The Low-Carb alcohol myth explained.

Auki Henry explains the reality behind the "low-carb" beer hype.

Low-Carb Beer, not what you've been lead to believe.

First up, here is an important fact that needs to be impressed upon readers, hence me starting this article with it . . .

Alcohol is NOT a carbohydrate.

Some of you carb watchers may be breathing a sigh of relief at this point, thinking that the fad of drinking "Low-Carb" beer and straight spirits are your "healthy alternative" for splurging on alcohol whilst maintaining an eating regime.

If you'd like to keep believing this, please stop reading now.

The REAL Deal:
If you are still reading then here's the scoop.  Whilst alcohol is not a carbohydrate it is still a dense source of energy.  Taking a look at the figures in the most simplistic sense you may be surprised to find that the caloric content of alcohol is more than carbohydrates.

• Fat: 1 gram = 37.80 kilojoules ( 9 calories )
• Alcohol: 1 gram = 29.40 kilojoules ( 7 calories )
• Protein: 1 gram = 16.80 kilojoules ( 4 calories )
• Carbohydrates: 1 gram = 16.80 kilojoules ( 4 calories )

Armed with this bit of information, its easier to see how the drinks industry leverages the popular low-carb diet hype to influence consumers to buy their product.

Technically they are telling the truth - yes, their product is lower in carbohydrates, you can see this by checking the label.  The label also does not infer that you will lose weight by drinking this product.

They have however, quite cleverly utilised the way the phrase "low-carbs" has associated itself in modern society's mindset as being synonymous to weight loss or being healthy.  This is misleading to someone who does not understand that alcohol is more energy dense than carbohydrates, almost double even. Alcoholic beverages ALL contain kilojoules, the most part being what is found in the alcohol itself and not the advertised carbohydrate content.  Simply put, the higher the alcohol content of a drink the more kilojoules it contains.

The mechanisms of how the body uses alcohol as energy is material for another article however, suffice it to say you have been provided with a source of information that you may find useful.

- Auki