer today should consist of four components: water, barley, hops and yeast, says Ted Vivatson, founder and head brewer of Eel River Brewing Company in Fortuna, California, the country’s first certified organic brewery. Anything else, such as rice or corn, are cheap adjuncts to create alcohol. Organic ingredients further boost the health benefits of beer, says Ted’s son and co-head brewer, Matt Vivatson. “We use only organics because chemicals are not part of the growing process,” says Matt. “This translates into the nutritional health of the beer.”

Five reasons to drink up (in moderation, of course):

Carbs: Most beers contain 13 to 14 grammes of carbohydrates that comes from the barley. Carbs are very important to post-exercise replenishment of glycogen stores.

Protein: A minimal amount is left behind from the barley and yeast, but that’s all you need to help carry those carbs into the bloodstream and begin the recovery and repair of muscles. Fat: There is none. And alcohol helps increase levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in the bloodstream.

Antioxidants: Higher levels are found in darker beers (stouts and porters), but the flavonoids present in all beers help collect cell-damaging free radicals created from exercising.

B vitamins: As a result of the use of yeast in thebrewing process, beer contains vitamins B2 and B6. These nutrients help the body convert protein and carbohydrates into energy as well as for muscle cell repair and production. Unfiltered beers contain the most.

Of course, none of this is a prescription to consider beer a necessary part of one’s training, but for those who do imbibe, it won’t hurt your performance. Cheers!

FILED UNDER: All / Nutrition TAGS: Beer / Carb / carbohydrate / good / Healthy / Nutrition / Protein / Triathlon

Paul Moore

Paul Moore is the Online Editor for Triathlete Europe. When not glued to a computer he can be found writing books - most recently Ultimate Triathlon: A complete training guide for long-distance triathletes which you can buy on Amazon

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