Beer – A sports drink?

In an interesting new revelation, Scientists at Granada University in Spain have found that beer can re-hydrate the body better than water after a workout.
According to the new findings, drinking beer cuts the levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone released in response to stress. Thus, beer aids relaxation after a hard exercise session.
The study
For the purpose of the study, researchers looked at a group of students who were asked to workout until their body temperature reached 104 degrees.
Post-workout students were either given beer or water to quench their thirst and re-hydrate them.
Researchers found that students in the group who drank beer had a higher and ‘slightly better’ hydration effect than those who had consumed water.
While the exact reasons behind the ‘slightly better hydration effect’ are still not clear, researchers speculate that the carbonation in beer helps to quench the thirst and that its high carbohydrate content quickly help replace lost calories, giving a feeling of re-hydration.
The findings of the study were presented at a press conference in Granada.