You may have read or heard health advisories that caution you against chugging too much alcohol or downing a can of cola (or whichever soft drink your choice of poison is). But are they equally harmful to your health or is one more dangerous than the other? Read on to find out. Let’s use 4 key parameters to compare the harmful effects of both drinks:
Toxicity
Drinking too much alcohol over a prolonged period of time can-
- Slow down the activity of your nervous system.
- Lead to cirrhosis of the liver.
- Inhibit the function of the kidneys and the pancreas.
- Cause ulcers of the stomach.
- Cut off blood supply to the heart and gradually weaken it.
- Increase the risk of contracting cancer.
What can soft drinks do to your body?
- Drinking soft drinks in excess will lead to the deposit of fats in your liver and increase your risk of fatty liver disease,
- It can cause weight gain, especially around the tummy.
- It can adversely affect your heart health.
As far as toxicity is concerned, alcohol has more troubling implications on your health than soft drinks.
Glycaemic Score
When you ingest a particular food or drink, it raises the level of sugar in your blood. This is the glycaemic index and a score between 0-100 is ascribed to all foods and drinks according to the sugar boost. Distilled alcoholic drinks such as vodka, rum, brandy or whiskey have a negligible glycaemic index.
- In that sense, they’re not very harmful.
- But cola and soft drinks of that ilk are packed with sugar.
- They can cause a dramatic surge of sugar levels in your body.
- This could eventually lead to insulin resistance – the culprit behind Type 2 Diabetes,
- So, on that score, alcohol is less damaging than soft drinks.
However, cocktails – which are sugary alcoholic drinks, have the same effect on your body as soft drinks. So, drink responsibly in more ways than one.
Weight Gain
It’s well known that both alcohol and soft drinks can be fattening. Moreover, people tend to consume both with fried, unhealthy snacks that do your weight-loss goals no favours. Alcohol is a hunger stimulant. However, drinking in moderation – one drink if you’re a woman and two if you’re a man, will not lead to substantial weight gain.
Nutritional Value
There’s not much to choose between alcohol and soft drinks when it comes to nutritional benefits. Neither drink has any dietary value. However, studies have shown that infinitesimal consumption of alcohol can boost heart health and mitigate the effects of Hypertension, Alzheimers or Diabetes.
Red wine contains antioxidants that can fight infections, keep the dreaded free radical in check and even ward off cancer. Soft drinks, on the other hand, do no favours to your body in terms of nutrition and can only have a ruinous effect on you. Alcohol and soft drinks both have the potential to wreak havoc on your health.
But, between the devil and the deep sea, alcohol is a little less dangerous than soft drinks simply because it has a handful of health benefits. But, only if it is consumed in moderation.
Contents
Is a beer healthier than a soda?
I. Beer vs Cola – In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has analyzed the contents of both. It provides the following facts.2
Beverage | Calories | Fat (g.) | Carb (g.) | Sugars (g.) |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 oz regular beer | 153 | 0.00 | 12.64 | 0.00 |
12 oz regular cola | 155 | 0.92 | 38.33 | 36.78 |
In addition, the USDA shows that cola contains most, but not all, of the minerals found in beer. But cola contains no vitamins at all. On the other hand, beer provides thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, follate, and vitamin B-12 Beer also has a strong advantage over cola nutritionally.
Is soda worse for your liver than beer?
When you choose a sugary soda instead of alcohol every day, you may think you’re doing your liver a favor. But that daily soft drink can be harmful, especially to your liver — as damaging as alcohol can be. Once it reaches the liver, the sugar in beverages can get converted into fat that’s stored in liver cells.
Is it bad to drink a beer a day?
May benefit your heart – Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States ( 3 ). Several studies suggest that light to moderate beer and alcohol intake may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease. A 12-week study in 36 adults with overweight found that moderate beer intake — one drink for women, two drinks for men per day — improved the antioxidant properties of HDL (good) cholesterol while also improving the body’s ability to remove cholesterol ( 4 ).
What is worse alcohol or sugar?
If you’re at a fancy dinner with friends or simply dining at home on a Saturday evening, you might have the desire to give yourself a little treat. But, should you treat yourself with a glass of wine (or a drink of your choice) or that delicious cake you’ve been eyeing up on the menu? Dessert or alcohol? Which is worse? There are a few things that you need to take into account.
The Calorie Content First, let’s talk about the calorie content. If you are just having one drink and it’s a fairly regular drink (a bottle of beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of liquor with some diet soda), the alcohol will almost always be lower in calories than the dessert. These alcoholic beverages will range from 100-200 calories per serving, while with a dessert, you can easily be looking at 500-1000 calories per serving.
Clearly, that is going to put a pretty big dent in your diet plan. Now, if you are talking a fancy mixed cocktail like drink made with alcohol, a mixer, and syrup, then you could be nearing the 500 calorie range per drink, so that’s also a big issue if weight control is your goal.
- And, if you have two or more drinks, this can really add up fast.
- Not to mention, the alcohol mY weaken your willpower and cause you to eat more calories from food than you should, adding to your tally.
- So first, consider what and how much you intend to drink versus eating that dessert.
- The Nutritional Content Next, also consider the nutritional content.
Any way you slice it, there are no nutrients in alcohol. If you are drinking wine, you will get some antioxidants from the grapes the wine is made with, but beyond that, you really aren’t going to be getting much else. With most desserts, true, they are made from sugar, butter, and oil most of the time, but you will still be getting some nutrition if dark chocolate is included with nuts or coconut for example.
While the nutrition won’t be much, it still beats alcohol. How Your Body Handles The Calories Finally, also consider how your body handles these calories. With alcohol, as soon as you consume it, all fat and carb oxidation comes to a halt. So essentially you are putting the breaks on all fat burning until the alcohol is burned off.
