A question on my mind...

If people drank beer, wine, and cider throughout history because water was unsafe, how did they not get really dehydrated? From what I understand, these beverages were not as high gravity and yeast wasn't nearly as attenuative, but still...wouldn't it make you thirsty?

I remember hearing that the average worker received at least a gallon of beer a day working on the pyramids. It's hard enough staying hydrated during the summer, let alone in Egypt. How did this work? Surely people had to drink water sometimes?

People were just tougher back then. And they died a lot earlier.

I dunno.

But you got me thinking. There's a book that tells world history through beer and other beverages. I took a management class and the dude was using that book.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses. That's it! I need to get that book.

It's easy to get dehydrated on 5%, and even easier on 10% beer that's all the rage today, but when they were drinking a gallon of beer a day, it was probably closer to 2%, and mostly water, sugars, and even unconverted starches.
It was really more like bread with water, and a decent amount of protein.
Plus, as mentioned, they only had a life expectancy of around 25 anyway, even with the natural antibiotics produced in egyptian beer.

Raenon said:

It's easy to get dehydrated on 5%, and even easier on 10% beer that's all the rage today, but when they were drinking a gallon of beer a day, it was probably closer to 2%, and mostly water, sugars, and even unconverted starches.
It was really more like bread with water, and a decent amount of protein.
Plus, as mentioned, they only had a life expectancy of around 25 anyway, even with the natural antibiotics produced in egyptian beer.

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Good point about life expectancy. That's a very interesting article, too.

Still, even with less alcohol and less attenuation, wouldn't you be left over with a 2-3% really sweet liquid? I wouldn't think that would be very thirst-quenching, but I've never had a table beer, so I don't have much of a point of reference. I've heard people in Asia used to drink mostly tea, but isn't that a diuretic? These questions have always bugged me.

The body adapts. I once went on a 7-day bender drinking only beer and coffee. Both should have left me drier than a nun's you-know-what, but I survived.

Did these people from the past eat things with water in them, like tomatoes and apples and whatnot? Pretty much every food has some water in it. Maybe that's the answer.

History Of The World in Six Glasses is a great read. Fun look at how certain beverages gained prominence.

I heard the whole "beer dehydrates you" thing is a misconception. It hydrates you just fine, just much less efficiently than water. Same story for coffee, tea, Coke, etc. You won't shrivel into a raisin if you drink weak beer, cider, etc. Just don't use it to hydrate during a marathon or in a trek across the desert.

Supposedly enough alcohol at a time can mess with the system that regulates body water retention. If you are dehydrated and drink a beer, the small amount of alcohol present would not dehydrate you, but the water would be taken in.

If you are hydrated and drink a lot of alcohol, the body starts to lose water. From what I can see though, you don't lose enough to cause actual dehydration.

The effect of the alcohol also makes you FEEL like you are drier than you really are.

I rarely drink anything other than beer in the afternoon. 1/2 cup of coffee at work in the morning and maybe a glass of water at lunch. Then maybe 1-2 beers at night.

I guess they ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, which would contribute much more fluid than what we usually eat today. I think our modern, Western diet is more different from theirs than we imagine it to be.
But I'm willing to participate in a study if necessary.

read an article a month or 2 ago... some guy gave up food for lent. drank nothing but doppelbock for however long lent is. survived and was healthy

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/...ned-from-my-46-day-beer-only-fast/?hpt=hp_bn8

claphamsa said:

read an article a month or 2 ago... some guy gave up food for lent. drank nothing but doppelbock for however long lent is. survived and was healthy

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He lost 25 lbs. Maybe I can convince SWMBO that this is the diet plan I've been looking for.

dcott said:

He lost 25 lbs. Maybe I can convince SWMBO that this is the diet plan I've been looking for.

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Trying that currently.



SWMBO: OMG 190 beers!
Me: That's Much less than the ~20/day I was drinking when I was laid off for 6 months. Really, I typically already drink 4 beers/day. I'm just cutting out food.

landshark said:

I typically already drink 4 beers/day. I'm just cutting out food.

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Exactly!