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SOPHIE BLOG JANUARY 31 2017
A BEER IN WINTER
So apparently we are in the midst of winter on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. And while snow is in the
forecast, we certainly haven’t seen much of it. Me, I’m a winter sports enthusiast…skiing, snowshoeing,
skating, riding a “fat bike”…these are things that you can enjoy with family, friends, or in the quiet of
your own company. And of course, the best part about these activities is the “apres” event, which for
me frequently includes a tasty glass of cold, frothy beer.
This past weekend marked the 2nd annual Fat Bike Festival in Mahone Bay (see
www.sweetridecycling.com for more information on this fun event). It got me thinking about winter
exercise and beer drinking. Is it good for you? A 2015 study published in Health Psychology followed
150 men and women between the ages of 18 and 75 and reported that people drank more than usual
on the same days that they engaged in greater amounts of physical activity. Apparently, it’s about the
endorphins! There is some suggestion that we often experience a bit of a “high” after a workout, and
that by having that glass of beer after physical activity allows us to prolong the high. Our body
remembers this reaction and wants to replicate it– serving as motivation for us to exercise again so that
we can reward ourselves with that beer, especially in a social setting where the comraderie we
experienced on the hockey rink or fat bike trails can be reconvened at the local brewery. . Perhaps that
is why a 2011 study from the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs discovered that men and women
who were moderate drinkers (i.e., averaged about 1-2 drinks/day) were twice as likely to exercise than
non-drinkers.
No worries about a beer belly in winter. Cross-country skiing has been shown to burn up to 1,000
calories in an hour! Do that, and the 300 calories you consume by drinking two beers does wonders for
your health (the hops, yeast, and grains contribute carbohydrates, Vitamin B and postassium) without
affecting your waistline. “Beer bellies” only occur if there are more calories going into your body than
going out. If you add 20-30 minutes of exercise to the day, your daily consumption of 1-2 beers will not
have any additional impact on your waistline.
So, eat sensibly, drink 2-4 quarts of water a day, and fit some physical activity into your winter season.
Apparently, it will drive you to drink – but in a way that makes you want to be active all over again.
And remember, moderate drinking, dearies. As Aristotle once said, “it is better to rise from life as from
a banquet – neither thirsty nor drunken.”