And, it’s very bad for your metabolism as well. With dessert, you will keep burning fats and carbs only now, you’ve given your body a huge load of them, so chances are, it won’t be burning stored body fat any time soon. So what’s the verdict? Which is worse? Generally speaking, if you can share a small dessert with a friend, that’s the best way to go over drinking alcohol.
Why soda is better than alcohol?
13 September 2019 | 5:00 pm It is next to impossible to avoid a good beverage especially during social interactions hence why it is necessary to make healthy choices in deciding which beverage to take. There is a long-standing debate on the merits of various beverages, including soft drinks and alcohol. Which one is the healthier choice? Continuing reading on the details It is next to impossible to avoid a good beverage especially during social interactions hence why it is necessary to make healthy choices in deciding which beverage to take. There is a long-standing debate on the merits of various beverages, including soft drinks and alcohol.
- Which one is the healthier choice? Continuing reading on the details about the healthier choice between alcohol and soft drinks.
- Nutrition: If you are to compare alcohol and soft drinks from a nutrition point of view then alcohol is easily your winner as soft drinks have absolutely no nutritional value with processed sugar being one of the major components.
Sugar will bring down your insulin resistance due to the rise of toxin influx in the body and this makes you a prey to diseases like diabetes. On the other hand, beer contains a small amount of protein due to the ingredients added when it is brewed for consumption and also contains some amount of antioxidants and potassium.
Kilo calories: Both alcohol and soft drinks contain plenty of kilo calories but on the parameter of kilo calories, soft drinks are a healthier choice over alcohol. People tend to drink soft drinks at a slower pace, which means that they consume less of it. Once you start enjoying an alcoholic drink, you tend to take more of them and much faster.
Also, alcohol makes you hungry, which implies that you start reaching out for various kinds of snacks and other unhealthy food. In such cases, you will tend to gain weight much faster if you choose alcohol every time. This will not really be the case when you choose soft drinks.
Toxins: Alcohol is brewed in such a way that ensures it carries a lot of toxins, which are not good for the liver and heart in the long run. These toxins can easily clog the arteries and create complications for the functioning of the liver. Glycemic index: This is the count that is accorded to the level of insulin resistance in one’s drink of choice.
For alcohol, the glycemic resistance is much higher, which means that you have better insulin resistance as compared to other soft drinks, which are high in sugar content. Therefore, it makes alcohol a highly unhealthy choice, which can also result in diabetes in the long run, if one ingests too much of it.
What is worse alcohol or soda?
You may have read or heard health advisories that caution you against chugging too much alcohol or downing a can of cola (or whichever soft drink your choice of poison is). But are they equally harmful to your health or is one more dangerous than the other? Read on to find out. Let’s use 4 key parameters to compare the harmful effects of both drinks:
Toxicity
Drinking too much alcohol over a prolonged period of time can-
- Slow down the activity of your nervous system.
- Lead to cirrhosis of the liver.
- Inhibit the function of the kidneys and the pancreas.
- Cause ulcers of the stomach.
- Cut off blood supply to the heart and gradually weaken it.
- Increase the risk of contracting cancer.
What can soft drinks do to your body?
- Drinking soft drinks in excess will lead to the deposit of fats in your liver and increase your risk of fatty liver disease,
- It can cause weight gain, especially around the tummy.
- It can adversely affect your heart health.
As far as toxicity is concerned, alcohol has more troubling implications on your health than soft drinks.
Glycaemic Score
When you ingest a particular food or drink, it raises the level of sugar in your blood. This is the glycaemic index and a score between 0-100 is ascribed to all foods and drinks according to the sugar boost. Distilled alcoholic drinks such as vodka, rum, brandy or whiskey have a negligible glycaemic index.
In that sense, they’re not very harmful. But cola and soft drinks of that ilk are packed with sugar. They can cause a dramatic surge of sugar levels in your body. This could eventually lead to insulin resistance – the culprit behind Type 2 Diabetes, So, on that score, alcohol is less damaging than soft drinks.
However, cocktails – which are sugary alcoholic drinks, have the same effect on your body as soft drinks. So, drink responsibly in more ways than one.
Weight Gain
It’s well known that both alcohol and soft drinks can be fattening. Moreover, people tend to consume both with fried, unhealthy snacks that do your weight-loss goals no favours. Alcohol is a hunger stimulant. However, drinking in moderation – one drink if you’re a woman and two if you’re a man, will not lead to substantial weight gain.
Nutritional Value
There’s not much to choose between alcohol and soft drinks when it comes to nutritional benefits. Neither drink has any dietary value. However, studies have shown that infinitesimal consumption of alcohol can boost heart health and mitigate the effects of Hypertension, Alzheimers or Diabetes.
Red wine contains antioxidants that can fight infections, keep the dreaded free radical in check and even ward off cancer. Soft drinks, on the other hand, do no favours to your body in terms of nutrition and can only have a ruinous effect on you. Alcohol and soft drinks both have the potential to wreak havoc on your health.
But, between the devil and the deep sea, alcohol is a little less dangerous than soft drinks simply because it has a handful of health benefits. But, only if it is consumed in moderation.
Is 7 beers a day too much?
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Is daily drinking problem drinking? DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it possible to become an alcoholic just by having one or two drinks nightly? I have a glass or two of wine with dinner but never drink to the point of feeling drunk. Should I be concerned? ANSWER: Occasional beer or wine with dinner, or a drink in the evening, is not a health problem for most people.
When drinking becomes a daily activity, though, it may represent progression of your consumption and place you at increased health risks. From your description of your drinking habits, it may be time to take a closer look at how much you drink. Drinking alcohol in moderation generally is not a cause for concern.
