Calories in Beer

Beer is said to be the oldest alcoholic drink known to man. Even today, beer is no doubt the single most popular alcoholic drink across the world. For many people, and in fact in many cultures as a whole, beer is considered to be simply a part of the regular diet (fondly known as “liquid bread”), and is not really seen as alcohol or any sort of indulgence. However, lifestyles have changed considerably over the centuries, and in societies that have moved to a more sedentary lifestyle, it may not be a great idea to continue drinking beer in the same way as our forefathers did. It is therefore advisable to be aware of the calories in beer, as well as any other effects it may have on our health.

Calories in Light, Regular Beer

Typically, a bottle of beer contains 12 fl oz of beer, which roughly weighs around 350 g. If the beer is regular beer, one such bottle will contain around 150 calories. Every oz of beer contains 12 calories -which is quite a lot! Light beer generally has a considerably lower calorie content – a 12 oz bottle of light beer typically contains around 100 calories, which works out to around 9 calories per oz. Beer contains no fat, but there are plenty of carbohydrates in beer – that can range between 12 g for a bottle of regular beer and 6 g for a bottle of light beer. Surprisingly, beer contains a small amount of protein too – regular beer contains nearly 2 g of protein per bottle.

The real surprise however, for most people, is that beer is rich in several other nutrients. This is mainly because of brewer’s yeast, which is used to prepare beer. Unfiltered beer is known to contain wide range nutrients, including several B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. Beer also contains tiny amounts of calcium and iron.

The harmful effects of beer are usually not because the drink is in itself harmful, but because of overconsumption. As with any other food or drink, excess is unhealthy. Although beer is associated with belly fat, it is possible to consume it responsibly and stay fit. The association is probably because people who tend to regularly consume beer in excess also tend to be lax in other areas relating to health, such as diet and exercise. All these factors combined are bound to have a negative effect. If consumed responsibly, beer could in fact be quite healthy and nutritious.

Submitted on January 16, 2014