So, I was hanging around with few of my old classmates and we went to the store to get something to drink before going to swim.
Me and my buddy took a can of beer each, other 2 guys took energy drink cans.
Then, the topic was - which one is more unhealthy?
I for sure know that beer does have some health benefits in moderation, I was usually drinking 1 beer a week for almoust a year until I stopped for unknown reason 4 months ago (I think I just forgot about it), and now I’m thinking about it again.
One of my friends also drinks around 1 energy drink a week, which is nothing. However, other guy drinks 2-3 a day, or uses caffeine pills, which sounds tricky to me. It’s still not as harmful as alcoholism but here we more talk about things in moderation.
What are your opinions on those?
Consumption of either one is correlated with a 100% mortality rate. Better not risk it honestly.
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I’m not sure how you would even compare the two. They’re both drinks. Okay… That’s as far as I got.
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Alcohol is terrible for your body’s recovery, and destroys most diets, but if we’re talking one beer and one energy drink, I’m going for the beer, assuming it’s not a 0 cal energy drink. 27 grams of sugar, 27 grams of carbs in a monster. 0 grams sugar, 13 grams carbs, 1 gram protein in a beer. The alcohol itself in one beer is not substantial enough to do anything negative.
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I see people in the gym rocking energy drinks as pre-workout. As for me, I could never drink beer or energy drinks before workout. That carbonation phucks with me.
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One is a depressant, one is a stimulant. If this is all you knew about the 2 products, which would you think would affect workouts negatively? Caffeine is a performance enhancer, as are several other components that are generally found in energy drinks.
So that being said, 1 of either per week is going to have zero tangible effect on your life. That’s just a crazy low number. I drink significantly more of both weekly. The alcohol most certainly has a more negative effect on training.
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If you’re trying to eat and drink “healthy”, I don’t think either is an option.
But I also don’t think either are a problem in moderation. Personally, I would opt for the energy drink pre-workout.
Well I can’t remember last time I got drunk (that was years ago, literally).
I’m kinda sensitive to caffeine so I completley avoid it.
For pre-workout I just eat something with carbs.
The point of this post is that some “anti-alcoholics” do say that 1 beer a week is bad. Also in my opinion when faced with options of 1 beer or 1 energy drink - I’ll go with beer. In my opinion it actually has some benefits when consumed in moderation, and it’s far less artificial than energy drink. Not to mention effects on mood.
I’m not talking about what to drink pre-workout. That’s why it was strange to me to see guys drinking energy drinks before going to swim on a day when we are chilling… they said they like that “kick” it gives them… even tho I never really felt it as much as I felt beer cheer me up. Personal preference I guess…
I personally drink coffee. Thankfully I live in a city where most bars will serve coffee in late hours, but when I lived in other cities, I would drink energy drinks instead.
A few days ago, my gym had a whiskey and deadlifts party. I opted out of the whiskey.
As a standalone, beer would be healthier choice. It’s a far more natural beverage with centuries of use. In moderation, it may impart health benefits but even if it doesn’t, you can clearly consume it in moderation without health risks.
That said, beer would not be at all a good “pre-workout” choice. It’s a depressant (as has been said) and impairs judgement if you have too much. Anything with caffeine would be a better pre-workout than something with alcohol, although I’d prefer coffee as its delivery system over an energy drink.
After an endurance workout, like a long run or strenuous hike, a beer is a great recovery beverage. For years, I would go on a Sunday run with a few buddies, and we’d always finish with a pint of beer while we did some stretching, cool downs, and chatted.
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Exactly my thoughts.
I can’t see a reason for someone to drink energy drinks while sitting on beach with few friends…
I mean if it was workout - I would completley understand. But chilling with friends? XD
Because I want to be awake for the experience, as otherwise I will fall asleep since I got up at 0440.
These days, since my resting heart rate was last clocked at 44, I tell people I drink energy drinks for medicinal purposes.
I can’t remember the last time I got drunk either. I mean, it was Saturday night. I just don’t remember any of it.
LOOLOLOLOLOLLLLLLL
I’ve never heard this outside of the realm of people who are true alcoholics. That’s a different situation altogether from what you’re talking about. Some people can’t have 1 beer simply because it never ends up actually being just 1 beer.
In what world are you ever forced to make this choice? That seems like a very strange binary situation that doesn’t have a place in the real world.
I drink energy drinks all the time just to get through the day. Or if I just feel like it. Many people do this. It’s not strange in the least. Same reason people drink beer. They just enjoy it. To each his own, right?
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Exactly - I drink beer just to get through the day
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Seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
I myself wouldn’t do that either, but I’m guessing it’s simply the social equivalent of having some coffee and chatting. I wouldn’t over think it.
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I can see how that could happen xD
It doesn’t take a lot for people to sue for something these days.
Even if it is their own fault (I mean, drinking whiskey before putting your spine at risk isn’t a good idea)
Do you even lift heavy enough to put your spine at risk? 
Since my deadlift 1RM is 130kg and 1RM squat is 120kg - I guess I do…
Despite that, I rarley do deadlifts, but for some reason I can lift solid number. And those lifts are nice for someone who’s still under 70kg.