Benefits of Drinking Non-alcoholic Beer

It’s that time of year again. Diets and restrictions went out the window during the holiday season. While it’s good to enjoy the finer things in life, excess is never a good thing. Whether each of us likes to admit it or not, many of us indulge too much and too often during December. 

Every time that countdown on the 31st rolls to zero, we look to a new year with optimism. We make promises to ourselves such as to take better care of our mental and physical health. Dry January has quickly become a popular alcohol detox solution here in the UK.

When it comes to abstaining from or partaking in alcohol, we aren’t here to judge or advise. However, if you are one of the many who choose to take a break from the booze this January, we’ve got some good news for you: non-alcoholic beers are better than ever.

Besides filling a void, drinking non-alcoholic beers come with a bevvy (see what we did there) of benefits.

Drinking alcohol in moderation

Beer can have many health benefits. But mostly due to alcohol and the metabolite acetaldehyde, drinking beer can also present many health risks. As with all things, moderation is the key to enjoying beer.

Different countries, regions and cultures all have their own guidelines for moderate drinking. The UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) advise adults to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. With 1 unit of alcohol equal to 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol found in the following:

• Half a pint of “regular” beer
• Half a small glass of wine
• 1 measure of spirit or aperitifs
• 1 small glass of sherry

As you can see, 14 units are not very many per week. It also recommended they spread over a minimum of three days.

10 Benefits of Drinking Non-Alcoholic Beer

Whether it’s a dry January or a dry 2022, now is as good a time as ever to take a break and re-evaluate. But, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, it’s always healthier to opt for lower alcohol and non-alcoholic beers. Trust us, your mind and body will thank you.

1 Taste

With non-alcoholic beers, many will ask, “what’s the point?” As craft beer drinkers, we know better. Sometimes, you just want to sip something tasty. Or you want a full-flavoured and balanced beverage to match a lovely meal. Worry no more! Breweries like Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing have got you covered with non-alcoholic beers ranging from Lagers to IPAs and more!

2 Lower Calories

Most of us would probably cut our daily caloric intake if it was easier. Beers with 0.5% ABV or lower make it a cinch to banish that beer belly to the abyss! A great deal of the caloric content comes from alcohol, which comes in at nearly twice the amount of calories per gram as good old protein and carbs.

A standard pint of beer is around 240 calories whereas cutting the alcohol to 0.5% can reduce this significantly by upwards of 120 calories per pint! 

3 Lower your Alcohol Intake

Non-alcoholic beers make it easy to cut down or nearly eliminate your alcohol consumption. This means you can get all the great taste and health benefits but avoid the negatives that come with drinking alcohol.

4 Stress Reduction

It’s no secret that a small drink after a long and hard day can work wonders for one’s psyche. A drink with mates can melt daily stressors like butter. Research has shown that non-alcoholic beers can induce a placebo effect that relaxes drinkers the same as the strong stuff by increasing dopamine levels which make you feel happy and relaxed.

5 Better Sleep

Drinking alcohol makes us sleepy but that doesn’t mean it helps us sleep! In fact, moderate to severe drinking has been shown to disrupt sleep patterns for days after a drinking session.

Luckily beer is made with another sedative besides ethanol, hops. A study performed on nurses found that with low or zero alcohol, any risk to a good night’s sleep is outweighed by hop compounds and their ability to increase GABA levels allowing for a great night of sleep.

6 No Hangover

When you start to worry about hangovers, it may be a sign you’re about to enter your 30s. No matter who we are, as we age, our livers become less effective at metabolising alcohol. That means no more all-nighters and no big sessions on “school nights.”

Say goodbye to your hangxiety by drinking delicious NA beers. Not only will you be fresh in the morning, ready to have a productive day, but you will also be able to enjoy the night’s activities free from worry.

7 No missing out

Fear of missing out (FOMO) is the new plague of modern technology. But have no fear. As more bars, pubs, and restaurants stock a selection of non-alcoholic beers like Lager Day Saints, you will be able to socialise as “normal” as an undercover healthy drinker. 

8 Cardiovascular Health

There’s still some misinformation going around that only red wine is good for the heart. An array of studies have shown that beer can have just as much if not more benefit for your cardiovascular health. 

In every study, the benefits have been shown to drop off after exceeding light to moderate amounts of drinking. Again, this is due to ethanol and its metabolites. But it would be nearly impossible for you to crush enough near-beers to reduce benefits such as:

• higher “good” cholesterol (HDL)
• lower risk of stroke
• lower risk of heart disease

9 Bone Growth

Barley is full of silicon. Malted barley is the backbone of all beer. Hence, every beer with a few exceptions is chock full of the 14th element in the periodic table. Silicon promotes bone density lowering the risks of osteoporosis and fractures. 

10 Better Metabolism and Immune Support

Beer is full of so many good things that we would probably need to write a book to properly cover everything. Alcohol or no alcohol, malt, hops, water and yeast in beer are chock full of micronutrients that promote things like healthy hair and skin. And they also promote the growth of red blood cells, our immune system and much more!

Just take a gander at all of these fantastic vitamins and minerals found in non-alcoholic beer:

• vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
• vitamin B3 (niacin) 
• vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
• vitamin B7 (biotin)
• vitamin B9 (folic acid) 
• vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Zinc
• Iron
• Selenium
• sodium 

Final Verdict

Non-alcoholic beers are the perfect way for you to enjoy the great taste of craft beers and support a healthy lifestyle. This may be by drinking exclusively NA beers or as a supplement to lighten the strong stuff! Either way, within weeks to months, we are sure you will feel the difference as you sleep better, have more energy and even lose a few inches off that waist.

Don’t believe us? Get a case of beer from our online shop and see for yourself!