Health-conscious people have long copied it from pregnant women and drink alcohol-free beer “unnecessarily”. The reason is (probably in addition to the taste) the supposedly valuable ingredients. There are indications from research that, among other things, the increasingly popular drink has a slimming effect. What’s wrong with the allegations?
Alcohol-free beer is becoming more and more popular – and not only at sporting events, which pass it off as an isotonic drink after exertion. It is interesting what the research has to say about alcohol-free beer – among other things, there is talk of a positive effect on the fat and sugar metabolism. what’s up FITBOOK asked nutritionist Uwe Knop for an assessment.
Consumption of non-alcoholic beer in Germany
In 2020, there were around 0.58 million people in the German-speaking population aged 14 and over who consumed non-alcoholic beer several times a week (in 2018 it was 0.43)1. The greater thirst for the product is also reflected in the fact that more and more products are pushing onto the market – there are now entire supermarket shelves dedicated to the topic, recently also in the 0.0 percent category – i.e. completely without alcohol (Alcohol-free beer can contain up to 0.5% residual alcohol by volume). The most important purchase criterion is that alcohol-free beer has no significant difference in taste to alcoholic beer.2
Is non-alcoholic beer suitable as a thirst quencher?
Non-alcoholic beer is a good isotonic drink that is mostly water and therefore quenches thirst. It also contains valuable minerals that are lost through sweating. Athletes can actually benefit from it.
Study by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg caused a stir
In 2018, employees at the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) presented the results of a joint study with the University of Vienna.3 The scientists had examined healthy ingredients that are said to only occur in combination in beer: xanthohumol and iso-alpha acids. According to study author Prof. Dr. Claus Hellerbrand from the FAU, be «very promising for the treatment or prevention of liver damage caused by obesity».
Also interesting: study shows the effect of coffee on the liver
Alcohol-free beer against weight gain and liver cancer?
The researchers base their assumption on the knowledge that xanthohumol (found in hops) can counteract a possible side effect of severe obesity: fatty liver. Various media then reported that the substance could slow down weight gain and also kill liver cancer cells.4 The second ingredient examined, iso-alpha acids, is also said to prevent liver damage and have a positive effect on fat and sugar metabolism.
For a long time, beer was notorious as a fattening food. In the meantime, conscious enjoyment is considered relatively harmless (normal beer has about 43 calories, non-alcoholic beer has about 25 calories per 100 milliliters) – assuming an otherwise conscious diet. But the fact that it is said to be good as a slimming product is surprising: the university scientists received the research prize from the «European Foundation for Alcohol Research» and the «European Brewery Convention» (that’s right, that’s the «European Brewery Association» in German) for their study …) worth 60,000 euros. We asked an independent expert what he thought of it.
That’s what the nutrition expert says
Nutritionist Uwe Knop specializes in examining studies that aim to show the effects of nutrition on the body. The fact that alcohol-free beer makes you slim and is supposed to protect against cancer – «of course that’s fictitious nonsense,» says the expert in an interview with FITBOOK. At the same time, he defends the study leader and quotes from the conclusion: «‘It is (…) conceivable that the consumption of alcohol-free beer or other hop-containing foods and beverages (…) can have a positive effect’. The researchers relativize their statement clearly with the word conceivable.«
Knop is also critical of the fact that xanthohumol and iso-alpha acids are so highly praised. So far, at best, vague basic research has been available that has nothing to do with the effects of beer drinking. And Knop continues: «Just because one observes positive effects in the test tube with isolated substances from beer, that in no way means that the consumption of the whole food actually shows the effects in real life.»
Also interesting: Is red wine healthier than beer?
Conclusion
The fact that you can drink away cancer cells with alcohol-free beer and stay slim – that not only sounds incredible, it probably is. And claiming this could possibly give patients and their relatives false hope. What is undisputed, however, is that alcohol-free beer is a great thirst quencher and contains minerals that are lost through sweating. Athletes could actually benefit from it. If that’s what you’re after or if the beer just tastes good, then that’s quite enough.