Sipping a glass of wine before bed may help you relax and feel better prepared for a productive night of sleep. There's also evidence that the antioxidants contained in red wine may improve your health. However, there's no proof that drinking red wine can help you lose weight -- but drinking it responsibly may aid healthy weight maintenance.
Calories
Weight loss is a matter of how many calories you take in versus how many calories you burn. The National Institutes of Health notes that the only safe and proven way to slim down is to consistently burn more calories than you eat, ideally through a combination of regular physical activity and a low-calorie diet. Since red wine is not a calorie-free beverage, it's important to balance it with the rest of your diet and make sure you're consuming fewer net calories than you normally do in order to gradually get smaller.
Nutrition Facts
The USDA reports that one 5 oz. glass of red table wine has approximately 125 calories, 4 g carbohydrates, 1 g sugar and no fat, protein or fiber. Red wine also contains beneficial polyphenols, types of antioxidants, that may encourage heart health. According to MayoClinic.com, the polyphenols found in red wine may help guard against diabetes and obesity. However, there is no evidence that the same polyphenols help weight loss.
Weight Loss
The State University of New York reports that moderate intake of alcoholic beverages is often associated with weight loss in women, although that information is inconclusive and does not relate specifically to red wine or drinking at a specific time of day. If wine can help stimulate weight loss, it's most likely to do so prior to meals or with meals, since it may contribute to a full feeling that results in a lower net calorie consumption. Having wine right before bed when you've already eaten all your daily calories, however, is not likely to help you lose weight.
Considerations
Drinking red wine at bedtime is not a proven weight loss strategy and is even likely to result in weight gain over time if you keep the rest of your diet constant and don't increase your physical activity. Before you adopt any new weight loss plan, speak with your doctor, who can help you develop a personalized diet and fitness routine to slim down.
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