What could be more refreshing than letting a cool beer trickle down your throat after a summer bike tour? Whether with or without alcohol, the feeling arises that the sweaty body is happy about every drop of the refreshing fermented drink. This feeling is no coincidence. Beer has a long tradition in cycling, and not because it was fun - ok, maybe a little bit sometimes.

Beer, a source of vitamins

The fact that cyclists used to drink beer after hard training sessions or races was not a "beer idea" from a nutritional point of view. The brew made from hops, malt, yeast and water contains plenty of valuable ingredients that the body urgently needs for regeneration after sport. On the other hand, there were hardly any nutritional supplements such as high-dose, complex protein and mineral supplements at the time.

The hop brew contains vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic acid) and B6 (Pyrodoxin). Thanks to the yeast, the easily digestible brew also contains plenty of folic acid and biotin, which is necessary for blood formation and cell renewal. Beer also contains important antioxidants that protect against cell damage.

Phosphoric acid, a mineral found in beer, also plays an important role in terms of nutritional physiology. It is a central component of the vital cell building blocks. Beer contains both potassium and magnesium and is fat and cholesterol-free.

The benefits of beer go even further: for athletes, it stimulates lung activity. This means that oxygen can be better absorbed by the body. It can also stimulate bladder and kidney activity - ideal for helping the body to eliminate waste products more quickly. Beer is also said to make for healthy skin and beautiful hair. This could be one of the reasons why mountain bikers are so beautiful.

Beer has been replaced and is still irreplaceable

While the cycling heroes of the past used to pound two wheat beers after their performance, today's juniors are already sipping a protein drink. This is understandable, as sports nutrition is so highly developed that today's regeneration preparations - doping-free, of course - are miles superior to the regenerative effect of beer. And who wants to give their youngsters alcohol for regeneration? However, people tend to forget that alcohol-free beer is also available.

But even if today's sports drinks are much more effective than hop juice, there's one thing it can't catch up with and therefore can't replace: sweaty and beaten down after a bike tour with your buddies, who wants to toast your latest trail adventure with a protein shake?