That's Fit

It's all about the beer. So say that ads, anyway. And, there's no harm in cracking open a cold one once and a while, so long as you're not drinking them with near abandon.

This also applies for those so-called "healthy" beers. You know, the Michelob Ultras and other brands that feature very fit people exercising in their ads, as if the beer was a sports drink. While it is true that these beers tend to have less calories (thereby making them the better choice in that department), drink a six pack a night and you're guaranteed to look nothing at all like the men and women pictured in the ads.

Simply put, one Michelob Ultra = 95 calories. A six-pack of Michelob Ultra = 570 calories. Considering that the FDA recommends a daily caloric intake of around 2,000, you will have less than 1,500 to spare after your "healthy" beer binge.

Beer with benefits. The athlete's brew. Fitness foam. Whatever way marketers try to spin it, low-carb beer is not healthy. Plain and simple. I don't care how many fit guys and girls wearing workout gear appear in the ads, the fact remains that low-carb beer is no better or worse for you than any regular beer.

Look, if you want to throw back a few beers, go for yours. No one is judging. I'm simply pointing out the fact that these supposedly "healthier" beers are actually nothing of the sort. You see, the carbs (even if there are less of them, albeit only slightly) in these brews are simple sugars, which means that they will cause a bit of a spike to blood glucose levels. This, over time, will result in the storage of fat. That's a problem. Another problem with low-carb beers is that they still contain a decent amount of alcohol (around 5 percent). This means that all the bad decisions that can be made with "unhealthy" beer can also be made with these so-called "healthy" beers; including, but certainly not limited to, going for a late night stop at the pizza joint, devouring a box of Ring Dings you bought from 7-11, and, of course, drinking more and more booze. Oh yeah, plus hooking up with your best friend's wife.

So, between the spike in blood glucose levels, late night food cravings, and the risk of being beaten senseless by your own best friend, I'm having a really tough time understanding how this beer is healthy.

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.