Why GINGER BEER is worse for you than a can of co*ke (2024)

  • A study has foundthe average glass of ginger beer contains 38.5g sugar
  • The amount is more than any other fizzy drink - including Coca-Cola
  • Supermarket own-brands contain far less sugar than branded equivalents

By Imogen Blake For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

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72 View comments

Ginger beer has undergone a major rebrand in the last few years as companies target the middle classes with artisan bottles that boast traditional recipes and botanical ingredients.

But despite its sophisticated image, a shocking new study published today has revealed that the fiery beverage contains more sugar than any other fizzy drink - even beating Coca-Cola.

The average glass of ginger beer contains a whopping 38.5g of sugar - the equivalent of just over eight teaspoons - according to the research by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open.

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A new study has revealed that the average glass of ginger beercontains 38.5g, which is the equivalent of just over eight teaspoons and more sugar than any other fizzy drink - even beating Coca-Cola to the top spot

A glass of co*ke, on the other hand, contains 35g - that's about seven teaspoons.

But ginger beer's cousin, ginger ale, was found to be the fizzy drink with the lowest amount of sugar on average. A glass contains around 22.9g, according to the findings - but that's still 4.9 teaspoons.

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The findings come after Tesco announced it has reduced the amount of sugar in its own-brand soft drinks, including its cola and juice drinks.

Its cola now contains 4.8g of sugar per 100ml, compared to 9.7g previously.

The BMJ's study revealed that supermarket own-brands contained far less sugar than their branded equivalents, even before any sugar reductions.

The average glass of Coca-Colacontains 35g of sugar - that's about seven teaspoons - while73 per cent of soft drinks exceed the daily recommended allowance for children of 24g

Supermarket cola drinks on average contain 27.9g of sugar per glass, while branded products contained 31.6g, according to the research.

But taking together both branded products and own-brand cola drinks, a glass of cola on average contained 35g of sugar - the same amount as in Coca-Cola.

More than half of all soft drinks exceed the adult's daily recommendation for sugar intake of 30g.

And 73 per cent exceed the daily recommended allowance for children of 24g.

Action on Sugar, who commissioned the study, used the findings to call on companies to follow Tesco's lead and reduce sugar content in their fizzy and soft drinks to below 5g per 100ml.

Tesco's fizzy and soft drinks (pictured) have been reduced in sugar, while morethan half of all soft drinks were found to exceed the adult's daily recommendation for sugar intake of 30g

HOW MUCH SUGAR IS IN YOUR FAVOURITE FIZZY DRINK?
Drink Average sugar
content (g) per 330ml
Equivalent amount of sugar
in teaspoons
Ginger beer 38.58.2
Coca Cola357.5
Other branded colas31.66.7
Supermarket own-brand cola27.96
Ginger ale22.95

A soft drinks levy is being proposed for companies who continue to sell drinks high in sugar but Action on Sugar urges them to act sooner.

Kawther Hashem, co-author of the BMJ Open study and researcher for Action on Sugar at Queen Mary University of London, said: 'It's not possible to state that carbonated sugar-sweetened drinks can be consumed as part of a "healthy, balanced diet," even though drinks companies claim it can be.

'Cola flavour is the most popular flavour in the UK, owing to the huge volume consumed; even small reductions would have a significant impact on free sugars and calorie intake of the population.

'We hope the soft drinks industry levy will make drinks manufacturers reduce the levels of sugar in their products immediately and help reduce our risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental caries.'

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Why GINGER BEER is worse for you than a can of co*ke (5)

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Why GINGER BEER is worse for you than a can of co*ke (2024)

FAQs

Is ginger beer worse than co*ke? ›

The average glass of ginger beer contains a whopping 38.5g of sugar - the equivalent of just over eight teaspoons - according to the research by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open. A glass of co*ke, on the other hand, contains 35g - that's about seven teaspoons.

Is ginger beer bad for you? ›

Consider Ginger Beer a Part of a Healthy Balanced Diet

While ginger beer does still contain sugars, it's safe to say that the health benefits of ginger make a strong argument for including it in a balanced diet.

