Can you drink alcohol free beer on a detox?
Summer has arrived and with it a whole host of postponed parties, BBQs and birthdays plus that whole waitlist of weddings. It's understandable if you're already considering hitting the reset button and detoxing.
We know that you know that drinking alcohol on a detox is a big no-no... but what about alcohol free beer?
First, let's dive into why it's probably a good idea to detox now and then.
The liver is your largest internal organ and is responsible for up to 500 different functions including detoxification, digestion and regulating the metabolism, so, keeping your liver clean and functioning optimally is pretty important your health.
Aside from the obvious amazing function of the liver, we've created a list of the top 7 reasons why people detox and why - yes - you can still drink alcohol free beer whilst doing so.
1) You'll sleep better
Sleep is an essential function that allows our body and mind to recharge. Studies have proven that having alcohol in your system can decrease the quality of sleep by up to 39% in men and women.
Better Sleep = Better Days
2) You'll lose weight
Toxins can be harmful to the cells and tissues of the body. Luckily for you, you have a protective mechanism which safely stores the excess in your fat cells. Unfortunately, this does mean that as your toxic load becomes greater, your fat cells grow as well.
The good news? As you eliminate toxins, you also shrink the fat cells and release weight you may have been holding onto.
3) You'll have more energy
As well as disrupting our sleep cycles alcohol also inhibits the absorption of vital nutrients including Vitamin B12, Folic Acid & Zinc which we need to feel at our best. It’s no secret that alcohol makes us feel sluggish but alcohol free beer actually helps re-hydrate the body and some studies have even suggested it can benefit athletic performance.
4) Your digestion will improve
Removing toxins from the body helps strengthen the immune system so you can fight off bacteria and viruses before they transpire to colds, flu or infection.
5) Your mood will improve
Cutting down on caffeine and sugar whilst loading up on nutrient-rich, high-fiber foods helps stabilise the blood sugar which balances and calms the nervous system. With regards to alcohol, alcohol is a depressant and disrupts the delicate balance of chemicals and processes our brain relies on. As we process alcohol we begin to experience a number of psychological symptoms such as feeling depressed, anxious or agitated. Switching to alcohol free beer whilst detoxing alleviates this!
6) Your skin will clear up
There’s no question that excessive drinking causes your body to become dehydrated and this can cause bloating and dullness of the skin and eyes, among other things. Cutting back on the booze will help you look your best and alcohol free beer has up to 50% less calories than alcoholic beer, what’s not to like about that?
7) Your mind will be sharper
The greatest tool our body has to back up many of its functions is one simple gift of nature - sleep. There are things that can help us get better sleep and things that damage our chances of a quality restful night and drinking alcohol falls in this second category. The less disruption to this, by alcohol intake for example, the more you can be rewarded by wondrous sleep and the more robust your body and mind will be to take on the day.
But does all this mean that alcohol free beer is still ok on a detox? Absolutely.
Non-alcoholic beer has heaps of health benefits (including some listed above) making it one of the healthiest drinks available behind the bar.
It’s full of vitamins and minerals including folic acid, potassium, iron and zinc. When you think about it, non-alcoholic beer is essentially water, carbohydrates, protein, and a ton of micronutrients. The isotonic makeup of alcohol-free beer is actually very similar to our bodies (in terms of the amount of sugar and salt).
Like your favourite low sugar sports drink, such as coconut water, drinking a non-alcoholic beer after your workout will replenish the electrolytes in your body much faster than even water alone.
It’s not a stretch to suggest that drinking an alcohol free beer such as Days is even better than most sports drinks, which often include unnecessary amounts of sugar and sodium. More and more professional athletes and weightlifters are now turning to one of their favourite tastes (the thirst quencher and post-exercise ritual that they crave) to celebrate, relax, replenish, and recover.
Go on, grab a cold one here.
