While fad diets have led dieters to believe that carbohydrates are dangerous and cause weight gain, they fail to mention that carbohydrates are necessary for your health. Carbohydrates provide your body with energy it needs for cell function, maintenance and reproduction. Without carbohydrates, you would not have the energy to engage in physical activity and your body would have to break down protein and fat stores to provide energy for vital cellular functions. While carbohydrates are necessary for a healthy diet, some carbohydrates, such as beer and other alcoholic beverages, are not as nutrient-dense as others.
Nutrient Density
Nutrient density is a concept dietitians and nutritionists use when recommending dietary and nutritional advice to others. Carbohydrate, protein and fat are the three macronutrients, or nutrients that humans must consume in large quantities because they provide calories and are necessary for body functions. Macronutrients are important, as are vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, or substances that contribute to proper immune function. Certain foods, such as leafy greens, contain a variety of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Foods high in all of these nutrients are considered nutrient-dense.
Alcohol Nutrition
Different types of alcohol contain different amounts of calories and carbohydrates. However, a 12 oz. Budweiser contains 10.6 g of carbohydrates and 145 calories, while 12 oz. of Bud Ice Light contains 7.5 g of carbohydrates and 115 calories. An ounce of hard liquor, including gin, run, vodka and whisky, contains 0 g of carbohydrates and about 98 calories. The average adult on a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet should ensure that 45 to 65 percent of his diet is carbohydrates, or about 225 to 325 g per day.
Beer and Carbohydrates
The best sources of carbohydrates are nutrient-dense and provide vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients. Alcohol, including beer, has often been cited as an "empty calorie" food, or a food that is high in calories and contains few other nutrients. Empty-calorie foods can promote weight gain and/or interfere with weight loss. However, Charles Bamforth, chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology at UC Davis, says this reputation is unfair. He claims that beer, consumed in moderation, contains soluble fiber and prebiotics that can promote digestion. Little research has been done to substantiate Bamforth's claim.
Considerations
There is no direct method that determines how carbohydrates in beer impact weight or health. Therefore, it is best to consider the calories in beer when making a decision on what to drink. Light beers contain fewer calories and carbohydrates than regular beer, and ciders contain more calories than draught beer.
References
- Harvard School of Public Health: Carbohydrates
- University of Illinois McKinley Health Center: Macronutrients: the Importance of Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat
- Beer100.com: How many calories in beer?
- UC Davis; Beer's Bad Rap for Carbs Unjustified; Charles Bamforth; Oct. 28, 2005
- Mayo Clinic: Carbohydrates: How Carbs Fit Into A Healthy Diet
- USDA: Choose My Plate: Empty Calories
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