Beer provides an average of 37.3 kcal per 100 ml. It’s less than wine, cider, champagne or even any cocktail, but as much as a soda. It owes its calories to the alcohol it contains (generally 4 to 5%) and sugar. But it is very rare to drink only 100 ml of beer (just a glass of mustard). A pint (500 ml) then provides a good dose of alcohol and sugar.
We also tend to drink more because it is less alcoholic than other drinks. It is not so. A 33 cl beer contains as much alcohol as any other alcoholic drink.
“Beer Belly”
The composition of the beers varies greatly depending on the production method. Sugar concentration and alcohol levels can vary greatly from one brand to another.
The “beer belly” is not a myth. It is due to many complex physiological phenomena.
First, drinking alcohol increases appetite. We eat more without even realizing it. This food intake is added to that of alcohol, considerably increasing the daily energy intake and promoting weight gain, especially in the abdominal area.
Second, the three components of beer (sugar, alcohol, hops) each have the responsibility of establishing that fat belly. The sugar contained in the beer will increase the sugar in the blood (glycemia) even faster and higher than if it is consumed in isolation (as an aperitif for example).
Insulin production
This increase in blood sugar quickly induces the production of insulin. This leads to two hormonal changes: a decrease in testosterone (male hormone) and an increase in estrogen (female hormone). In fact, insulin promotes the storage and therefore the production of visceral fat. The latter becomes a hotspot for estrogen production. Fat cells have an unfortunate tendency to express aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. Insulin itself activates aromatase.
Alcohol also activates aromatase. This is followed by a drop in testosterone and an increase in estrogen. In addition, alcohol disrupts the detoxification of estrogens, making them even more active and harmful. It also changes the balance of the microbiota, promoting the reabsorption of estrogen in the blood.
The last molecule involved in this hormonal imbalance, the wolf. This plant contains very powerful phytoestrogens. This estrogenic action is much more important than the too often criticized one. On the other hand, hops can be indicated for menopausal women who suffer from hot flashes.
Anaïs Taqourt is a dietitian nutritionist in Morlaàs. Such. 06 83 65 52 09. Website: www.dieteticiennenutritionniste-pau.fr. Facebook page “Anais Tacourt”.