If you are on a diet for weight loss, restricting your caloric intake is important and you need to reduce your daily caloric intake by 500 calories, to lose 1 lb. a week. Despite popular belief, the American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine says that there is no clear link between moderate alcohol consumption and weight gain, however consuming more than one or two alcoholic beverages a day is associated with weight gain. When it comes to drinking and weight loss, your total caloric intake is what matters the most and if you are on a diet and drinking daily, you will need to compensate by consuming less calories in your food.
Classic Martinis
Most mixed cocktails and frozen drinks are high in added sugars and extremely calorie dense. One margarita alone can contain up to 750 calories and an amaretto sour contains about 420 calories A classic martini made with vodka or gin, vermouth and olive juice on the other hand, is a relatively low-calorie beverage; containing about 120 calories per 2-oz. serving.
Red And White Wine
Red and white wine are also relatively low in calories, containing about 100 calories per 5-oz. serving. They are also rich in antioxidants, and a moderate consumption has been correlated with a reduced heart disease risk. Furthermore, American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine says that women, who drink a moderate amount of red wine on a regular basis, have been found to experience less long-term weight gain then their non-drinking counterparts. You can sip on these wines straight, or make a wine spritzer by adding ice and soda water to it. Stay away from dessert and dry wines however, because they contain between 200 and 350 calories per serving.
Light Beer
Beer has a bad reputation for being high in calories and contributing to weight gain. Dark beer is more calorie dense than regular and light beers and a 12-oz. serving of dark beer contains about 180 calories. Most light beers contain between 80 and 110 calories per 12-oz. serving however, making them comparable in calories to wine. The nutritional benefits of beer are not as well known as those of wine, but the American Journal of the Medical Sciences says that beer contains the same amount of antioxidants as wine does. It also contains more protein and B vitamins than wine, making it a healthy choice, when consumed in moderation.
Distilled Spirits And Calorie-free Mixer
Distilled spirits such as scotch, vodka, bourbon, gin, rum and rye contain about 100 calories per 1.5-oz. serving. Unlike wine and beer they are not good sources of antioxidants, however the "American Journal of the Medical Sciences" says that a moderate consumption of any alcoholic beverage is associated with lower cardiovascular risk and reduced weight gain in women. Soda water is free of calories and mixing vodka or gin with soda, and the juice of a lemon or lime will give you a 100-calorie cocktail to sip on. Alternatively, you can mix the above spirits with ice and your choice of a calorie-free diet soft drink.
References
- "The Washington Post": Alcohol Counts
- "Pathology and Nutrition"; The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition; 2008
- CBS News: Wine Drinking Women May Gain Less Weight; Jennifer Ashton; March 2010
- "The American Journal of the Medical Sciences: Nutritional and Health Benefis of Beer"; Denke MA; 2000
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