Natural Light, affectionately nicknamed “Natty Light”, is one of the most popular domestic lagers in the United States. This staple of college parties evokes a feeling of nostalgia and relaxation in Americans across the country. However, this beer’s popularity, particularly in the Southern states, has many wondering how many calories and carbs are in their can of shore champagne. If you’re asking that question, you’ve come to the right place.
The standard 12 fl. oz (355 ml) bottle of Natural Light has 95 calories, with 3.2 grams of carbs. This is a little on the low side, although definitely within the typical range for light beers in the American lager market.
Of course, that’s not the whole story. If you want to know where the calories in Natty Light come from, how it fits into keto and low-carb diets, and the more precise nutrition information about this beer, this article will teach you all you need to know. Ready to become a Natural Light expert? Read on!
How Many Calories In Natural Light (4.2% ABV)? Explained
Natural Light typically comes in a 12oz can. This has been the standard container for Natty Light for decades now, and it won’t be changing any time soon. This white-and-gold can is 95 calories, with 3.2 grams of carbs and 0.7 grams of protein.
The 95-calorie mark is a touch lower than the typical 100 calories for most other light beers. Other light domestic beers, like Busch Light, generally have around 100 calories. At 95, Natty Light is a little lower, but not enough to make a difference if you’re only having a few beers.
Natural Light’s listed ingredients are water, barley malt, cereal grains, yeast, and hops. These are very much the standard ingredients for beer and are similar, if not identical, to the ingredients for other mass-produced domestic lagers.
How Many Calories Compared To Other American Lagers?
The table below compares Natural Light’s calorie count to that of its main competitors. That includes other Anheuser-Busch light beers such as Bud and Busch Light, as well as other domestic competitors like Coors Light and Corona Light. Natural Light has long been an economy-brand beer (accounting partially for its popularity among college kids) and, as such, does not necessarily compete directly with Anheuser-Busch’s premium-branded Budweiser. However, we have included indirect competitors such as this for reference’s sake.
| Coors Light | 102 Calories |
| Miller Light | 100 Calories |
| Heineken Light | 99 Calories |
| Bud Light | 110 Calories |
| Corona Light | 99 Calories |
As you can see in the table above, Natty Light’s 95 calories are lower than any of its macrobrewed cousins. Corona Light’s ultra-light sibling, Corona Premier, has 90 calories, which is lower than Natty Light’s, but not by much.
Natural Light comes in about 5% lower calories than most other beers of the style, which isn’t enough to matter in a single sitting but could add up over time. It’s definitely lower than other similar beers and notably lower than any full-strength lager.
How Much Sugar Is In Natural Light?
You might be surprised to learn that, despite Natty Light’s faintly sweet flavor, the beer has next to no sugar listed in its nutrition information.
That’s because alcohol labeling regulations in the United States do not require manufacturers to list the sugar content of their alcoholic beverages. Therefore, we do not know precisely how much sugar is in a can of Natty Light.
Of course, much of the sugar in beer is consumed and converted into alcohol during the brewing process. Malted barley contains sugar, but only trace amounts could be present in the finished product. Any sugar left in the beer is a negligible amount.
Is There Fat In Natty Light?
Like most other beers, Natty Light lists 0 grams of fat in its nutrition information. That’s because few if any, fatty ingredients are used to make beer.
Is Natural Light Keto-Friendly/Low Carb?
The keto and low-carb diets have been increasing in popularity in recent years. Of course, American drinkers have also become increasingly health-conscious, which is hardly a recent phenomenon. Anheuser-Busch understood this when they launched Natural Light in 1977.
The low-carb diet usually restricts daily carbohydrate intake to 100-150 grams per day. With 3.2 grams of carbs in each 12oz can, you can probably afford to have one or two Natty Lights and still not be over your carb allowance. It’s best to consider that this will form roughly 3% of your carb allowance, leaving you plenty of room for other foods. Natty Light is also designed as a refreshing, light beer, best consumed on a hot day. It’s rare for people to feel like a big, carb-heavy meal in the summer heat, so perhaps that’s the perfect time to fit a Natty Light into your allowance.
The keto diet, on the other hand, is far more restrictive. Keto diets can allow as few as 20 grams of carbs per day or up to fifty. At the lower end, your 3.2g of carbs in Natty Light is over 10% of your daily intake. One is hardly likely to tip you over the daily allowance, but you’d need to be more vigilant with your Natty Light consumption if you’re sticking to a keto diet.
Is Natural Light A Healthier Beer?
The answer to this question lies in your own health goals and what exactly you’re comparing Natty Light to.
To compare Natural Light to other light beers, its slightly lower calorie count makes it healthier. Natural Light is also far lower in calories than any full-strength lager. At 95 calories, it’s much lower than any of Anheuser-Busch’s other offerings on the domestic market.
In fact, it comes in lower than other light beers, too, so Natty Light could be considered healthier by those standards.
95 calories is also far fewer than sugary sodas. Take Coca-cola, for example, which has 138 calories per 12oz bottle and is absolutely packed with sugar, with 33 grams in each bottle.
On the other hand, compared to a glass of water, or straight black coffee, with zero calories or carbs, Natty Light is far heftier. As always, look at your current goals and diet before deciding if this beer is a healthy choice for you.
How Many Calories In Natural Ice?
Natty Light’s ultra-strong ice beer cousin, Natural Ice, is far higher in alcohol than Natural Light. Its alcohol content is 5.9%, compared with Natural Light’s 4.2%. Ice beers are designed to be stronger than standard lagers, and because much of the calorific content of beer comes from its alcohol level, Natural Ice also has more calories than Natty Light. Natural Ice contains 135 calories, with 4.2 grams of carbs. It’s still relatively low in calories and carbs, even compared to full-strength beers.
