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How many carbs are in beer?
A regular beer has about 1.4 grams of carbohydrates per 100ml – if you add it up to one bottle, that’s equivalent to about seven slices of bread! Each brand of beer does have varying amounts of carbohydrates and it also depends on how they’ve been made. If the beer is darker and has a more dense foam, that means that it has a heavy amount of carbs in it.
Brands that make craft beers usually have more carbs in their beer too, especially if they have added flavours. And because of these added flavours, they tend to have more sugar than regular beer. You should also pay attention to how much sugar is in your beer. Certain beers like black beer have around 15 to 17 grams of carbohydrates because of the added sugars in it. Some flavoured beers even have almost 30 grams of carbs in them per serving!
What is low carb beer?
In order to cut down on carbs and still enjoy a few drinks at the bar, health-conscious people are starting to look to low carb beers (aka keto beer) as an alternative. But what’s in it that makes it healthier than your standard drinks? Essentially, they’re lighter options that your regular pint, having only 0.9 grams of carbs on average.
Low carb beer vs low calorie beer
The difference between low carb and low calorie can be explained better in the context of diets: if you’re on a low carb diet, it means you’re significantly cutting down the carbohydrates. A low calorie diet on the other hand is more focused on lessening the amount of food you take in general, meaning you can eat whatever you want as long as it’s in moderation.
Low calorie beer in Australia is pretty hard to find but they do exist! It’s important to remember that low calorie beer isn’t exactly low in carbs. If you compare a 330ml bottle of Peroni Nastro Azzurro to a 330ml bottle of Corona Extra, they almost have the same amount of carbs even if the Peroni has more calories.
Does low carb beer live up to the hype?
Drinking beer without the guilt sounds great, but in reality, low carb beer just doesn’t work the way it’s advertised. While there are many low carb alcohol drinks that sound like better alternatives than standard beer (like Pure Blonde, one of the most popular low carb beers in Australia), it still won’t stop your body from putting on the extra pounds. In order to help your diet, the best low-carb beer is actually the one with the lowest alcohol percentage.
It’s not the carbs, it’s the alcohol
What really affects your metabolism and overall weight loss journey is the alcohol in beer, not the carbs. When you’ve had too much to drink, your body’s metabolism slows down and it directs all its energy toward dealing with the effects of alcohol.
Surprisingly, most beers already have low amounts of carbohydrates in them. Alison McAleese, a dietitian and a Campaign Manager at LiveLighter, says:
“At the end of the day it’s the alcohol in beer, not the carbohydrates, that does the damage to your waistline and puts you at greater risks of serious health problems, including cancer. To avoid weight gain and reduce these risks, choose lower alcohol beer and cut back.”
Best alternatives to beer
Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you can’t unwind with a few drinks every now and then. In fact, drinking the right amount of alcohol may be good for you! While it may slow down your metabolism, it also has wonderful health benefits like lowering the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes – as long as you make sure you’re drinking the proper amount.
If you love beer and drink it often, make sure that you get light beer brands. Light beer in Australia isn’t about the calories but the alcohol percentage, which is around 2.5% on average. But, if you’re conscious about beer calories, then drinks like wine and spirits are good alternatives to consider.
Does beer make you fat?
Regardless of the number of carbs or calories in your beer, the most important thing to look at is alcohol percentage: the lower the alcohol content, the fewer inches on your waistline.
