'A. Yes, Virginia, beer does count as a carbohydrate. The average 12-ounce can of brew contains about 13 grams of carbohydrate--about the same as 8 ounces of Gatorade. While that's not a record-setting amount, it is a carb and it counts. What most folks worry about is not whether beer contains carbs, but whether it hurts performance. Though you certainly shouldn't drink alcohol right before an event or pour the stuff into your CamelBak, one or two beers with your pasta the night before an event is not likely to hurt your performance, says sports medicine and nutrition expert Marcus Elliott, M.D....' More
