Can Drinking Beer After Working Out Hydrate Your Body Faster?- Does It Work Better Than Gatorade Or Water?
After running the Boilermaker, or running on a treadmill for 20 minutes I know you must be like me and reach for an ice cold beer. Wait you don’t? Well you should! According to a new study, drinking beer after working out is actually good for you. In some ways it hydrates your body better than water, chocolate milk, and Gatorade. Here’s why:
According to The Houston Press, researchers at the Granada University in Spain have discovered that beer can hydrate your body after a workout better than most drinks. But why? Carbohydrates and protein in beer work together to replenish the body with the necessary calories lost during a workout. So how did they test this theory out?
In the Spanish study, a group of students worked out until their bodies reached a temperature of 104 degrees. Half of the students were then given water and the other half were given beer. The half who were given beer instead of water were rehydrated better than those who were given water post-workout. The reason is that the carbonation in beer actually quenches your thirst and the carbohydrates make up for the calories burned during your workout. Water lacks the carbohydrates and carbonation, so it won’t have the same hydrating effect on the body as a glass of beer would.
Now be warned: you don’t want to a lot of beer after your workout. As always you should be wise in your consumption, and drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
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