Fitting alcohol into your diet
By admin on Jul 23, 2010 in Health and Fitness
Can alcohol be part of a healthy diet? Unless
there’s an addiction issue, sure. But as with any other indulgence,
set common-sense limits. As always moderation
is key. Consider:
Studies suggest that certain compounds in red wine can help fight cancer
and heart disease. Others show that those who drink moderately –
the equivalent of one drink per day – have a lower risk of
heart disease than those who abstain from alcohol completely.
Gram per gram, there are more calories in alcohol than in either
protein or carbohydrate. Carbs and protein each contain 4 calories
per gram; fat contains 9 calories per gram; and alcohol –
7 calories per gram. And unfortunately, already overweight folks tend to gain weight more easily when they
drink alcohol. Those
who overindulge in alcohol usually store their extra
fat in the stomach (hence the accurate term, “beer belly”).
Studies suggest that excess weight in the mid-section is a risk
factor for heart attack (as opposed to excess weight in the safer hip
and thigh areas).
Calorie content of alcoholic beverages
Although alcohol itself doesn’t contain fat, it is packed with calories. And of course,
when you add in cream or milk, cola, juice, etc., the calories really
add up.
Beer
(serving size = 12 fluid ounces): Non-alcoholic beer actually has
the same calories as beer with alcohol: 146 calories per serving.
That’s over 800 calories for a six pack. Light beer has about 90 calories
per serving.
Wine (serving size = 5 fluid ounces): Dry wines contain fewer calories
than sweet wines: 106 calories per serving of dry wine versus 225
calories for the same amount of dessert wine (and that’s before
the first bite of cheesecake). Champagne contains the same amount
of calories as other dry wines, 106 calories.
Spirits (serving size = 1.5 fluid ounces, or a shot): The
calories in gin, rum, vodka or whiskey depend on the proof, which
is twice the percentage of alcohol (e.g., 100 proof contains 50
percent alcohol). The higher the proof, the higher the calories.
A shot of 80 proof contains 97 calories, while the same amount of
100 proof slaps you with 124 calories. Calorie content of other
types of liquors varies greatly. Cordial has only 20 calories per
shot, while Schnapps has 108. Creme de menthe is the big winner
at 186 calories per shot.
Mixed drinks: Beware of those enormous party-sized frozen daiquiris
and house special margaritas. At least, keep it down to one (better
yet, share) unless you want to imbibe more than the 500 calories
or so that can be found in one of these monsters. Here are common
serving sizes and calorie amounts for your favorite drinks:
Bloody Mary (5 fl
oz): 115
Bourbon & soda (4 fl oz): 104
Daiquiri (2 fl oz):
112
Eggnog (8 fl oz): 490
Gin & tonic (7.5 fl oz): 171
Martini
(2.5 fl oz): 156
Pi�a colada (4.5 fl oz): 262
Screwdriver
(7 fl oz): 175
Tequila sunrise (6.8 fl oz can): 232
Tom Collins
(7.5 fl oz): 122
Whiskey sour (3 fl oz): 135
Bottom Line
Used responsibly and in moderation, drinking now and then
can be heart-healthy and a relaxing and tasty way to enhance a good
meal. Alcoholic beverages are also high in calories and, if consumed
in large amounts, can contribute to obesity as well as other health
problems (such as liver disease). Alcohol itself is not a nutrient,
however, and should be regarded as a drug. As with any drug, taking
too much can have serious consequences. Alcohol should never be
consumed during pregnancy. And you are on ANY medication, prescription
or over the counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist about
its interaction with alcohol.
Credits to:Nutrition Data: Dieting & Weight Loss Blog