According to the, drinking is considered to be in the moderate or low-risk range for women at no more than three drinks in any one day and no more than seven drinks per week. For men, it is no more than four drinks a day and no more than 14 drinks per week. That said, it’s easy to drink more than a standard drink in one glass. For example, many wine glasses hold far more than 5 ounces. You could easily drink 8 ounces of wine in a glass. If you have two of those glasses during a meal, you are consuming about three standard drinks.
Although not drinking to the point of becoming drunk is a common way people gauge how much they should drink, it can be inaccurate. Researchers who study find that people with high tolerance to alcohol, who do not feel the effects of alcohol after they drink several alcoholic beverages, are actually at a higher risk for alcohol-related problems.
It’s also important to note that, even though you may not feel the effects of alcohol, you still have the same amount of alcohol in your body as someone who starts to feel intoxicated after one or two drinks. Your lack of response to the alcohol may be related to an increase in your body’s alcohol tolerance over time.
Some people are born with high tolerance; many people develop a tolerance with regular drinking. Drinking more than the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommended limits puts you in the category of “at-risk” drinking. That means you have a higher risk for negative consequences related to your alcohol use, including health and social problems.
You are also at higher risk of becoming addicted to alcohol. Alcohol can damage your body’s organs and lead to various health concerns. For women, this damage happens with lower doses of alcohol, because their bodies have lower water content than men. That’s why the moderate drinking guidelines for women and men are so different.
- The specific organ damage that happens with too much alcohol use varies considerably from one person to another.
- The most common health effects include heart, liver and nerve damage, as well as memory problems and sexual dysfunction.
- Unless you notice specific negative consequences related to your drinking, it probably is not necessary for you to quit drinking alcohol entirely.
However, I would strongly encourage you to reduce the amount you drink, so it fits within the guidelines of moderate drinking. Doing so can protect your health in the long run. —, Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota : Mayo Clinic Q and A: Is daily drinking problem drinking?
Is 4 beers a day a lot?
Heavy Alcohol Use: –
NIAAA defines heavy drinking as follows:
For men, consuming more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week For women, consuming more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 drinks per week
SAMHSA defines heavy alcohol use as binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month.
Is alcohol worse than junk food?
Alcohol vs. Junk Food: Which One is Worse for Weight Loss? One of the most common complaints with those beginning a weight loss journey is the fact that they have to give up two of their favorite things: drinking and junk food. It’s true: both alcohol consumption and junk food does contribute empty calories into your diet, which serve no nutritional benefit. Junk Food Junk food is an all-encompassing category that may be used to describe something as small as a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a gigantic ice cream sundae. The first thing to do is to take a look at the type of junk food that you eat. Ask yourself:
How processed is it? Is it deep fried? How many calories are in one true serving? What is the sugar content?
By determining what type of junk food that you have a hard time giving up, you can figure out the caloric content and compare that with the stats of the alcoholic beverages you enjoy. Let’s make no mistake about it, junk food does not contain any nutritional benefit. Alcohol As mentioned above, it’s important to determine what your alcohol of choice is when you decide to drink. Some types of alcohol do provide a nutritional benefit such as the resveratrol found in red wine. Most drinks; however, do not. Write down your favorite drinks and the ingredients that may go in them.
For example, maybe you enjoy a Bloody Mary cocktail, a light beer, or a sugar-loaded wine cooler. Just like with junk food, determine the caloric damage. The Lesser of Two Evils Unfortunately, the answer is not as clear cut as you would think. It all comes down to personal preference and comparing those two things to see which is the lesser of two evils.
For example, let’s say there is a person who can’t get enough of Oreo Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. This type of junk food packs 870 calories per serving! At the same time, this same person loves a plain old vodka martini, which tops out around 120 calories.
- That’s a huge difference and one that could make the difference between failure and success.
- Smart Choices and Portion Control You’ve determined which is the lesser of two evils between your alcohol and junk food choices, now it’s time to practice portion control.
- If you feel a craving or if you have a social event to attend that involves drinking, be smart about it and avoid over consumption.
There’s no need to guzzle down six martinis and there’s definitely no reason to eat two pieces of cheesecake. Take your time, pace yourself, and remind yourself of your long-term goals.
Tell Us What You Think! What is the one thing you have a difficult time giving up?Any tricks that you use to ensure you stay on track?Let us know in the comments below!
: Alcohol vs. Junk Food: Which One is Worse for Weight Loss?
Does alcohol stop fat burning?
It shuts down all your other metabolic pathways to focus on metabolizing the alcohol. Alcohol will shut down fat burning for 12 to 36 hours depending on the dose and the individual. That is why we like patients to only drink the day before and the day of their cheat day.
Is alcohol more harmful than smoking?
The Hazards of Smoking – While drinking can be a threat to your health, smoking is certainly worse. Unlike alcohol at low or moderate levels, there is no benefit to tobacco use at any level. When you smoke, you inhale various chemicals that can injure cells, causing both cancer and artery damage (e.g.
heart attacks and strokes). Tobacco smoke can take a toll on your cholesterol levels as well. It’s known to lower HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, elevate LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol and also cause a rise in triglycerides — the same type of blood fat that can build up as a result of alcohol consumption. It also injures the arteries, making the “bad” LDL cholesterol more likely to stick and cause blockages.
As if these issues aren’t enough, smoking can harm your cardiovascular health in other ways too. Your blood becomes thicker, artery walls become stiffer and more inflamed, and blood circulation is negatively affected. Not to mention, your lungs literally become black from tar.
Why is drinking beer so good?
Generates a Wonderful Buzz – A cold and perspiring beer on a hot day is one of the most refreshing things you can ever have if you love beer. But that’s just a secondary perk. The real appeal of beer comes from its ability to generate the perfect buzz.
