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Test Gym
The Do’s and Don’ts of Drinking After Exercise
Sports beers are all the rage, but does downing a post-workout brew help or hurt?
Finishing a workout with a refreshing beer has a long tradition among athletes. In “Before Times,” many marathons, bike races, and ski events often featured beer tents in the finishing area, and now that we’re stuck in the coronavirus pandemic for the foreseeable future, a post-exercise beer after a run in the park holds even more appeal.
Beer companies continue to market specifically to fitness fanatics. In April, Michelob Ultra began streaming workouts on its social media channels, and numerous brewers have introduced beers catering to athletes — including Harpoon Brewery’s Rec. League Pale Ale, Sufferfest Beer Company’s Flyby Pilsner, and Avery Brewing’s Go Play IPA.
With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that there’s some evidence that avid exercisers tend to drink more alcohol than their sedentary counterparts, and one national survey even found that drinking is associated with a 10% increase in the probability of exercising vigorously.
