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The Best and Worst Beers for Weight Loss

You can drink a cold one on a diet—as long as it's the right can.
Two pints best worst beers america.jpg




First, the worst beers.


Bud Light Straw-Ber-Ita

ritas straw-ber-ita sparkling margarita


What do get when you mix a strawberry margarita with a Bud Light Lime? A sugar-packed party in a cup that will cost you nearly 200 calories for a tiny 8-ounce serving. If you're planning to have more than one drink (which, let" be honest, you likely are), don't make this one of them.


Michelob Honey Lager

michelob honey lager




Guinness Extra Stout

guinness extra stout beer


This beer is simply full of extra calories. So opt for Guinness Draught instead. You'll no doubt be pleasantly surprised where it falls on this list. (Hint: Keep scrolling.)


Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

sierra nevada pale ale can


If this beer flows down your throat like water, save it for a special occasion when it's okay to indulge. (Don't even think about driving.) And of course, if you do drink more than you should, at least make sure you're working those extra calories off with regular exercise.


Samuel Adams Boston Lager

sam adams boston lager


If you love Sam but are worried about your waistline, you're better off drinking this brand's light variety.


Blue Moon Belgian White

isolated blue moon bottle most popular beer illinois


This brew's calorie-count isn't outrageous, but it's not going to help you lose your beer belly.


Bass Ale

bass ale beer


This one's borderline. Drink two and you're consuming more calories than a jelly-filled donut from Dunkin' Donuts!


Stella Artois


While this is a popular beer, the calorie count is rather high, especially since there's a good chance you're going to have a few of these.


Red Stripe Jamaican Lager

red stripe beer


Deceiving little guy, isn't it? Just because it comes in a shorter bottle doesn't mean it has fewer calories.



Dos Equis

dos equis lager bottle


Dos means two. Let that be your reminder of just how much you're consuming when you're sipping on one of these.

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Corona Extra

corona extra


Extra what? Extra flavor? Extra smooth? Or is it extra calories? Don't be fooled by its "light" taste.



hoegaarden beer


A good beer with dinner. But remember: Three good beers with dinner and you've downed yourself well, another dinner.



coors banquet


Have just one, maybe two. After all, there's no way around it: Once you start to pound this beer, that's exactly what you'll end up with: more pounds.



budweiser bottle


No doubt about it, this domestic is a classic, but it's a bit higher in calories than we'd like to see.


Modelo Especial

modelo beer bottle most popular beer ohio
Courtesy of Modelo USA


This pale lager isn't the worst thing in the cooler, but there are a number of better beers to choose from.



heineken beer




Miller High Life

miller high life bottle


The High Life isn't too bad for you—so long as you know when to call it quits—which, in this case, should be after one brewski.


Yuengling Lager

yuengling lager beer bottle most popular beer indiana
Courtesy of Yuengling


This beer is a favorite in Eastern Pennsylvania, where it's brewed.

And now, the best beers.


Bud Light Platinum

bud light platinum




Rolling Rock Premium

rolling rock beer


Tastes like summer. Stick to this and you won't grow out of your swimsuit.


Natural Ice

natural ice beer


Although it's not super low-cal, downing a can or two of this brew won't totally derail your weight loss efforts.


Guinness Draught

dark colored guinness in glass closeup




Sam Adams Light

sam adams light


Think of it as a good beer's thinner brother.



busch beer can


If you're looking for an American-style lager that won't break the calorie bank, cracking open a can of Busch isn't a bad bet.


Bud Light

bud light beer


Ah. Refreshing, isn't it? Keep it away from the beer bong and you'll be just fine. And in case you were wondering, both men and women experience "beer goggles."


Coors Light

coors light beer


It falls just above the 100-calorie mark, making it competitive with the top light beers. Don't obsess over the details at this point: Just choose the one you like best.


Keystone Light

keystone light beer


Short on cash? Keystone light is one of the cheapest beers out there—and, lucky for you, it's also one of the lowest-calorie brews on the market.


Budweiser Select

budweiser select


Select this beer if you're a Bud drinker but want a brew that's lighter in calories than the original.


Yuengling Lager Light

yuengling light lager bottle




Miller Lite

miller lite bottle


Every bar has Miller Lite on tap for a reason. When in doubt, here's your order.


Amstel Light

amstel light beer in glass


No frills here. Just a good beer that won't fill you out.


Busch Light

busch light beer




Natural Light

natural light cans


Popping open a Natty Light may make you feel like you're back in college, but don't let that steer you away. Sipping the low-cal brew in lieu of your heavier go-tos may help you fit into your frat-days jeans again, too.


Michelob Ultra

Michelob ultra


You've seen the commercials, so you probably always wondered, "is Michelob Ultra good?" In terms of nutrition, the answer is, "yes!" Michelob Ultra doesn't claim our top spot because the brand has associated itself with running, cycling and living an active healthy lifestyle. It's our #1 best beer to drink on a diet because it does all that and is lower in carbs than its closest competitor—and tastes great, too. It's the #1 Best Light Beer in America.

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