Which is healthier, co*ke or ginger ale? ›

In the case of artificially flavored ginger ale, the beverage has no more health benefits than any other soda, which, of course, are zero. But in the case of ginger ale flavored by real ginger root, the beverage has marginally more health benefits than other soft drinks.

What is more harmful co*ke or beer? ›

Alcohol and soft drinks both have the potential to wreak havoc on your health. But, between the devil and the deep sea, alcohol is a little less dangerous than soft drinks simply because it has a handful of health benefits. But, only if it is consumed in moderation.

Is ginger ale bad for your liver? ›

Some ginger ales are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which your body metabolizes differently than cane sugar. HFCS is strongly associated with fat production in the liver, altered blood fat levels, and harmful belly fat ( 30 , 31, 32 , 33 ).

Is ginger beer good for your heart? ›

Research suggests that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ginger may help prevent heart attacks, and reduce the amount of cholesterol that your heart needs to produce.

Is ginger beer bad for arthritis? ›

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Have you ever suffered from arthritis, osteoarthritis, gastritis, esophagitis, hepatitis, and any other type of body inflammation? Ginger beer can help! Body inflammation happens when the body's white blood cells are set into motion to fight or protect our body against foreign substances.

Which ginger beer has real ginger? ›

Reed's Original Ginger Beer

This world-famous, Jamaican-inspired recipe is crafted with REAL fresh ginger root, natural fruit juices, honey and spices. Perfect straight-up or mixed.

Is ginger bad for fatty liver? ›

Previous studies have shown that a diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents can be highly effective in treating liver problems, especially non-fatal fatty liver disease. Alcohol. Fortunately, ginger is a food that has all the elements needed to prevent and treat liver problems.

What is the healthiest soda to drink? ›

In This Article
  • Best-Tasting Healthy Soda: Olipop Lemon Lime.
  • Best Prebiotic Healthy Soda: Poppi Classic Cola.
  • Most Unique Healthy Soda: United Sodas Toasted Coconut.
  • Best Healthy Soda Substitute for Alcohol: Kin Euphorics Energizing Flow.
  • Best Probiotic Healthy Soda: Culture Pop Ginger Lemon & Turmeric.
Mar 20, 2024

Does Canada Dry use real ginger? ›

Canada Dry Ginger Ale has always been made using real ginger extract to provide its ginger flavour,” she said.

Which is healthier ginger beer or ginger ale? ›

Sweatman says that ginger ales tend to be more processed, noting that the syrup-boiling process can deteriorate the nutrients in fresh ginger. In a hurry? Choose ginger beer, which is more likely to use fresh ginger in the brewing process and is, thus, better suited to relieve nausea or an upset stomach.

Is soda worse for your liver than beer? ›

Some studies show that sugar can be as damaging to the liver as alcohol, even if you're not overweight. It's one more reason to limit foods with added sugars, such as soda, pastries, and candy.

How many cans of co*ke a day is bad? ›

Even one or two colas a day could increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 20%. Sugar intake is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and excess fat, all of which increase the risk of heart disease. Colas and other sugary drinks have been linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Is co*ke worse than cigarette? ›

Depends on the amount. If Bob drinks 2 liters of co*ke everyday, and Alice has a cigarette once a year, then Bob is worse off by far. But if both people have an equal number of “servings” at an equal frequency, then smoking is more harmful.

Does ginger beer count as soda? ›

Modern ginger beer is not fermented, but is instead carbonated, making it a soft drink. This ginger beer typically contains less than . 5 percent alcohol, and is not classified as an alcoholic beverage. How is it made?

Is there a lot of sugar in ginger beer? ›

Ginger ale is the lighter option, with 125.1 calories and 32.3 grams of sugar per can (12 fl oz). Ginger beer is a bit heavier but nevertheless very close to ginger ale, with 140 calories and 35 grams of sugar per can or bottle (12 fl oz).

Is co*ke the unhealthiest drink? ›

A can of regular cola contains seven teaspoons of sugar (35g), so if you drink this regularly, it's bad news for your waistline and your teeth. Choose a sugar-free cola instead, or even better, switch to water or unsweetened tea or coffee.

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