Training & Nutrition - Non-alcoholic beer as a recovery drink

In an attempt to consume less beer I've begun to drink non-alcoholic malt beverages for those times after work when I need to crack open something cold and refreshing (but not sweet or acidic). What I have learned though, is that non-alcoholic brews function as a terrific post ride refreshment too!

Does anyone else here drink 'em? Seems like a no-brainer-- carbs, B vitamins, water.... Yeah, I could do better in terms of recovery drinks. But at the price of Endurox, I drink that only when I've really earned it out on the road.

Even an alcoholic beer should be fine. Apparently beer is a great after work out drink.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-491236/A-pint-beer-better-workout-water-say-scientists.html

I like Malt Liquer as a pre ride drink.....

Malt beer can indeed be used. Glycemic index of maltose (glu-glu) is the highest of them all, higher than maltodextrin or glucose (glu).
We (my SO and I) have used it occasionally after a training (lifting wts) but I'm not fond of the taste.

I never used to be fond of the taste either-- and this is understandable when one considers the types of real beer that I favor (big, strong imperial IPAs, Stouts and Belgian abbey Ales).

But a lot of those types of beers will destin you for Alcoholic's Anonymous if you drink them too habitually (and I've begun to do so).

Sooo.... I just make sure that they're real cold so that my palate is frozen sufficiently enough to realize that I'm not drinking a mere shadow of the drink that I really like. And I take solace in knowing that the non-alcoholic variety is actually good for me and my endeavor to become a better cyclist!

It is good stuff. In Europe, they also make "lite" versions with 1-2% alcohol. My favorite is Kaliber.

Some people drink a glass of wine a day, I drink a beer a day.

beer isnt uch a great post ride drink, that article only states it better than water alone, and the beer only worked good if you took it with water. So beer alone would probably be very bad because of the alcohol. But you mentioned non-alcoholic beer that might work, sont work better than something designed for post workout, but it will be better than water. Remember carbonation makes your bones brittle.

Isn't alcohol a diuretic as well?

Isn't alcohol a diuretic as well?

It is

Chug the protein/carb shake immediately post ride, save the beer for a little later.

Even an alcoholic beer should be fine. Apparently beer is a great after work out drink.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-491236/A-pint-beer-better-workout-water-say-scientists.html

Please don't tell me you just posted an article from the newspaper that seems to think everything either cures or causes cancer...#

Daily Mail is hardly a reputable source of any sort of scientific (or non-scientific) information.

Malt beer can indeed be used. Glycemic index of maltose (glu-glu) is the highest of them all, higher than maltodextrin or glucose (glu).
We (my SO and I) have used it occasionally after a training (lifting wts) but I'm not fond of the taste.

"Glycemic index of maltose (glu-glu) is the highest of them all, higher than maltodextrin or glucose (glu)."

Source? And why would malt beer be high in maltose? - TF

why would malt beer be high in maltose? - TF
Err... because it is made from malted barley, which is high in maltose.

Err... because it is made from malted barley, which is high in maltose.

OK, I would have thought that it would still be predominantly maltodextrin. But I see that the carb is almost 60% sugar.

And for the, "Glycemic index of maltose (glu-glu) is the highest of them all, higher than maltodextrin or glucose (glu)."?

TF

Last year, Bicycling Magazine called Beer the new health drink. In tests, they found beer to be better for you after exercise than Gatorade. It's got real carbs, not chemical, and folic acid. Interesting.

I never much drank beer until I played racquetball competitively. As I moved through the brackets, I would play 3-4 matches in a day. I found that a cold beer brought my legs back faster than any sports drink. I never bonked either. You can't overdo it, but a beer is a great reward after a long, hard ride. When I grab a beer after, I rarely feel the acid buildup later. It's also a lot better on the stomach. I drink Accelerade while riding, just to keep up with calories. Afterwards, it's a beer.

Well as a teetoller I obviously drink the non-alcoholic beer, never done it after rideing my bike. (But was dragged off to beers after martial art practice ones, well the other drunk the ones with alcohol in.)

Will try it too, it's an intresting point. And I also have heard about the research.

(I do like the Clausthaler non-alcoholic beer mostly of the ones I tested)

It's got real carbs, not chemical

What are 'chemical carbs'?

As to the rest of your post, I'd love to see these tests that Bicycling magazine did. Gatorade isn't exactly a great thing to drink anyway, so it's not a very good comparison. Also, I'm pretty sure beer doesn't contain anything beneficial that can't be found elsewhere, in a non-alcoholic drink.

Being a naturally skinny guy myself, I drink beer for the cheap calories. I am going to have to try it as a post workout drink though. What I like best about the idea is how much cheaper beer is than energy drinks...

Try buying glucose powder and mixing it with fruit juice and water. Voila, cheaper-than-beer energy drink, and better for your liver and your body in general.

Also, some guy told me about this study ---> http://www.ms-se.com/pt/re/msse/abstract.00005768-200802000-00012.htm which shows that a mix of glucose and fructose was absorbed more quickly than just glucose (both delivering carbohydrate at a rate of 1.8g per minute). In a cycling time trial, the mix gave an 8% advantage over just glucose alone.

[QUOTE=MessenJah;7019468]Try buying glucose powder and mixing it with fruit juice and water. Voila, cheaper-than-beer energy drink, and better for your liver and your body in general.


But are you referring to an alcoholic or N/A beer? Because I can't really see an O'Douls being any worse for you than, say, a Coke.

Also, I'm pretty sure beer doesn't contain anything beneficial that can't be found elsewhere, in a non-alcoholic drink.

You're probably right - but it wouldn't be beer. And beer is tasty.

I'm always discouraged by the health police who insist that lovely food and drink like beer, wine, coffee, and ice cream are terribly terribly bad for you and you shouldn't eat them.

If you're otherwise healthy, and a cold beer puts a smile on your face after a long ride, and you're able to drink responsibly - then why not!

I'm not saying anyone shouldn't drink beer.

But my opinion is that one should go for the best possible. Which isn't beer.