For years, the idea has spread that alcohol consumed in moderation was not dangerous for your health, and could even have benefits. We’ve probably heard that “nothing happens” for a beer or a glass of wine a day. But science understands neither opinions nor customs, and the latest studies have spoiled the party (not kidding).
In a study published by the medical journal The Lancet, researchers concluded that the safest level of alcohol is zero. In other words, even moderate consumption, i.e. less than 14 glasses per week, causes damage, particularly to the brain. This daily beer decreases both gray matter and white matter, where the connections between neurons are found.
Alcohol also plays a role in weight gain. Not only because of the calories it provides, but also because it interferes with nutrient absorption and can lead to the accumulation of visceral fat around internal organs, increasing the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. .
Knowing this, and for many other reasons, it is not surprising that many people have decided to switch to non-alcoholic drinks or have not at any time given direct thought to their consumption.
Non-alcoholic beer and wine
Non-alcoholic beer was invented in the 1970s, mainly due to increased restrictions on drinking and driving. There are two main methods of preparation: the first involves stopping the fermentation before the alcohol is fully developed, using special yeasts and controlling the temperature. The second is to remove the alcohol from already fermented beer, either by vacuum distillation, reverse osmosis or heating. These processes allow the characteristic flavor of the beer to be retained, although with less intensity.
The first non-alcoholic beers had a strange taste that was offset by the addition of sugar. The more modern ones use secret and patented methods that better preserve the properties and flavor, but are essentially reduced to previous methods after fermentation.
In the case of wine, the complexity of the compounds that develop during fermentation gives character and aroma, which is why making alcohol-free wine is an even greater challenge. Its production begins like that of a traditional wine, with the fermentation of grape must. Once the wine has fermented and matured, techniques such as vacuum distillation or reverse osmosis are used again to remove the alcohol. Vacuum distillation allows the alcohol to be extracted at low temperatures, preserving most of the aromas and flavors of the wine. Reverse osmosis, on the other hand, separates the alcohol molecules from the wine through a semi-permeable membrane.
What they take away and what is left in soft drinks
A non-alcoholic drink is always a better health option than the same alcoholic drink. In addition to the harm caused by even moderate alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic drinks help reduce the total amount of alcohol consumed in a week.
However, it must be taken into account that in alcohol-free beer and wine the alcohol is not completely eliminated. The amount is, however, very low, between 0.0% and 0.5%. However, a study revealed that 30% of the non-alcoholic beers studied exceeded this limit of 0.5%, and could reach up to 1.8%.
The calories don’t disappear either. Although alcohol is very caloric (7 calories per gram compared to 4 for sugar), in the case of beer, carbohydrates from barley or wheat are also present. A normal can of beer contains between 130 and 150 kcal. If we remove alcohol, it drops to 70 kcal.
One of the most common myths is that non-alcoholic beer produces more gas. Beer is a carbonated drink and, as with all drinks, the dissolved gases can cause belching or a feeling of bloating. However, a study from the Complutense University of Madrid, in which the effects of beer with and without alcohol were compared, found that there was no difference in terms of gas or gastric reflux. On the contrary, non-alcoholic beer can be beneficial for the intestinal microbiota.
And the wine? If it is not a sweet wine, which contains sugar and is more caloric, but rather a dry wine, with 13% alcohol, a glass contains approximately 150 kcal. However, they are reduced to around 30 kcal when alcohol is removed, with wine having virtually no carbohydrates.
As always, it must be taken into account that the calories contained in alcoholic drinks are often added to the food that accompanies them, and in the worst cases these are snacks, peanuts, olives and other products very rich in fats and calories.
Another possible risk is that non-alcoholic beer and wine are very popular drinks and are too similar to the originals. People who suffer from alcohol addiction may find that they trigger the desire to consume the alcoholic version.