There’s a solid and scientific explanation behind why beer buzz is one of the best feelings anyone could ever have. In a nutshell, beer helps to boost the production of endorphins, otherwise known as the feel-good hormones. These endorphins are responsible for that enhanced feeling of pleasure and can help you relax after a long and stressful day.
Beer buzz is a result of the alcohol in the beer but it should not be confused with being drunk or some other colorful terms, such as flushed, plastered, and hammered. Being buzzed is that sweet point where you’re feeling good and some of your inhibitions fall away, allowing you to participate more confidently in social interactions.
How healthy is 1 beer a day?
Beer: Is It Good for You? Reviewed by Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on November 17, 2022 from the Serving Size 12 Fluid ounce (354 g) *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Vitamin C 0% Iron 0% Vitamin B6 0% Magnesium 0% Calcium 1% Vitamin D 0% Cobalamin 0% Vitamin A 0%
Beer is one of the oldest beverages in the world. Beer recipes can be found in Egyptian tombs, Mesopotamian archeological sites, and Babylonian texts. Today, beer is found in grocery stores and breweries around the world. People are even rediscovering the joy of making beer at home.
Beer is easy enough to make, after all. It’s the product of fermenting grain into alcohol. It may have even been one of the first inventions after the Agricultural Revolution. Beer has been important in human culture for thousands of years. It’s no wonder some people proclaim that it has health benefits.
While science can support some of these claims, beer also has drawbacks. One can of beer (about 12 ounces) contains: Beer is an excellent source of: Depending on the color, some beers are also good sources of, The darker the beer, the more antioxidants it tends to have. Antioxidants fight in your body, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer. As mentioned, beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and some also contain antioxidants.
Research supports a number of potential health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of beer: Lower Risk of Several reviews have suggested that consuming one to two beers a day may help lower your risk of heart disease. In fact, beer may be as effective at improving general heart health as wine at comparable alcohol levels.
One study showed that one drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women and up to two beers a day produced the same results for men. While one study is not enough to identify the cause for this, research is promising. Improved Drinking light amounts of alcohol may help reduce the risk of developing and help people with diabetes control their blood sugar more effectively.
One study showed that one to two alcoholic drinks a day could lower the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 50%. This effect is strongest for low-sugar beers, such as light beers, so pay attention to the type of beer you drink. Increased Bone Strength Early research suggests that moderate amounts of beer may help strengthen bones for men and postmenopausal women.
This may be because alcohol in general, in moderate amounts, can help your bones. But this benefit sharply drops when consumption passes two drinks a day, so moderation is key. The same aspects that make beer so potent can also cause health problems for people.
Once beer consumption is heavy, over two drinks per day, it carries many potential risks. Consider the following before adding significant amounts of beer to your diet: Potential for All alcohol carries the potential for dependency. Alcohol is an addictive substance, so people with a family history of addiction should be cautious with drinking beer or any other alcohol.
Furthermore, heavy drinking eliminates most health benefits of beer, making addiction a double-edged sword. Reduced Life Expectancy Heavy consumption significantly increases your risk of death from all causes. Studies show that heavy drinking reduces life expectancy by up to 28 years.
Increased Risk of Drinking more than two beers a day can increase chances of developing fatty liver disease, or, Weight Gain
Many beers are high in calories, so drinking large amounts frequently can lead to substantial weight gain. “Beer belly” is a common term to describe someone who has extra weight around their waist. Studies have confirmed that drinking beer increases waist circumference. © 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. : Beer: Is It Good for You?
Are heavy drinkers happier healthier?
Cheers to that! Drinking beer makes you happier and healthier than if you are teetotal, scientists confirm –
Study of 33,000 people in Spain found drinkers have higher levels of happiness READ MORE: Wine a day WON’T kill you, experts now claim of moderate drinking
Updated: 16:23 BST, 15 April 2023 Beer drinkers have better mental and physical health than teetotallers and ex-drinkers, scientists have found. Enjoying a pint or two sees people rate their levels of health and happiness more highly, according to a team at the University of Murcia in Spain,
- The researchers analysed data from 33,185 respondents to the country’s 2012 and 2017 National Health Surveys to see how beer consumption related to self-assessed health.
- The study found moderate drinkers enjoyed a higher rate of good physical health, rating it at 80 per cent compared to half of those who abstain from alcohol,
Meanwhile 90 per cent regarded their mental health as being ‘good’, with non-drinkers rating it at 80 per cent, The Sun reports. Enjoying a pint or two sees people rate their levels of health and happiness more highly, according to a team at the University of Murcia in Spain While heavier drinkers rated their health better, experts warned of a ‘double-edged habit’ as they ate more fast food and smoked more.
- Those partial to a drink were also half as likely to suffer ‘physical limitations’ in their daily lives than those who weren’t — 15 per cent compared to 30 per cent.
- But while drinkers were also more likely to exercise, they were found to eat less fruit and veg than non-drinkers.
- One of the study’s authors, Professor Ernesto De la Cruz-Sánchez said: ‘Beer consumption shows better indicators of physical, mental and emotional health than in abstainers and ex-drinkers.
‘Research has suggested low doses of alcohol can improve heart health and the immune system.’ The study also found that men were more likely to identify as moderate and heavy beer drinkers while women were more likely to be abstainers and occasional drinkers.
- It also highlighted that beer, the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world, usually has a relatively low alcohol content.
- One of the study’s authors, Professor Ernesto De la Cruz-Sánchez said: ‘Beer consumption shows better indicators of physical, mental and emotional health than in abstainers’ And although the findings might appear to be a cause for celebration for many, the high calorie content in pints has recently seen calls from the Shadow Health Secretary to make people more aware of what they’re consuming.
