After a workout, beer is best, not water

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Nov 4th 2007 10:13AM

Heading over to happy hour at your local pub after a good workout seems counterproductive, but it just might be the key to re-hydrating you after a good sweat session. That's right, researchers out of Spain have found that a pint of beer after a workout does a better job of re-hydrating your body than a glass of water could.

Do you find these results surprising? I do -- I always thought that beer was de-hydrating, not re-hydrating. Still, as long as you follow a healthy diet, I'm sure it couldn't hurt to grab a cold one after a workout. What do you think?

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Comments (178)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)

Nick 1-28-2008 @ 8:35PM

I'd have to say that Bottled Water, Gatorade (or the like) or a Vitamin Drink is best for quenching your thirst before, during and after a workout. Why would you want to add Calories which defeats the purpose of even working out. As far as I'm concerned, if you stay away form the beer, you wont have to work so hard to make up for it.

Monty 11-04-2007 @ 9:12PM

Are you kidding me? Have a drink of alcohol afer a workout? That is the most unhealthy thing that I could think of doing to my body. Health is about keeping the body and the mind alert and fit. So they want me to grab a pint after a wworkout, one leads to another with my buddies and we are buzzed. Not a bright move. Water is the best form of hydration for the body. Plain water. Not a sport drink, not an energy drink. Plain water.

Moshi 11-04-2007 @ 9:07PM

Don't believe it , beer adds calories too that you just burned off! water is best

EM 11-05-2007 @ 2:00PM

Water is definitely not the best way to replenish your body after a workout, as it doesn't contain any electrolytes or nutrients. A sugar-free electrolyte drink or vitamin water is better.

And if you read the article, the alcohol in beer is not responsible for the rehydrating effect. It's the sugars, salts (ie, the electrolytes) and the carbonation. I imagine you'd get the same (or better) results from an electrolyte drink.

Jim 4-09-2008 @ 8:24PM

We get enough electrolytes from our diet. You do not need to drink gatorade.

Zing 11-06-2007 @ 11:44PM

Just another government ploy-Turn everyone to alcoholics to die at a young age!

RVNPkg 11-05-2007 @ 8:13PM

This information is not only misleading, but blatently false as well. As an M.D. specializing in Sports Medicine, I can assure you that alcohol dehydrates - period. Loss of hydration means loss of water; which must be restored either voluntarily or involuntairly. By this I offer the observation that I have never known of an athlete suffering from acute muscle cramps being administered a Lactose-Ringler Beer injection.

BIG MIKE 11-05-2007 @ 8:14PM

I KNEW ALL ALONG, I TELL EVERYONE TO DRINK AFTER EVERY WORKOUT AND THEY LAUGH BUT IT DOES WORK.

DRINK HARD RIDER EVEN HARDER> HARLEY

buonokid 11-05-2007 @ 8:14PM

actually the best sports recovery drink is chocolate milk, the Florida State football team has chocolate milk in the gatorade coolers instead of water or gatorade, but beer, seems like a far stretch, if you want a good rehydrating drink for your muscles and body, drink 8-12 ounces of chocolate milk.

Bobo 1-31-2008 @ 3:47PM

No wonder FSU sucks now...

bigger guy 11-05-2007 @ 8:21PM

I live next to big Mike ...He drinks a 12 pack after every workout ...He weighs 600 lbs ...so it works!

dave 11-05-2007 @ 8:21PM

em must work for coke or pepsi lol not coors

BIG MIKE 11-05-2007 @ 8:21PM

regarding BIGGER guy

he drinks wine coolers, not beer and is built like stever urkel
need i say more

BEER BABY

Bob 11-05-2007 @ 8:25PM

What about all of us recovering alcoholics who can't drink beer? What are we supposed to drink? I still think water is best, and it's free!

nichole 11-06-2007 @ 1:44PM

Monty:

You know, practicing some restraint wouldn't hurt either...

Who says one has to lead to another? Are you fifteen?

tim deyo 11-05-2007 @ 8:59PM

Are we talking about a workout or a marathon? Talking about electrolytes and nutrients reminds me of early backpacking admonitions about nutrients, etc. As if I was going to get pellegra during a 3 day hike. Few are going to exhaust their available nutrients or electrolytes during an ordinary workout. Drink water while working out and afterwards. Anything else is just to make you feel better about yourself.

dusty 11-05-2007 @ 8:52PM

I like to drink beer before and after my workout. It seems to relax the muscles and give me a better stretch

dammitboy 11-05-2007 @ 8:53PM

Who is the idiot that wrote this? I bet they dont workout. I am exercising to burn off all the beer I drank this weekend. Some people will believe anything. The best is one or two cookies to replenish muscle energy or a post recovery drink. Read some fitness magazines.

Mickey 11-05-2007 @ 10:31PM

If your working out to build muscle, alcohol inhibits protein synthesis which leads to a longer recovery time. The best recovery post-workout I plan I've used is a protein shake with some steak or chicken, with brown rice or a potato, and an apple or banana. The carbs help replenish glycogen stores which give your muscles endurance, the protein helps the muscles rebuild and the glucose in fruit increases insulin levels and helps transport the water, vitamins and minerals to the muscles. I guess a beer directly after a workout followed by pounding a bunch of water could be beneficial since the alcohol would dehydrate you, but rehydrating itself won't help you recover much without carbs and protein. I think a banana with some water would be much more beneficial than a beer but a beer would be mighty tasty. I guess if your a serious athlete go with the water and fruit, but if your a weekend warrior f*@# it and have a beer.