Every alcoholic beverage contains calories which can lead to weight gain and most likely you’re compounding the chances by combining an alcoholic beverage with a meal or snack. This increases your calorie intake tremendously. Did you know all it takes is 3500 calories to gain 1 pound? Therefore, it is important to limit the amount of calories taken in per meal, especially if you choose to add an alcoholic beverage. To reduce this weight gaining effect, choose the least fattening alcoholic beverages and focus on eating healthier foods or fewer snacks to control the amount of calories being taken in. Even if you choose alcoholic beverages with the lowest amount of calories per serving, remember to drink in moderation, because excess alcohol slows the body’s metabolism and stresses the liver.
The Straight Liquors
A shot of straight liquor usually contains 1.6 oz of liquid and holds over 100 calories. This applies to the standard 80 proof liquors such as vodka, tequila, rum, gin and whiskey. Flavored liquors such as Kahlua, Malibu Rum or Baileys, contain significantly more, ranging from 200 to 300 calories. On the bright side, there are a few flavored liquors like Fou-Dre, which contains fewer calories and is a less fattening flavored liquor option. Mixing straight liquor with soda or juice will skyrocket the calories between 150 to 200 more calories. Instead, try chilled tequila in a snifter, Fou-Dre on the rocks or a small martini to keep the calories down and simultaneously enjoy a drink at full strength.
The White & Red Wines
Wine has the least amount of calories when compare to all other alcoholic beverages. A 4 oz glass of wine will range from 80 to 100 calories depending on the type of wine. The least fattening wine is the dry white wine, followed by dry red wine. The sweet white and red wines both have the larger amount of calories. If you want to enjoy a glass of wine and stay in a low calorie range of about 65 to 90 calories, choose a dry white like dry chardonnay or a dry red like merlot or sauvignon cabernet. To drink one serving of wine, pour only 4 oz. This is less than half of a standard wine goblet.
Light Beer
One 12 oz bottle of light beer contains 100 to 110 calories. Out of all alcoholic beverages, beer contains the lowest calories-per-ounce ratio. Lab studies have found constituents in beer that lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. Of course this doesn't mean if one beer is good, four or five must be better. Keep in mind the calorie count for a bottle of beer is 100 to 110.
Always drink in moderation and try to stay in the window of no more than three drinks per week. Here is a good formula to keep in mind 3500 calories = 1 pound and it takes 40 minutes at a moderate – high effort on the elliptical to burn 500 calories (five glasses of wine equals 500 calories). You can see here it takes way less effort to pack on the calories and much more effort to burn calories. So, count your calories and keep your alcoholic drinks as skinny as possible.
Comments