We’ve all heard about the health benefits of red wine, but not much is often said of the nutritional value of beer. According to research conducted by Italy’s Fondazione di Ricerca e Cura, moderate beer drinking (a little more than a pint per day) decreases drinkers’ risk of heart disease by 31 percent (the same as moderate consumption of wine); and a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, found that moderate consumption of beer reduces the risk of developing kidney stones by 41 percent. Additionally, beer is one of the very few plant sources of vitamin B12.
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From Details, here are the rankings of the most nutritionally sound brews out there:
- Pacifico
At just 135 calories per serving and 12 grams of carbs, Pacifico is both great-tasting and light.
- Guinness Draught
In addition to being just 128 calories and 11 grams of carbohydrates per serving, this dark beer has approximately 3.5 grams of fiber, as compared with the 2 grams found in lighter beers.
- Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
This brew is hops-heavy, which means more phytochemicals. Sierra Nevada also has a slightly higher alcohol content (5.6 percent), as well as a few more calories and carbs (175 and 14.1 grams, respectively).
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- Samuel Adams Light Lager
At 119 calories per serving (with 9.7 grams of carbs), it’s definitely a good pick for those looking to stay slim. And fans swear by its taste.
- Abita Purple Haze
What better way to add antioxidants—and flavor—to beer than brew it with fresh raspberries? In addition to the fruit-powered nutrients, this purplish lager also has an alcohol content of 4.2 percent, as well as 145 calories per serving and 11 grams of carbs.
- Left Hand Good Juju
This “ginger ale” is made with fresh ginger, which aids in digestion and is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also on the lower-calorie end: 131 per serving, with 4.5 percent alcohol.
- Yuengling Lager
Though higher in calories than Yuengling Light (135 versus 98), it’s significantly higher in alcohol content (4.4 percent versus 3.8), so you likely won’t drink as much.
- New Belgium Sunshine Wheat
This American pale wheat ale gets high marks for flavor (thanks to notes of orange peel and coriander), but isn’t particularly high in calories for a wheat-y beer: 145 per serving, with 4.8 percent alcohol and 13 grams of carbs.
- Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA
For 188 calories, this beer has 7.10 percent alcohol. Even though that’s considerably more calories than the other beers on this list, your overall consumption will likely be lower since the alcohol content is higher.
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- Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA
For a Belgian IPA with a relatively high alcohol content (5.6 percent), this brew is surprisingly low in carbs (10.8 grams). However, the increased alcohol will cost you a few extra calories: 180 per serving.
Curated article from Details