Four pints of BrewDog Punk IPA can deliver half a day’s worth of calories, MailOnline found recently in a survey of the worst offending beers. Another recent study which reviewed the findings of 107 alcohol health surveys also found that many were flawed.
Is Coke Zero bad for you?
While Coke Zero is calorie-free, it does not have any nutritional value. More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of drinking sodas with artificial sweeteners. Coke Zero, which has recently been rebranded as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, is marketed as a healthier version of the original sugar-sweetened beverage, Coca-Cola Classic.
It contains zero calories and sugar while providing the signature Coca-Cola flavor, making it an appealing drink among those trying to reduce their sugar intake or control their weight. This article takes a detailed look at Coke Zero and explains whether it’s a healthy choice. Coke Zero does not provide any calories and is not a significant source of nutrition.
One 12-ounce (354-ml) can of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (Coke Zero) offers ( 1 ):
Calories: 0 Fat: 0 grams Protein: 0 grams Sugar: 0 grams Sodium: 2% of the Daily Value (DV) Potassium: 2% of the DV
To sweeten this beverage without adding calories, artificial sweeteners are used. The health effects of artificial sweeteners are controversial, and concern regarding their safety is growing ( 2 ). Though the research is inconsistent, some studies find that the use of artificial sweeteners may contribute to the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase disease risk ( 3, 4, 5 ).
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (Coke Zero) uses several common artificial sweeteners, including aspartame and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). The remaining ingredients are carbonated water, caramel color, food additives, and natural flavors ( 1 ). The only differences between Coke Zero and the new rebrand — Coca-Cola Zero Sugar — are minor changes to the natural flavor composition.
summary Coke Zero does not contain any calories or sugar and is not a significant source of nutrients. It’s sweetened with artificial sweeteners, which have controversial health effects. Research results on the effects of Coke Zero and other artificially sweetened beverages on weight loss are mixed.
- One 8-year observational study found that people who drank more than 21 artificially sweetened beverages per week almost doubled their risk of overweight and obesity, compared with people who didn’t consume these kinds of drinks ( 6 ).
- The same study noted that total daily calorie intake was lower in individuals who drank diet beverages despite their increase in weight.
This suggests that artificial sweeteners may influence body weight in other ways than calorie intake ( 6, 7, 8 ). Another study observed that drinking diet soda was associated with greater waist circumference over 9–10 years ( 9 ). On the other hand, many human intervention studies indicate that the use of artificial sweeteners is either neutral or beneficial for weight management.
In one 6-month, randomized, controlled study, people with overweight or obesity experienced moderate weight loss of 2–2.5% of their body weight when replacing caloric beverages with diet beverages or water ( 10 ). In another study, people in a 12-week weight loss program who drank artificially sweetened beverages lost 13 pounds (6 kg), while those drinking water lost 9 pounds (4 kg) ( 11 ).
Thus, the evidence on the effects of artificially sweetened beverages on weight management are conflicting, and more research is needed. However, we can put more trust in human trials than observational studies, which are more likely to be affected by other factors.
- Summary The evidence on the use of Coke Zero and other artificially sweetened drinks for weight management is conflicting.
- More research is needed to understand the benefits and risks of diet beverages.
- Similarly to regular soda, drinking diet sodas like Coke Zero is associated with an increased risk of tooth erosion.
One of the main ingredients in Coke Zero is phosphoric acid. One study on human teeth noted that phosphoric acid causes mild enamel and tooth erosion ( 12 ). Another study observed that Coca-Cola Light ( Diet Coke ), which differs from Coke Zero only in that it contains both phosphoric and citric acid, caused enamel and tooth erosion in freshly extracted cow’s teeth in just 3 minutes ( 13, 14 ).
- Still, keep in mind that citric acid has been found to erode teeth more than phosphoric acid, which suggests that Coke Zero may affect tooth enamel slightly less than Diet Coke ( 12 ).
- Additionally, Diet Coke had less erosive effects than other beverages, such as Sprite, orange juice, and apple juice ( 13 ).
summary The acidic pH level of Coke Zero is associated with an increased risk of enamel and tooth erosion, though it may affect your teeth less than other acidic beverages. Coke Zero is sugar-free. However, the sugar substitutes it contains may not necessarily be a healthier option for people looking to reduce their risk of diabetes,
- A 14-year study in 66,118 women observed an association between drinking artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes ( 15 ).
- Another study in 2,019 people showed a link between both sugar-sweetened drinks and artificially sweetened diet beverages and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that switching to diet soda may not lower your diabetes risk ( 16 ).
What’s more, in an 8-year study in 64,850 women, consuming artificially sweetened beverages increased the risk of diabetes by 21%, though the risk for those drinking sugar-sweetened beverages was even higher at 43% ( 17 ). Interestingly, other studies have found opposing results.
- A 14-year study in 1,685 middle-aged adults did not find any association between diet soda intake and an increased risk of prediabetes ( 18 ).
- The results from these studies are conflicting and don’t provide an exact explanation of how artificially sweetened beverages increase your risk of diabetes.
- Therefore, more research is needed.
summary Though Coke Zero is sugar-free, its artificial sweeteners are controversial. Still, research on the effects of artificial sweeteners on diabetes risk is mixed, and more studies are needed to fully understand a possible connection. Artificially sweetened beverages like Coke Zero have been linked to other health issues, including:
Increased risk of heart disease. An observational study found a link between artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of heart disease among women with no prior history of heart disease ( 19 ). Increased risk of kidney disease. The high phosphorus content in sodas may cause kidney damage. A study noted that those who drink more than 7 glasses of diet soda per week doubled their risk of kidney disease ( 20 ). Could alter your gut microbiome. Several studies indicate that artificially sweetened beverages can alter your gut microbiome, potentially causing poor blood sugar control ( 21, 22 ). May increase osteoporosis risk. One study observed that daily cola intake was associated with a lower bone mineral density of 3.7–5.4%. Similar results were found for those who drank diet cola beverages ( 23 ).
