Is Beer After Running A Good Idea?

You're hot, thirsty, and tired. Seems like a great time for a beer. Not only that, but you achieved a goal and would like to celebrate. Another reason for a beer. Or perhaps you struggled, but you made it to the end. Maybe you are disappointed and need a pick me up. Possibly a problem a beer could solve? Having a beer after a run seems to make a lot of sense to many people, but is it really a good idea?

Beer contains sugars and salts, which aid rehydration but not enough to hydrate the body, nor does it have sufficient nutrients to refuel. Limited intake of low alcohol beer after running should be accompanied by other nutrients. It is best to avoid drinking high alcohol beer after running.

The reasons people drink beer after a race vary, and the effect beer has on a person who has been running also fluctuates and is affected by the type of beer.

Why Do People Want Beer After Running?

Most people like to drink a beer after running because it provides an opportunity for socializing - going over the highs, the lows, and the blisters of the race or trail. Researchers have found that older adults (above fifty years) are more likely to indulge in a post-run beer.

Younger runners often have more set goals in mind. They are more reluctant to divert from their planned nutrition and exercise regime. They will be happy to socialize but prefer to drink specialized sports drinks.

Does The Kind Of Beer Make A Difference?

Low alcohol beer is definitely the preferred choice. It combines the beneficial sodium and carbohydrates with lower alcohol content. Although all the staunch beer-lovers may be turning in their graves, there is some science behind this reasoning.

Alcohol inhibits vasopressin production, a hormone that regulates water excretion. This makes it a diuretic, and part of the reason why hangovers occur is that the individual is dehydrated. Understandably then, drinking a low alcohol beer lessens the diuretic effects.

The proviso is that only limited amounts of low alcohol beer can be helpful. If you increase the quantity of low alcohol beer, you are in the same position as someone who drinks regular beer. So that’s a “no!” to those of you who sneakily planned to drink five low alcohol beers, claiming the benefit of the lowered alcohol content.

Low-calorie beers are being produced more commonly now. If you aim to lose weight, these beers should not add too many calories to your daily count. Once again, the number of beers must be limited. It would be a pity to toil and sweat, risking injuries and ridicule, just to regain all the lost calories because you had too many beers while you were chatting.

Can I Rehydrate On Beer?

Studies have shown that low alcohol beer can assist with rehydration due to the fluid, sodium, and carbohydrate content. Low-calorie beers may be less valuable in rehydration as they have fewer electrolytes. The scientists have commented that although beer is not harmful and can provide some beneficial electrolytes, it cannot wholly rehydrate someone who is even mildly dehydrated, such as from a run.

It is recommended that beer be drunk together with other sports drinks, water and that accompanying these with a meal is the best option for rehydrating and refueling the body.

Does Beer After A Run Help Build Muscle?

Alcohol inhibits protein synthesis, elevates cortisol, and decreases testosterone levels, resulting in slower recovery after exercise. It also inhibits the repair of muscle tears, which means that your muscles will be painful for longer after a run if you consume beer afterward.

The only muscle beer might help build is in the arm that lifts the glass constantly.

Does Beer After A Run Affect My Weight?

The human body views alcohol as a toxin and concentrates all its resources on eliminating it from the body. Usually, the body continues to burn fat for some time after exercise. When alcohol is consumed, the fat burning is halted as the body eliminates the toxic alcohol.

Although you are not going to see a sudden massive weight gain if you drink an occasional beer after a run, making this a habit could be defeating the purpose of your run.

Is Electrolyte Beer Good For You?

Some companies have launched electrolyte-enhanced beers to cater to the needs of runners who want to indulge in a glass after their exercise. Although this is not a problem, it must be remembered that even low alcohol, electrolyte enriched beers still contain alcohol.

Alcohol-free beers that are enriched with electrolytes are excellent rehydration liquids. They contain all of the electrolytes, carbohydrates, and other nutrients that other beers do but none of the toxic alcohol.

In younger people, non-alcoholic beers are being widely accepted, and socialization can take place even when there is no alcohol present. Many older people regard non-alcoholic beer as blasphemy. Perhaps they need to develop a taste for after-run non-alcoholic beers. It can be done!

How Long Should I Wait Before Drinking Beer After A Run?

After a run or any workout, your first aim should be to

1. replace lost electrolytes
2. rehydrate with water
3. replenish nutrients and energy by eating a snack that combines carbohydrates and protein.

This process will take roughly an hour for the fluids and electrolytes to move around your body. If you want to have a beer after a run, consider waiting an hour before indulging. Chalk it up as an exercise in maturity, patience, and delayed gratification.

Beer Is Still Alcoholic

Consuming beer after a run still has the negative impacts of alcohol. They are not abolished because you did a healthy activity such as running.

1. It is addictive.
2. Alcohol after a run quickly becomes a habit that is hard to break.
3. One beer leads to more beers. One study found that people who drank beer after running were likely to ingest more alcohol on the days they exercised than on rest days.
4. People who drink beer after running are less likely to eat a nutritious snack or meal to refuel their bodies. This can become a harmful practice.
5. If you run at a park or somewhere away from home, you need to drive home. Drinking beer could put you over the legal limit for driving, resulting in reduced reflex speeds and poor judgment, causing motor vehicle accidents.

Summary

Occasionally having a beer after a run will not be a problem. Habitually drinking beer after running can become a harmful habit that causes health issues. Low alcohol beers are better than regular beers, but non-alcoholic beers are best.

Beer drunk after running should be combined with other drinks, electrolytes, and a nutritious meal. Ultimately drinking a beer after running will not kill you. It is probably wiser to give it a miss unless you choose the non-alcoholic variety.