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Field Ethos
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By Caleb McClain
For the entirety of human existence up until 50 years ago, the focus has been on how to ensure there are enough calories to maintain survival. While many across even our own country face food insecurity, the vast number of westerners now find ourselves on the other end of the spectrum. For the longest time, it was New Year’s resolutions, Weight Watchers, and gym memberships, but the recent approval of Ozempic for weight loss has even made that charade wholly unnecessary. Still, many of us do not want to resort to drugs with unknown long-term effects to shave those last stubborn extra pounds. What if I told you that there was an ancient secret guarded carefully by German monks that ensured results, requiring only the consumption of your favorite intoxicating beverage?
The Order of Minims was officially founded on November 30, 1470, in southern Italy by Francis of Paola and his followers. They were a stoic order, taking the usual vows of poverty and chastity, but adding a belief they called vita quadragesimalis, or that the rules of Lenten were their way of life. That meant no meat, dairy, or eggs in perpetuity; basically, they were the first vegans. Somehow, the concept of never having a prime rib again spread, and the order soon had communities throughout Europe.
In Munich, they were called the Paulaner monks. During Lent, they would take their extremest ways even further and consume no solid food for for the 40+ day period. At some point, they started experimenting with brewing, eventually perfecting a recipe of nutritious, carbohydrate-rich doppelbock beer they called “Salvator” to consume during their Lenten penance. They shared the excess with the community, and (this might shock everyone) free beer was popular. In fact, the Salvator was so popular that by 1634 there were public complaints against them from other breweries that claimed they were destroying the competition. Still, the Paulaner monks kept brewing and drinking their way through Lent.
I know what you’re thinking at this point: “But drinking only beer for 40 days straight? Surely that’s not healthy.” That is precisely the sentiment held by many who have heard tales of Paulaner. Beer seems to get a certain reputation with weight gain that can best be summarized by the artist Roger Craeger who concisely stated, “beer just makes me fat.” Honestly, it’s a fair claim, and the beer belly is a real thing—ask me how I know. In 2011, journalist J. Wilson set out to recreate the Paulaner beer fast in 2011, certain to learn the truth of the matter. To his surprise, he lost 25 pounds over 46 days and gained a deeper spiritual insight.
If you think about it, it’s not the craziest thing. The average pint of Paulaner Salvator contains less than 300 calories, meaning you could consume over nine beers in a day and still be under the recommended caloric limit. While I’m not a doctor, and I certainly can’t qualify this as qualified weight loss advice, I can confidently say that if you drink beer, you can indeed lose weight. In fact, I think I might just crack a cold one and start my weight loss journey right now.
The post Drink Beer, Lose Weight appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
For the entirety of human existence up until 50 years ago, the focus has been on how to ensure there are enough calories to maintain survival. While many across even our own country face food insecurity, the vast number of westerners now find ourselves on the other end of the spectrum. For the longest time, it was New Year’s resolutions, Weight Watchers, and gym memberships, but the recent approval of Ozempic for weight loss has even made that charade wholly unnecessary. Still, many of us do not want to resort to drugs with unknown long-term effects to shave those last stubborn extra pounds. What if I told you that there was an ancient secret guarded carefully by German monks that ensured results, requiring only the consumption of your favorite intoxicating beverage?
The Order of Minims was officially founded on November 30, 1470, in southern Italy by Francis of Paola and his followers. They were a stoic order, taking the usual vows of poverty and chastity, but adding a belief they called vita quadragesimalis, or that the rules of Lenten were their way of life. That meant no meat, dairy, or eggs in perpetuity; basically, they were the first vegans. Somehow, the concept of never having a prime rib again spread, and the order soon had communities throughout Europe.
The Paulaner Beer Monks
In Munich, they were called the Paulaner monks. During Lent, they would take their extremest ways even further and consume no solid food for for the 40+ day period. At some point, they started experimenting with brewing, eventually perfecting a recipe of nutritious, carbohydrate-rich doppelbock beer they called “Salvator” to consume during their Lenten penance. They shared the excess with the community, and (this might shock everyone) free beer was popular. In fact, the Salvator was so popular that by 1634 there were public complaints against them from other breweries that claimed they were destroying the competition. Still, the Paulaner monks kept brewing and drinking their way through Lent.
I know what you’re thinking at this point: “But drinking only beer for 40 days straight? Surely that’s not healthy.” That is precisely the sentiment held by many who have heard tales of Paulaner. Beer seems to get a certain reputation with weight gain that can best be summarized by the artist Roger Craeger who concisely stated, “beer just makes me fat.” Honestly, it’s a fair claim, and the beer belly is a real thing—ask me how I know. In 2011, journalist J. Wilson set out to recreate the Paulaner beer fast in 2011, certain to learn the truth of the matter. To his surprise, he lost 25 pounds over 46 days and gained a deeper spiritual insight.
If you think about it, it’s not the craziest thing. The average pint of Paulaner Salvator contains less than 300 calories, meaning you could consume over nine beers in a day and still be under the recommended caloric limit. While I’m not a doctor, and I certainly can’t qualify this as qualified weight loss advice, I can confidently say that if you drink beer, you can indeed lose weight. In fact, I think I might just crack a cold one and start my weight loss journey right now.
The post Drink Beer, Lose Weight appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