Further research is needed to determine the exact effects of Coke Zero and other diet beverages on your health. summary Coke Zero and other diet sodas are linked to alterations in the gut microbiome and an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart and kidney disease.
Can alcohol be healthy?
Introduction – Throughout the 10,000 or so years that humans have been drinking fermented beverages, they’ve also been arguing about their merits and demerits. The debate still simmers today, with a lively back-and-forth over whether alcohol is good for you or bad for you.
It’s safe to say that alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. The difference lies mostly in the dose. Moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system, and probably protects against type 2 diabetes and gallstones. Heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable death in most countries.
In the U.S., alcohol is implicated in about half of fatal traffic accidents. Heavy drinking can damage the liver and heart, harm an unborn child, increase the chances of developing breast and some other cancers, contribute to depression and violence, and interfere with relationships.
- Alcohol’s two-faced nature shouldn’t come as a surprise.
- The active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, a simple molecule called ethanol, affects the body in many different ways.
- It directly influences the stomach, brain, heart, gallbladder, and liver.
- It affects levels of lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and insulin in the blood, as well as inflammation and coagulation.
It also alters mood, concentration, and coordination.
Is it better to drink soda?
Soda is not good for a person’s health because it contains lots of sugar. Consuming too much soda may lead to weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. It may be best to choose healthier alternatives to soda. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people in America consume too many added sugars, which can lead to health problems.
Is beer the healthiest alcoholic drink?
Alcohol isn’t a healthy choice in general, but some alcohol is better for you than others. Red wine, whiskey, tequila, and hard kombucha are healthier options than beer and sugary drinks. The CDC recommends you limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day if you’re male and 1 if you’re female.
Nearly 70% of American adults drink each year. While alcohol certainly has some negative health effects, there can also be advantages to moderate consumption. “We have to clarify that alcohol is, indeed, a poison. So we’re not trying to say alcohol itself is healthy,” says Megan Kober, a registered dietitian with Metabolism Makeovers.
Why is beer healthier?
Here are 10 reasons why beer is not really bad for you, if had in moderation. Please note, this is not an encouragement to imbibe, especially if you are a teetotaler or have a medical condition 1. Beer drinkers live longer Moderate drinking is good for you, and beer is good for moderate drinking.
- Everyone knows that if you drink too much, it’s not good for you.
- Let’s not pull punches: If you’re a drunk, you run into things, you drive into things, you get esophageal cancer, you get cirrhosis and other nasty conditions.
- But more and more medical research indicates that if you don’t drink at all, that’s not good for you either.
According to numerous independent studies, moderate drinkers live longer and better than drunks or teetotalers. Beer is perfect for moderate drinking because of its lower alcohol content and larger volume compared with wine or spirits. And as that old radical Thomas Jefferson said, “Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.” And he didn’t need a scientific study to tell him that.2.
- Beer is all-natural Some know-it-alls will tell you that beer is loaded with additives and preservatives.
- The truth is that beer is as all-natural as orange juice or milk (maybe even more so – some of those milk & OJ labels will surprise you).
- Beer doesn’t need preservatives because it has alcohol and hops, both of which are natural preservatives.
Beer is only “processed” in the sense that bread is: It is cooked and fermented, then filtered and packaged. The same can be said for Heineken.3. Beer is low in calories, low in carbohydrates and has no fat or cholesterol For a completely natural beverage, beer offers serious low-calorie options.
- Twelve ounces of Guinness has the same number of calories as 12 ounces of skim milk: about 125.
- That’s less than orange juice (150 calories), which is about the same as your standard, “full-calorie” beer.
- If beer were your only source of nutrition, you’d have to drink one every waking hour just to reach your recommended daily allowance of calories (2,000 to 2,500).
And nobody’s recommending you drink that many. The only natural drinks with fewer calories than beer are plain tea, black coffee and water, Surely, beer is loaded with those fattening carbohydrates, right? Wrong again. The average beer has about 12 grams of carbs per 12-ounce serving.
- The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance is 300 grams of carbohydrates in a standard 2,000-calorie diet.
- In other words, you would need to drink an entire 24-pack case of beer – and then reach into a second case – simply to reach the government’s recommended daily allotment of carbohydrates.
- You’re better off munching an apple or drinking some soda pop if you want to carbo-load.
Each has about 35 to 40 grams of carbs – three times the number found in a beer. Also, beer has no fat or cholesterol.4. Beer improves your cholesterol Beer not only has no cholesterol, it can actually improve the cholesterol in your body. In fact, drinking beer regularly and moderately will tilt your HDL/LDL cholesterol ratios the right way.
- You’ve got two kinds of cholesterol in your system: HDL, the “good” cholesterol that armor-plates your veins and keeps things flowing, and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol that builds up in your veins like sludge in your bathtub drain.
- Beer power-flushes the system and keeps the HDL levels up.
- According to some studies, as little as one beer a day can boost your HDL by up to 4 per cent.5.
Beer helps you chill The social aspects of moderate drinking are solidly beneficial to your health. In other words, to get out every now and then and relax with your buddies over a couple of beers.6. Beer has plenty o’ B vitamins Beer, especially unfiltered or lightly filtered beer, turns out to be quite nutritious, despite the years of suppression of those facts by various anti-alcohol groups.
Beer has high levels of B vitamins, particularly folic acid, which is believed to help prevent heart attacks. Beer also has soluble fiber, good for keeping you regular, which in turn reduces the likelihood that your system will absorb unhealthy junk like fat. Beer also boasts significant levels of magnesium and potassium, in case you were planning on metal-plating your gut.7.
