How does beer cause a belly?

Remember when Michelob Ultra first hit the market? It was being touted as The Athlete's Beer, or at least something similar (based on their advertisements featuring very fit men and women in workout gear). The low(er) carb content is what supposedly made it a better option than its competitors. Granted, Michelob Ultra only turned out to have a few carbs less per serving than most other light beers, but apparently that was enough in Corporate's eyes to spin it as being "healthy."

Being aware of carbohydrate content in food and drinks is imperative. With regard to beer, it's important to be cognizant not only of its direct effect on blood glucose levels, but also for the added fat it may be adding to your midsection. The classic Beer Belly, if you will. But, what is it about beer that makes it so bad for your belly?

The folks at Men's Health explain in a recent issue. For one, when you drink beer, twenty percent of the alcohol is absorbed from your stomach into your bloodstream; the rest is absorbed by your intestines. From there, the alcohol makes its way through your liver, where it is broken down -- leading to the creation of two waste products: acetate and acetaldehyde. These waste products then signal your body to stop burning fat, while at the same time your body actually starts MAKING fat from another alcohol waste product, known as acetyle CoA. As a result of all this, the more you drink, the less you become able to burn fat -- and, the more fat your body creates from the build-up of acetytle CoA.

Funny how they don't mention any of this in those sporty Mich Ultra ads.