This article was reviewed by Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA.
Non-alcoholic beer (or NA beer) has come a long way. It now looks, smells, and tastes pretty close to the real thing. And if you’re looking to lose weight or just keep up a healthy lifestyle, it’s easier than ever to sub out alcohol. But is non-alcoholic beer bad for you?
Though there are drawbacks to consider, it turns out that alcohol-free beer may come with a few health benefits, including improved heart health, sleep, and mood.
What’s more, if you’re swapping real beer for the alcohol-free variety, you’re reducing your calories and risk of alcohol-related health issues.
Below, we’ll dive into the possible health risks and benefits of non-alcoholic beer and provide alternatives to consider if it’s not your thing.
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Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Bad for You?
Non-alcoholic beer isn’t bad for most people, but there are a few factors to consider before cracking open a can. Non-alcoholic beer:
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Still typically contains a little alcohol
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Has a decent amount of calories, carbs, and sugar
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Might not be recommended for those with alcohol use disorder
Keep reading for more details.
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Non-Alcoholic Beer Often Still Contains Alcohol
Wait, does non-alcoholic beer have alcohol? The kind made with hops sure does — just in much lower amounts than regular beer. Misleading, we know.
The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) allows beverages with less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) to be labeled as “non-alcoholic.”
This amount is pretty low, considering a regular beer is usually around 5% ABV and craft beers can be 10% ABV.
But you’ve got to keep an eye out for labels. If it’s labeled “low-alcohol beer,” it has to contain less than 2.5% ABV.
This might be an issue if you’re avoiding alcohol entirely when pregnant, breastfeeding, on certain types of medication, or recovering from addiction.
More alternatives than ever are available today, but completely alcohol-free beer might not technically be beer.
If you want a true zero-alcohol beer, look for “alcohol-free beer” instead of “non-alcoholic beer.” The “alcohol-free” label means there’s no detectable alcohol in the drink.
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Non-Alcoholic Beer Still Contains Calories, Carbohydrates, and Sometimes Sugar
There are fewer calories in non-alcoholic beer than alcoholic beer, but they still contribute to your overall calorie consumption. And when you drink your calories, it’s easy to accidentally consume more than your body needs.
For reference:
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Regular beer contains 154 calories per 12-ounce serving.
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Non-alcoholic beer contains 132 calories per 12-ounce serving.
But brands vary, and you can find lower-calorie options.
Beer — alcoholic or not — is also high in carbs, which might be something you want to keep an eye on, especially if you have diabetes or high blood sugar.
And finally, sugar. Some non-alcoholic beers have added sugar to improve the taste. Check the label on the product you’re buying if you want to minimize your sugar consumption.
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Non-Alcoholic Beer Can Be Dangerous for People With Alcohol Use Disorder
If you or someone you know has a history of alcohol use disorder (AUD), it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers of non-alcoholic beer.
A 2022 systematic review found that, in people with AUD, the craving and desire to drink increased after consuming low-alcohol or alcohol-free drinks.
If you’re in recovery or trying to reduce your drinking due to dependency issues, it may be best to avoid non-alcoholic beer and similar drinks. As always, reach out to a healthcare professional if you need support.
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Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Good for You?
The “non” in “non-alcoholic beer” seems pretty promising, right? As it turns out, non-alcoholic beer might come with some health benefits. Here are just a few of them.
Zero-Proof Beer Might Help You Drink Less Alcohol
There’s plenty of research showing the negative health effects of drinking alcohol in excess. In the short term, there are hangovers to contend with, and in the long run, there’s an increased risk of everything from high blood pressure to heart disease.
If you’re on a weight loss journey, alcohol contains empty calories (calories that don’t provide nutritional value), similar to soft drinks and fruit juice. So you might want to reduce how much you drink to help you reach your wellness goals. It’s also best to cut down on alcohol when taking weight loss medication.
Finding a non-alcoholic beer you like can help you drink less of the real stuff while still enjoying the taste and experience of having a beer.
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Non-Alcoholic Beer Might Be Good for Your Heart
Believe it or not, beer has some cardioprotective benefits. And non-alcoholic beer might be good for your heart, without the hangovers or health risks.
