Beer: The Newest Sports Drink?

The Erdinger Weissbräu company of Germany is touting its non-alcoholic offering as the newest replacement for Gatorade. The company insists that the beer is an isotonic, vitamin-rich, all natural beverage with naturally regenerative powers. The Erdinger website literally refers to the non-alcoholic brew as "the Sports and Fitness Drink."

The company has been a long time sponsor of athletes in the national and international biathlon and triathlon circuits, and Erdinger Non-Alcoholic is regularly distributed in the finishing areas of such events.

Nutrition experts acknowledge the that it may have some regernerative value for athletes post work out, and the lack of alcohol to further dehydrate an athlete's body is more ideal than a beer with alcohol. However, Professor Mary Ellen Camire, a nutritionist at the Unviersity of Maine, said "It will help with rehydration. Whether it's the ideal drink to have, I'm not sure."

I've always heard a single beer will rehydrate you better than a glass of water, and after reading this, I'm sticking to it.

- BrewTaps
http://www.brewtaps.com/