The Guinness Diet is a liquid-only diet based on the premise that Guinness, a type of beer, is nutritionally complete. The diet involves drinking only Guinness for sustenance, with no other foods eaten. There are many reasons people try the Guinness Diet, including weight loss and curiosity, while others insist Guinness has all the nutrients you need to stay alive. In the earliest part of the 20th century, the company's slogan was "Guinness is good for you," but the beer lacks many of the vital elements of a balanced diet.
About Guinness
The Guinness brewing concern was founded in Ireland in 1759. There are three main types of Guinness beers: Guinness Extra Stout, Draught Guinness, and Foreign Extra Stout. There have been some limited-edition varieties, as well as some specialties sold only with a few ingredients. The four key ingredients in all these varieties are barley, hops, water, and a trademarked strain of yeast called Guinness yeast. The stout varieties are more bitter because they contain additional hops.
Guinness Diet Overview
The Guinness Diet is a liquid-only diet that substitutes beer for solid meals. The diet has not been promoted by the company itself or by any reputable diet companies. Instead, it appears to be limited to a certain number of extreme dieters who are looking to experiment and either prove or disprove the claims about Guinness being a complete nutritional drink. Any weight loss caused by this diet is likely water weight due to dehydration, which is common with excessive alcohol intake. This weight will likely return as soon as you resume your regular eating habits.
Nutrition Information
A 12-oz. serving of Guinness Draft contains 126 calories, 10 grams of carbohydrates in the form of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Its alcohol by volume is 4.1% to 4.3%. A 12-oz. serving of Guinness Extra Stout contains 155 calories, 18 grams of carbs, and zero grams of protein. Its alcohol by volume varies from 4.2% to 6% depending on which country you live in, and is usually 5% in the United States and Canada. A 12-oz. serving of Foreign Extra Stout contains 176 calories, 14 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein. Its alcohol by volume is 7.5% in the United States. All three varieties contain zero grams of fat.
Risks
Despite claims that Guinness is nutritionally complete, the drink lacks many essential nutrients. For example, the beer has no fat content, and fat is an essential nutrient. Additionally, the beer is very low in protein and high in sugar. The Guinness diet also does not represent a moderate consumption of alcohol. The recommended amount of alcohol for a woman is one drink per day, and two drinks for a man, according to the federal 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Furthermore, a lack of solid food and the amount of carbonation in the beer may leave you hungry, bloated, and uncomfortable. Other side effects may include headaches and nausea.
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