Those guys hanging out at the pub with their buddies till morning do not avoid the company of their wives, they are just rehydrating. The Spanish got it right: a new research made at the Granada University points that after a game of football or rugby, a beer is more efficient in rehydrating the body than water, even if you'll have a big belly.

Alcohol may be linked to cancer and other diseases but the carbohydrates, salts and bubbles that are found in beer could make fluids' absorption much easier. Not to mention beer is a package of vitamins and minerals coming from barley, hops and yeast.

The trial was made on 25 students over several months. The subjects had to run on a treadmill at 40o C until running out of resources. At that moment, volunteers' hydration levels, concentration ability and motor skills were assessed. Half received two half pints of Spanish lager, the others water. Both groups could drink water at will.

"The rehydration effect in the students who were given beer was "slightly better" than among those given only water." said lead researcher Professor Manuel Garzon, of Granada's medical faculty.

"The carbon dioxide in beer helps quench the thirst more quickly, while beer's carbohydrates replace calories lost during physical exertion."

Still, the team recommends for sports practicing people just 500ml of beer daily in the case of men or 250ml for women, taking into consideration the fact that a person sweats on average a liter of water during each hour of training. Incomplete rehydratation following exercising is linked to feeling tired and having headaches.

"Moderate levels of beer have beneficial health effects. Past studies have shown that sensible drinking of one or two units a day can reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia, diabetes and Parkinson's disease," said a spokesman for the Campaign for Real Ale.

"People think of alcohol as being a diuretic, but if you are already hydrated, a small amount of beer could be a way of getting the fluid in. The best way of rehydrating after exercise was with a sports drink containing sugars, water and salt," said Dr James Betts, an expert in post-exercise rehydration at Bath University.