Alcohol: Calories & Carbs

The calories and carbohydrate in alcoholic beverages can sabotage people's diet. Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, says the UCLA Student Nutrition Action Committee, as opposed to carbohydrates and proteins with 4 calories per gram. Making it a calorie dense food. To limit calories and carbohydrate intake from alcohol, the University of Rochester suggests alternating an alcoholic drink with water or using low calorie mixers with wine and liquor.

Wine

Moderate wine consumption, about 1 serving a day, has been linked to cardiovascular health according to a paper published in "Annual Review Nutrition" in 2003 by J. Bruce German. This is particularly true with red wine. A glass of wine contains about 3.5-oz. A glass of red wine has 74 calories and 2 g of carbohydrate, while a glass of white wine has 70 calories and 1 g of carbohydrate, according to eLook.org website. Rose has about the same amount of calories and carbohydrate has white wine, with 73 calories and 1 g of carbohydrate per glass. Dessert wine is higher, with 156 calories and 12 g of carbohydrate in a glass.

Beer

The "beer belly" is not a result of drinking too much beer, according to the University of Rochester. But beer does decrease the amount of fat burned as fuel. A serving of beer is 12-oz. Amstel light has 95 calories and 5 g of carbohydrates while Bud Light has 95 calories and 6.6 g of carbohydrates, according to Reelbeer website. Regular Budweiser has 143 calories and 10.6 g of carbohydrate. Miller High Life has 156 calories and 11 g of carbohydrates and Miller Genuine Draft has 143 calories and 13 g of carbohydrate. The dark beer, Guinness Draught, has 125 calories and 10 g of carbohydrate in a 12-oz glass.

Hard Liquor

Distilled liquors do not contain carbohydrate, says the State University of New York Potsdam. A serving of liquor is called a jigger and is 1.5 oz. A jigger of 94 proof rum, gin, vodka or whiskey has 115 calories. A 90 proof jigger of these same liquors have 110 calories, says eLook website.

Mixed Drinks

Mixed drinks are usually higher in calorie and carbohydrate than beer or wine because of the added mixer. A 3-oz. apple martini has 235 calories and 11.6 g of carbohydrate, says Calorie King. A margarita seems to be a better choice for the calorie conscious with 153 calories and 7 g of carbohydrate in a 3.3 oz cocktail glass. For people who enjoy frozen cocktails, a 4.4-oz. pina colada 245 calories and 32 g of carbohydrate.

Alcohol Metabolism

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver into a fuel called acetate, says the University of Rochester. Acetate is used in place of fat as an energy source. This causes the body to increase the amount of fat stored in the body. Alcohol also causes low blood sugar by preventing the storage form of sugar, found in the liver, from breaking down. This drop in blood sugar can lead to hunger.