While neither beer nor soda would ever be categorized as exactly “healthy”, eating well sometimes boils down to choosing the better of two seemingly bad choices. If you want the official “Best Case Scenario” I’d say drink water with every meal. However, if you want the “Real World Scenario” check out the lists of pros and cons below.
Beer (pros)
- has antioxidants (a lot, in fact)
- is more filling that soda
- usually has fewer calories than soda
- has fewer ingredients (i.e. is more natural)
Beer (cons)
- alcohol dehydrates your body worse than caffeine does
- some types contain a ton of hidden carbs and calories
- too much alcohol can cause health problems
Soda (pros)
- despite containing caffeine, sodas DO actually hydrate (at least a little)
Soda (cons)
- all types contain a lot of calories
- most types use High Fructose Corn Syrup (very unnatural, prevent you from feeling full, chemical additive)
- too much caffeine can cause health problems
Honestly, it comes down to your own individual preference. Personally, I’ll admit to occasionally drinking both but always in moderation (never more than 1 or 2 servings of either in a given day). Neither have many redeeming qualities about them other than taste however almost every race I’ve been to has had plenty of free beer at the finish line. Maybe the other runners know something I don’t …