Beer is safer than water If you’re someplace where you are advised not to drink the water, the local beer is always a safer bet. It’s even safer than the local bottled water. Beer is boiled in the brewing process and is kept clean afterwards right through the bottle being capped and sealed, because if it isn’t, it goes bad in obvious ways that make it impossible to sell.
Even if it does go bad, though, there are no life-threatening bacteria bacteria (pathogens) that can live in beer. So drink up – even bad beer is safer than water.8. Beer prevents heart attacks If you want to get a bit more cutting-edge than vitamins, beer has other goodies for you. You’ve heard of the French Paradox, how the French eat their beautiful high-fat diet and drink their beautiful high-booze diet and smoke their nasty goat-hair cigarettes, but have rates of heart disease that are about one-third that of the rest of the world? It’s been credited to red wine and the antioxidants it contains.
Hey, guess what else has lots of antioxidants, as many as red wine? Dark beer! According to the American Heart Association, “there is no clear evidence that wine is more beneficial than other forms of alcoholic drink.” One study profiled in the British Medical Journal in 1999 said that the moderate consumption of three drinks a day could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 24.7 per cent.9.
- Beer fights cancer The most amazing beer and health connection is something called xanthohumol, a flavonoid found only in hops.
- Xanthohumol is a potent antioxidant that inhibits cancer-causing enzymes, “much more potent than the major component in soy,” according Dr.
- Cristobal Miranda of the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University.
This xanthohumol stuff is so good for you that the Germans have actually brewed a beer with extra levels of it.10. Beer does not give you a beer belly A study done by researchers at the University College of London and the Institut Klinické a Experimentální Medicíny in Prague in 2003 showed no connection between the amount of beer people drank and the size of their overhang.
“There is a common notion that beer drinkers are, on average, more ‘obese’ than either non-drinkers or drinkers of wine or spirits,” the researchers said. But they found that “the association between beer and obesity, if it exists, is probably weak.” Most studies have found that people who drink beer regularly (and moderately) not only don’t develop beer bellies – they weigh less than non-drinkers.
Beer can boost your metabolism, keep your body from absorbing fat and otherwise make you a healthier, less disgusting slob. Just drink it in moderation, as part of an otherwise healthy diet. So that’s it. Drink beer. You’ll live longer and be happier. You won’t get fat.
In fact, you may weigh less. You’ll boost your metabolism, improve your health and reduce your risk of clogged arteries, heart attack and cancer. What more could you want? Beer calories content Beer contains a low amount of alcohol as compared to other hard drinks. It has only 4 to 6 per cent of alcohol by volume (ABV).
However, the amount of alcohol may vary as per the brand of beer you are consuming. A pint of beer contains 208 calories. Nutritional value 340 ml of standard beer contains: Calories:153 Protein: 1.6 grams Fat: 0 grams Carbs:13 grams Riboflavin: 7% of the DV Choline: 7% of the DV Magnesium: 5% of the DV Phosphorus: 4% of the DV Selenium: 4% of the DV Who should avoid beer The evidence certainly suggests that beer has some health benefits, but one must not forget that it does contain some amount of alcohol.
Is beer that unhealthy?
Beer: Is It Good for You? Reviewed by Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on November 17, 2022 from the Serving Size 12 Fluid ounce (354 g) *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Vitamin C 0% Iron 0% Vitamin B6 0% Magnesium 0% Calcium 1% Vitamin D 0% Cobalamin 0% Vitamin A 0%
Beer is one of the oldest beverages in the world. Beer recipes can be found in Egyptian tombs, Mesopotamian archeological sites, and Babylonian texts. Today, beer is found in grocery stores and breweries around the world. People are even rediscovering the joy of making beer at home.
- Beer is easy enough to make, after all.
- It’s the product of fermenting grain into alcohol.
- It may have even been one of the first inventions after the Agricultural Revolution.
- Beer has been important in human culture for thousands of years.
- It’s no wonder some people proclaim that it has health benefits.
While science can support some of these claims, beer also has drawbacks. One can of beer (about 12 ounces) contains: Beer is an excellent source of: Depending on the color, some beers are also good sources of, The darker the beer, the more antioxidants it tends to have. Antioxidants fight in your body, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and certain forms of cancer. As mentioned, beer is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and some also contain antioxidants.
Research supports a number of potential health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of beer: Lower Risk of Several reviews have suggested that consuming one to two beers a day may help lower your risk of heart disease. In fact, beer may be as effective at improving general heart health as wine at comparable alcohol levels.
One study showed that one drink a day lowered the risk of all-cause mortality for women and up to two beers a day produced the same results for men. While one study is not enough to identify the cause for this, research is promising. Improved Drinking light amounts of alcohol may help reduce the risk of developing and help people with diabetes control their blood sugar more effectively.
- One study showed that one to two alcoholic drinks a day could lower the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 50%.
- This effect is strongest for low-sugar beers, such as light beers, so pay attention to the type of beer you drink.
- Increased Bone Strength Early research suggests that moderate amounts of beer may help strengthen bones for men and postmenopausal women.
This may be because alcohol in general, in moderate amounts, can help your bones. But this benefit sharply drops when consumption passes two drinks a day, so moderation is key. The same aspects that make beer so potent can also cause health problems for people.
Once beer consumption is heavy, over two drinks per day, it carries many potential risks. Consider the following before adding significant amounts of beer to your diet: Potential for All alcohol carries the potential for dependency. Alcohol is an addictive substance, so people with a family history of addiction should be cautious with drinking beer or any other alcohol.
Furthermore, heavy drinking eliminates most health benefits of beer, making addiction a double-edged sword. Reduced Life Expectancy Heavy consumption significantly increases your risk of death from all causes. Studies show that heavy drinking reduces life expectancy by up to 28 years.
