Scientists create ‘hangover-free’ beer

Scientists in Australia claim to have made, what could go down as one of man’s greatest-ever discoveries, a beer which doesn’t give you a hangover.

The team from the Griffith Health Institute in Queensland have created a brew with added electrolyte minerals, that help to reduce dehydration. The electrolytes, which are commonly used in sports drinks, help to keep the body’s fluids in balance.

Dehydration is one of the main causes of a hangover, although the scientists did also have to reduce the alcohol content in the beer, to improve hydration.

Associate professor at the Griffith Health Institute’s Centre for Health Practice Innovation, told newsmedical.net: “We basically manipulated the electrolyte levels of two commercial beers, one regular strength and one light beer, and gave it to research subjects who’d just lost a significant amount of sweat by exercising. We then used several measures to monitor the participant’s fluid recovery to the different beers.

“Of the four different beers the subjects consumed, our augmented light beer was by far the most well retained by the body, meaning it was the most effective at rehydrating the subjects. The ‘improved’ light beer was actually a third more effective at hydrating a person than normal beer.”

Unlike other electrolyte drinks Desbrow does not recommend drinking the beer after exercising. He added: “This is definitely not a good idea, but what we’ve found is that many people who sweat a lot, especially tradesmen, knock off work and have a beer. But alcohol in a dehydrated body can have all sorts of repercussions, including decreased awareness of risk.”