Bud Light

Nutrition: per serving 12 fl oz

Calories: 110

Fat:  0g (Saturated fat:  0g)

Sodium: mg

Carbs: 6.6g (Fiber: g , Sugar: g)

Protein:  .9g

Ingredients: Water, barely, rice, hops

Bud Light is made from only four ingredients and lacks preservatives or artificial flavors, yet it still isn’t considered good. “It incorporates rice and corn as fillers, lowering the overall nutrient content compared to a beer with 100 percent barley malt,” states Van Eeden. “Though Bud Light is low in calories, it essentially contains no fiber or vitamins and is mainly composed of empty carbohydrates and alcohol.”

Coors Light

Nutrition: per serving 12 oz

Calories: 102

Fat:  0g (Saturated fat:  g)

Sodium: mg

Carbs: 5g (Fiber: g , Sugar: g)

Protein: <1 g

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hop extract, larger yeast, corn syrup (not High-Fructose Corn Syrup)

Van Eeden points out that Coors Light is of low quality because “it uses inexpensive ingredients and is then filtered to remove most of the natural flavor.” She notes, “It’s very light and easy to drink but offers little to no nutritional value.”

Miller Lite

Nutrition: per serving 12 oz

Calories: 96

Fat:  0g (Saturated fat:  g)

Sodium: mg

Carbs: 3.2g (Fiber: g , Sugar: g)

Protein:  <1g

Ingredients: Water, barely malt, yeast, corn syrup (not High-Fructose Corn Syrup), hops, hop extract

According to Van Eeden, Miller Lite is another low-quality beer, being “light due to less malt and the use of more processed grains.” She mentions, “It’s affordable but lacks real nutrients, providing only alcohol and simple carbohydrates.”

Michelob Ultra

Nutrition: per serving 12 oz

Calories: 95

Fat:  0g (Saturated fat:  g)

Sodium: mg

Carbs: 2.6g (Fiber: g , Sugar: g)

Protein:  .6g

Ingredients: Water, rice, barley malt, hops6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Michelob Ultra boasts it’s a healthier option because it has fewer calories and doesn’t contain artificial flavors or colors, but Van Eeden isn’t buying the advertising. “It is marketed as a health choice but still utilizes a very simple combination of malt and grain,” she says. “It is very low in nutrition, that is, in calories.”

Busch Light

Ingredients: Water, barely, corn grist, hops

Busch Light advertises that “premium ingredients” are only used to brew the beer, but according to Van Eede, ” It utilizes the most inexpensive grains to render production cost-effective.” She says while Busch Light does have reduced calories, “there is little or no nutritional effect.”

Corona Light

Nutrition: per serving

Calories:

Fat:  g (Saturated fat:  g)

Sodium: mg

Carbs: g (Fiber: g , Sugar: g)

Protein:  g

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, non-malted cereals, hops

Corona Light uses the same ingredients as the other light beers on the light, but what makes the beer low quality is the brewing process. According to Van Eede, “Filtration and using adjunct grains to keep it light takes away natural flavors and nutrients.” She adds while the beer is light and refreshing, it’s “mere empty calories.”

Heather Newgen