One study on 29 nuns (yes, nuns) found that drinking about 17 ounces of non-alcoholic beer a day for 45 days reduced oxidative stress, which could improve cardiovascular health. It even improved cholesterol levels for some participants with high cholesterol.
These benefits might be thanks to the polyphenols in non-alcoholic beer.
That’s not all. A 2022 review of studies on non-alcoholic beer found more benefits, including a reduction in inflammatory markers after participants ran a marathon and an improvement in endothelial dysfunction (a type of heart disease) in people with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
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The Hops in Non-Alcoholic Beer Might Improve Sleep and Mood
A real beer can help you drift off, but it actually messes with your sleep overall. A beer without alcohol might have sleep-promoting benefits, without the downsides.
A small 2021 study with 97 participants looked at the effects of consuming about 12 ounces of non-alcoholic beer with matured hop bitter acids every day for one to three weeks.
The participants reported that the non-alcoholic beer improved their:
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Sleep quality
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Mood (including symptoms of anxiety and depression)
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Fatigue
More research is needed, but the health benefits of hops might still be there in alcohol-free beer.
Interestingly, one study even found a non-alcoholic beer before exercise could help maintain electrolyte balance during the workout. And hops contain antioxidants, which can help the body fight free radicals.
Of course, you can also get these nutrients from eating a balanced diet full of whole foods — no beer (alcoholic or not) needed.
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Alternatives to Non-Alcoholic Beer
If you’re looking to reduce your alcohol intake, “healthy beer” without the alcohol isn’t your only option. Consider other non-alcoholic beverages like:
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Sparkling water
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Water flavored with cucumber, mint, strawberries, or whatever else you’ve got on hand
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Kombucha (which actually contains a small amount of alcohol too)
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Mocktails — just watch out for those with a lot of added sugar
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Alcohol-free spirits or wine — although, again, keep an eye out for those high in sugar
If you want to keep drinking real beer, you can also reduce the amount you consume overall. Go for smaller serving sizes, enjoy a drink once a week instead of every night, or tag-team alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic options.
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FAQs
Is non-alcoholic beer bad for you? Not always, but it depends. Find answers to other frequently asked questions about non-alcoholic beer below.
What Is Non-Alcoholic Beer?
Non-alcoholic beer is beer that has very little alcohol. Depending on the brand you go for (there are some duds), they usually look and taste like regular beer.
They can be a great option if you’re looking to reduce your alcohol consumption but still want to enjoy a beer-like beverage.
Be sure to check labels, as the naming makes a difference to the alcohol content:
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“Alcohol-free beer” is beer with no detectable alcohol.
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“Non-alcoholic beer” is beer with less than 0.5% ABV.
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“Low-alcohol” or “reduced-alcohol beer” is beer with less than 2.5% ABV.
How Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Made?
Non-alcoholic beer can be made by either removing the ethanol from standard alcoholic beer (a process called dealcoholization) or stopping the fermentation process when the alcohol level reaches 0.5% ABV.
Vacuum distillation and reverse osmosis can also be used to make non-alcoholic beer. Brewers may use these techniques together, and sugar is sometimes added to improve the taste.
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Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Bad for You? Final Verdict
So, you’ve found a non-alcoholic beer that looks and (most importantly) tastes like your favorite alcoholic kind, but should you drink it every day? Here are the pros and cons one more time:
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Health benefits of non-alcoholic beer. More research is needed, but sipping non-alcoholic beer might improve cardiovascular health, mood, and sleep. It can also help you cut down on alcoholic drinks, which come with many negative effects (looking at you, hangovers) and health risks.
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Risks of non-alcoholic beer. It still contains a small amount of alcohol as well as calories, carbs, and sometimes added sugars. If you have a history of AUD, it might be best to avoid non-alcoholic drinks, as they can trigger alcohol cravings.
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What if I want to lose weight? Alcohol-free beer can help you reduce your calorie intake from alcohol, and you might find you eat unhealthier when you drink the real stuff. Just watch out for added sugars in some non-alcoholic beers and enjoy them in moderation.
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This article originally appeared on Forhers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
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