Some people prefer a six-pack of beer over six-pack abs any day. But, when the beer piles on, so does the fat in your belly. This phenomenon is so widely recognised that it even has a name—beer belly or beer gut, medically known as abdominal obesity. It’s true that beer does have its fair share of calories, but it’s not the only thing that’s making your belly hard and round. So, if you’re looking to slim down without giving up on beer, here are other ways you can lift the weight off your stomach.
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Choose a light beer
An easy way to prevent beer belly, or get rid of it, is to switch to lighter beers. A regular beer has between 4.1% to 5% of alcohol and alcohol is calorie-dense, so you should stay below the 4% mark. There are also non-alcoholic beers for those of you who just enjoy the taste.
Everything in moderation
The secret to living a healthy life is doing everything in moderation. It’s redundant to switch to a lighter beer if you’re going to drink till you drop. A simple trick to drink less is to regularly alternate between a glass of water, or a low calorie non-alcoholic beverage, and a pint of beer.
If you’re used to having some beer every single day you shouldn’t exceed the daily limit of 350 ml, which is a little more than half a pint.
Avoid high calorie snacks and meals
There’s nothing better than eating a juicy, fatty burger when you’ve been sipping on some beer. Why is that? It’s because alcohol stimulates appetite and we’ve been conditioned to choose the greasiest foods to pair it with. In fact, research shows that the main culprit of beer gut is the fatty meals you eat while drinking beer. To satisfy your appetite and your tastebuds, try snacking on healthier alternatives like:
- Baked nachos with a guacamole dip
- Pizza with a thin whole wheat crust and veggie toppings (go easy on the cheese)
- Unsalted pistachios and peanuts
