Should you worry about high-calorie craft beer? New study says beer belly just a myth

Customers will be hard pressed to find a low-calorie beer in the craft brewing category. Instead, craft breweries embrace rich recipes, bold flavor profiles and sweet and savory ingredients that would make most nutritionists cringe. Yet, the “beer belly” has become a common stereotype for any type of beer lover, even though that’s not exactly a fair portrayal.

According to British nutritionist Dr. Kathryn O’Sullivan, swapping some beverages for beer may actually be a sensible way to diet. O’Sullivan claims beer has fewer calories per 100 ml than wine, spirits and even orange juice.

According to an article published two days ago in the Telegram: “Unfortunately beer has this image as a high-calorie, high-fat drink,” O’Sullivan said. “It is very unfair.”

If you consume huge amounts of beer you will surely gain weight, but the same is true for those who chug wine by the gallon. The report “Beer and calories; a scientific review” points out that beer contains some healthy stuff too: vitamins, fiber and antioxidants and minerals such as silicon which may help to lower your risk of osteoporosis.

In the aforementioned article, O’Sullivan concludes that swapping two large glasses of wine a day with two bottles of lager could save 58,240 calories a year (alas, there is no mention of ales or craft beer). “Enjoyed in moderation, beer, like wine, can provide many essential vitamins and minerals and moderate consumption may also protect against many conditions such as heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes,” O’Sullivan said.