How (un) healthy is Radler beer?

1. A few years ago, no one had heard of it, but now it's getting more popular every summer: Radler. All major beer brands now have their own variant of this beer with lemon lemonade. Everyone likes to recommend it as a fresh alternative to regular beer. In fact, it is regularly called healthy, mainly due to its low alcohol content.

2. A few years ago, nobody had heard of it, but now it is getting more popular every summer: Radler. All major beer brands now have their own variant of this beer with lemon lemonade. Everyone likes to recommend it as a fresh alternative to regular beer. In fact, it is regularly called healthy, mainly due to its low alcohol content.

1. But how much is really true of that positive image of the drink? Is Radler really that innocent, or are there really some catches in the grass? And what about the alcohol-free variant? We'll discuss those questions below in today's blog!

What is Radler?

1. You probably already know it, but for those who missed the hype for a while: Radler was originally a mixture of beer and lemon lemonade. There is some uncertainty about its origin, but it was probably conceived as a refreshing drink for athletes.

2. You probably already know it, but for those who missed the hype for a moment: Radler was originally a mixture of beer and lemon lemonade. There is some uncertainty about its origin, but it was probably conceived as a refreshing drink for athletes.

1. It is not for nothing that Radler is the shorter dialect form of German Fahrradler - cyclists. Today, however, it is not only popular with cyclists, but especially with the many terrace enthusiasts in the Netherlands.

1. The drink is nice and summery and thanks to its sweet taste also very popular with young people and people who do not like beer very much. Thanks to the success of the formula, flavors other than lemon are now also offered. Think of citrus fruits such as lime or mandarin, but also, for example, mint.

How many calories in Radler?

1. When we want to know how healthy Radler is, the first thing to consider is nutritional values. Of course they differ slightly per brand. The amount of calories, for example, depends on the ratio between the lemonade and the beer. On average, the drink contains about 43 calories per 100 ml.

2. When we want to know how healthy Radler is, the first thing we should consider is nutritional values. Of course they differ a bit per brand. The amount of calories, for example, depends on the ratio between the lemonade and the beer. On average, the drink contains about 43 calories per 100 ml.

1. So you drink almost 110 calories per glass of 250 ml. That's just as much as in a normal beer! And that while Radler contains a lot less alcohol, which provides 7 calories per gram. How come there is hardly any difference in terms of calories?

2. You drink almost 110 calories per glass of 250 ml. That's just as much as in a normal beer! And that while Radler contains a lot less alcohol, which provides 7 calories per gram. How come there is hardly any difference in terms of calories?

How many sugars in Radler?

1. The answer is very simple: Radler may contain less alcohol, but a whole lot more sugar. The â € ˜ lemon water â € ™ that is sometimes talked about is just ordinary lemonade â € “a simple sugar bomb, that is. In 100 ml we find an average of almost 6 grams of sugar.

1. For comparison: in a normal beer that is less than half a gram. It will be clear that this quickly nullifies the benefit of the lower alcoholic value. You get about 15 grams of sugar per bottle of Radler. With 4 calories per gram you will understand why on balance there is no reduction in calories!

2. For comparison: in a normal beer that is less than half a gram. It will be clear that this quickly negates the benefit of the lower alcoholic value. You get about 15 grams of sugar per bottle of Radler. With 4 calories per gram you will understand why on balance there is no reduction in calories!

And alcohol-free Radler?

1. Radler therefore contains less alcohol than regular beer, because it is diluted with lemon (or you can say: sugar water). However, that does not mean that it is completely alcohol-free: the percentage is still 2%. And even in that small amount, alcohol is still unhealthy.

1. Fortunately, most people know that all too well. The producers of the summer drink have therefore cleverly responded to this by also launching an alcohol-free Radler on the market. Is it less high in calories and less unhealthy?

1. Unfortunately that is again disappointing. To compensate for the lack of alcohol, even more sugar has been added to Radler 0%: almost 7 grams per 100 ml. It doesn't make much difference in terms of calories. An alcohol-free Radler contains 40 calories per 100 grams compared to 43 calories per 100 grams in the normal version.

Is Radler healthy?

1. The answer to our main question may be clear by now. No matter how slick and fruity the marketing around Radler looks, the drink is certainly not healthy. It contains so many sugars that it is no better than an average glass of lemonade or soft drink, but with alcohol. And that alcohol only makes the result even more unhealthy.

1. Even if you choose the 0% variant, you won't make it much better. It is even better to choose a 'normal' non-alcoholic beer. That contains a lot less sugar and calories.

Make your own Radler

1. Don't want to miss out on that fresh Radler flavor? Then you can also mix your own Radler yourself. Goes very fast, and still saves you a lot of sugar and calories. First, pour your glass half full with beer. You prefer to choose alcohol-free here. Then top up the rest with spa red and a few lemon slices. Add thumper and your summer drink is ready!

1. Of course this is less sweet than the official Radler, but in the end you will probably like it even better. And of course you can also vary with this by adding, for example, leaves of mint or other fruit!