Camra, (Campaign for Real Ale) and the Beer Academy, have today come together to highlight to UK consumers that beer, when drunk in moderation, can help you lose weight, cut alcohol consumption, and more generally, help supplement a healthy lifestyle.
New research released during Camra’s Great British Beer Festival at Earl’s Court, London (3 to 7 August) shows that 34% of men and 29% of women incorrectly believe that beer contains more calories than other alcoholic drinks.
Today’s new research released by Camra follows on from a report by the Beer Academy, entitled ‘Beer the Natural Choice?’, and written by Isla Whitcroft, a leading health journalist.
The report is a broad examination of the health-giving properties of beer, and its composition as a natural product.
In a calorie comparison of beer versus other alcoholic drinks, the report found that a half pint (284ml) of 3.8% alcohol by volume ale contained 85 calories and 1.1 alcoholic units. By comparison, a 175ml glass of 12% abv red wine contained 119 calories and 2.1 alcoholic units, while a similar glass of white wine contained 131 calories and also 2.1 alcoholic units. A 275ml bottle of an alcopop contained 179 calories and 1.4 alcoholic units.
Professor Charlie Bamforth, a technical brewing expert, praised today’s findings.
He said: “For years beer has been blighted by a reputation for being more fattening than other alcoholic drinks when in reality the exact opposite is true.
“The major source of calories in any alcoholic drink is the alcohol itself, and because beer is the drinks category with the lowest average alcohol content it is also lowest in calories.
“Beer also contains no fat or cholesterol and very few free sugars. So for someone looking to lose weight, swapping their glass of wine for a beer every day would not only reduce their weekly alcohol intake by seven units – but also cut out more calories than are burned off during a typical 30 minute jog!”
Speaking at the Great British Beer Festival, Mike Benner, Camra’s chief executive, said: ‘It is great news to see the myth of the beer belly finally laid to rest. The main message we are putting forward today is that as a low-alcohol drink, beer can supplement a healthy lifestyle if consumed in a responsible manner.
“And as a quality product, one need only visit the Great British Beer Festival this week to see that a number of beers, whilst low in alcohol, are still packed with a fantastic amount of flavour.
“After all, two of the last four Champion Beer of Britain winners have been milds, traditionally weighing in at around 3% abv, therefore in no way does less alcohol translate into less flavour.”
Source: Camra