Increased Risk of Drinking more than two beers a day can increase chances of developing fatty liver disease, or, Weight Gain
Many beers are high in calories, so drinking large amounts frequently can lead to substantial weight gain. “Beer belly” is a common term to describe someone who has extra weight around their waist. Studies have confirmed that drinking beer increases waist circumference. © 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. : Beer: Is It Good for You?
Is there a lot of sugar in beer?
Ale vs. lager – Both ales and lagers are different types of beers, and their main difference is the yeast strain used for brewing. Ale beers are made with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, while lager beers use Saccharomyces pastorianus ( 3 ). Beer yeasts are highly efficient when it comes to fermenting sugar ( 4 ).
- Still, several factors affect yeast’s fermenting efficiency, including brewing temperatures and beer’s rising alcohol content,
- Once the alcohol content is too high for them to survive, fermentation stops ( 5 ).
- While both strains produce alcohol as an end product, ale yeasts have a higher alcohol tolerance than lager yeasts — meaning that they can survive in higher alcohol environments ( 2, 6, 7 ).
Therefore, ales generally have a higher alcohol content and lower sugar content. Summary Beer gravity reflects the amount of sugar in beer. As yeast ferments sugar, beer’s gravity decreases, and its alcohol content increases. Yeast strains used in ales have a higher alcohol tolerance.
Thus, their remaining sugar content tends to be lower. Sugars are carbs. In fact, sugar is the most basic unit of carbs. Structurally, carbs are divided into mono-, di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides, depending on whether a compound has 1, 2, 3–10, or more than 10 sugar molecules, respectively ( 8 ). Beer’s main type of sugar is maltose, which is made out of two glucose molecules.
Hence, it’s classified as a disaccharide — a type of simple sugar. However, maltose and other simple sugars comprise only about 80% of the wort’s fermentable sugar content. In contrast, the remaining 20% consists of oligosaccharides, which the yeast doesn’t ferment ( 3, 5 ).
Still, your body can’t digest oligosaccharides either, so they are considered calorie-free and instead act as prebiotic fibers, or food for your gut bacteria ( 9 ). Therefore, while beer contains a fair amount of carbs, its sugar content tends to be quite low. Summary Beer’s sugar content is comprised of 80% fermentable sugars and 20% oligosaccharides.
Yeast can’t digest oligosaccharides, but neither can your body. Thus, beer’s final sugar content may still be quite low. As explained above, beer’s sugar content may vary depending on its initial gravity and the type of yeast strain used to ferment it.
Yet, beer manufacturers may include other sugar-containing ingredients in their recipes, such as honey and corn syrup, to give their beer a distinctive flavor. Nevertheless, labeling regulations for alcoholic beverages in the United States do not require manufacturers to report the sugar content of their products ( 10, 11 ).
While some state the carb content, most only disclose their alcohol content. Thus, determining how much sugar your favorite beer contains may be a difficult task. Still, the following list includes the sugar and carb contents found in 12 ounces (355 ml) of various types of beer, as well as those of some popular brands ( 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 ):
- Regular beer: 12.8 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Light beer: 5.9 grams of carbs, 0.3 grams of sugar
- Low carb beer: 2.6 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Non-alcoholic beer: 28.5 grams of carbs, 28.5 grams of sugar
- Miller High Life: 12.2 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Miller Lite: 3.2 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Coors Banquet: 11.7 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Coors Light: 5 grams of carbs, 1 gram of sugar
- Coors Non-alcoholic: 12.2 grams of carbs, 8 grams of sugar
- Heineken: 11.4 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Budweiser: 10.6 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Bud Light: 4.6 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar
- Busch: 6.9 grams of carbs, no sugar reported
- Busch Light: 3.2 grams of carbs, no sugar reported
As you can see, light beers are slightly higher in sugar than regular beers. This may be due to differences in their fermentation process. Light beers are produced by adding glucoamylase to the wort — an enzyme that breaks down residual carbs and transforms them into fermentable sugars.
- This reduces both the calorie and alcohol contents of the beer ( 20 ).
- Additionally, since none of the wort’s sugar is converted into alcohol in non-alcoholic beers, these have the highest sugar content.
- Eep in mind that while beer’s sugar content may be low, regular beers are still a source of carbs, which may affect your blood sugar levels.
Furthermore, even without any reported sugars, beer’s alcohol content is still a significant source of calories. Summary Regular beers tend to be sugar-free, and light beers report barely 1 gram per can. However, non-alcoholic beers have the highest sugar content of all.
While beer may not have that much sugar after all, it’s an alcoholic drink, and as such, it can lower your blood sugar levels, Alcohol impairs sugar metabolism by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis — the body’s production and breakdown of stored sugar, respectively — which are needed to maintain blood sugar balance ( 21, 22 ).
Therefore, its intake may result in hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, which is why it’s generally recommended to consume it with a carb-containing meal. However, if consumed along with simple carbs that raise your blood sugar levels too quickly, it may lead to an increased insulin response, resulting again in hypoglycemia ( 21, 22 ).
Additionally, alcohol may interfere with the effectiveness of hypoglycemic medications ( 21 ). Summary While beer may have a low sugar content, as an alcoholic drink, it may lead to low blood sugar levels. Sugar is a key element in beer brewing, as it’s the nutrient from which yeast produces alcohol. While a couple of factors influence yeast’s ability to convert sugar into alcohol, it’s highly efficient at doing so.
Therefore, aside from the non-alcoholic types, beer tends to have a low sugar content. Still, keep in mind that alcoholic beverages may lower your blood sugar levels. Plus, to avoid negative health effects, you should always drink alcohol in moderation, which is defined as no more than one and two standard drinks per day for women and men, respectively ( 23 ).