Slim from behind, but with a big belly bulging in front: When this is the case with men, one quickly speaks of a beer belly. What role the drink plays in this, how you can get rid of the beer belly and why women are usually spared the Plauze.
Beer belly from estrogen-like plant hormones?
The effect of the beer belly is to be enhanced by certain ingredients in the beer. Hops contain plant hormones that act similar to estrogen . In men, these phytohormones lead to a particularly large amount of fat being stored on the stomach, according to the common, but so far unproven, theory. The chest often swells as well. Many men with a beer belly could therefore fill a bra with a cup size A or B.
The yeast in the beer not only contains valuable B vitamins , but also estrogen and is said to also promote the beer belly. The fact that wine drinkers do not develop a beer belly supports the theory: because grapes do not contain estrogen-like phytohormones. However, there are no studies that prove the amount of beer from which one has to fear that the belly will grow. Because the content of plant hormones in beer is relatively low. Calculations assume that hardly anyone can drink such amounts that significant amounts of the female sex hormones come together.
Scientifically, there is no such thing as a beer belly. It has not yet been clearly clarified that the female plant hormones contained in beer play a role in this. It is certain that the beer belly is caused by excessive calorie intake, often combined with a lack of exercise.
Beer belly: That’s how many calories beer has
Beer contains healthy nutrients and, to begin with, has relatively few calories compared to other drinks. Depending on the variety, half a liter provides these amounts of calories:
- Export beer at 4.9% ABV: 200 calories (kcal)
- Doppelbock with 8 vol.%: 275 kcal
- Wheat beer with 5% vol.: 250 kcal
- Kölsch with 4.9% by volume: 260 kcal
- Pilsner with 4.9 vol%: 210 kcal
Compared to other drinks, such as cola or apple juice, that’s not so much. Half a liter of apple juice provides 270 kilocalories, Cola 240. However, if you drink two or more beers a day, you get around 500 additional kilocalories on your energy account. That corresponds to a meal, such as a Wiener Schnitzel with salad or a plate of Spaghetti Bolognese. Over time, this increases the weight.
Compared to the schnitzel, however, beer is not very filling. The main supplier of the calories in beer is alcohol , which the body can convert into fat but which does not provide any nutrients or energy. The beer also stimulates the appetite. Beer makes you twice as fat.
Why only men get a beer belly
But why does the fat deposit form directly in front of the stomach in men – and why, in contrast, do women who like to drink beer not get a beer belly? The answer lies in the genes. Men are programmed to put on fat pads in the front of the stomach, women are more likely to gain weight in the buttocks and thighs. A study by London’s University College even shows that women who drink beer moderately are slimmer than those who don’t drink alcohol at all. However, the researchers could not find an explanation for this.
That’s how dangerous the beer belly is
A beer belly is not without its dangers. In no other part of the body do fat deposits have such fatal consequences. Belly fat (visceral fat) produces more than 20 hormones and signaling substances that, among other things, reduce life expectancy. In addition, a large number of harmful fatty acids, such as cholesterol , get into the blood from abdominal fat .
The Plauze is anything but harmless. The overweight and people with a plause should not jog for the time being. The joints are extremely stressed, which can result in arthrosis in the knees and ankles.
Get rid of a beer belly
The goal should therefore be to lose weight on the stomach in order not to risk any long-term health consequences. The best way to do this is through a conscious and balanced diet plus sufficient exercise in everyday life and sport. Endurance sports such as walking , cycling and swimming are ideal for people who are very overweight. In addition, men with a beer belly should limit their beer consumption and avoid too much fat, sausage and meat .
In order to lose weight, people with a beer belly should make sure that their calorie account is in the red at the end of the day. That means they used more energy than they took in. This is the prerequisite for the body to attack the fat reserves. This is the only way to get rid of the unhealthy beer belly.