While drinking moderate amounts of red wine and other alcoholic beverages has been linked with potential health benefits, evidence is missing to suggest alcohol in any form --- including hard liquor like tequila or vodka --- aids weight loss. MayoClinic.com reports that alcohol actually hinders your weight and health by encouraging the buildup of visceral fat --- a deadly type of fat that elevates your chance for stroke. Understand the truth about alcohol and its effect on your health to protect your future.
Hard Alcohol & Calories
Hard liquor, or hard alcohol, typically applies to distilled beverages that contain a minimum of 35 percent alcohol, including vodka, brandy, rum, tequila and gin. While some online bloggers speculate that you'll lose weight by drinking hard alcohol --- since a shot of tequila contains fewer calories than a 12 oz. beer --- no evidence exists to support the claims. A single ounce of vodka, scotch or other hard liquor like whiskey typically contains between 64 and 80 calories. Consumption of three 1 oz. drinks in an evening may add as many as 320 calories to your daily intake. The amount increases if your drinks contain more than an ounce or feature mixers like orange juice, tonic or ginger ale.
Fat Friendly
Consumption of any alcoholic beverage elevates your chance for a buildup of visceral fat, or belly fat, according to MayoClinic.com. Visceral fat hides inside your abdominal area and increases your chances of cancer and heart disease. The dangerous buildup is caused by alcohol's interference with your body's ability to burn fat, which is key to successful weight loss. Although your liver normally metabolizes fat when alcohol isn't present, a person who drinks rum, whiskey or even beer triggers a process called fat sparing. The process forces your body to use the calories from alcohol instead of the calories from fat.
Recommended Moderation
Your safest approach to alcohol is to drink only in moderation, to escape the risks of excessive consumption --- including suicide, fetal alcohol syndrome, cirrhosis and heart failure. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans allows no more than two drinks for men daily and one for women. A drink of distilled hard alcohol is considered 1.5 fluid oz., while a drink of wine is 5 oz. One beer is considered 12 oz.
Proven Weight Loss
Avoid the unproven risks of drinking hard alcohol by following some effective --- and safe --- methods for weight loss. Stick with beverages like water, diet soda or unsweetened tea, as well as low-fat milk. Build your meals around vegetables, fruits and whole grains and ask your doctor about a safe exercise plan. The Department of Health and Human Services suggests 2.5 hours each week of moderate aerobic exercise, including swimming or dancing, as well as strength training with weights.
References
- Go Ask Alice!; Do Drinking and Weight Loss Mix?; Health Services at Columbia University; October 2002
- MayoClinic.com; Obesity; October 2010
- FamilyDoctor.org; Nutrition: Tips for Improving Your Health; December 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Belly Fat In Men: Why Weight Loss Matters; February 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Alcohol Use: If You Drink, Keep It Moderate; March 2011
- Alcopedia: Hard Liquor
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