Wine & Your Weight

After a busy day, many of us feel compelled to enjoy a glass or two of wine to help us relax or unwind. And, as some studies show, while that glass of red is helping you to loosen up, it is also helping to lower your risk for heart disease. Sounds great, right? But before you justify that “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere,” you need to know what effect alcohol really has on your waistline.

IT STOPS YOUR BODY FROM BURNING FAT

Alcohol is not a carb, a fat, or a protein,…it is a toxin. As such, your body prioritizes it to be broken down (in the liver) which will slow your metabolism as your body works to get the poison, or alcohol, out of your system. Having just one drink can stop all the fat burning your body would normally be doing for days!

IT IS HIGH IN CALORIES

At seven calories per gram, alcohol supplies almost twice as many calories as protein and carbohydrates. In fact, alcohol has only two fewer calories than fat, which has nine per gram. It must also be remembered that the calories in alcohol lack the nutrients beneficial for a healthy metabolism and will therefore hasten fat storage.

An example of how many calories can be easily consumed can be seen with a small glass of wine: a 5-ounce glass of wine, no matter red, white, or sparkling, will typically contain 125 calories, 91 of which come from the alcohol itself (13 grams), with the remaining five grams coming from carbohydrates. Multiply that by two or three glasses, and now you’re up to almost 400 calories. And it’s easy to pour more than 5-ounces depending on the size of your glass - as you can see from the graphic below.

IT AFFECTS YOUR JUDGEMENT…ESPECIALLY WITH FOOD

“No one has ever drunkenly craved a salad…” And according to Dr. Edward Miller from Wine & Health, there's a reason: “A study conducted by Purdue University found that moderate consumption of alcohol enhances the taste of salt and fat, which is why bacon and scrambled eggs the next morning are so satisfying.”

In addition, alcohol also lowers inhibitions, which can lead to poor decision-making in the heat of the moment — especially when it comes to food choices. Even the most die-hard diet fan will have a hard time fighting the urge to dig in when intoxicated, especially because alcohol increases your appetite and your craving of high-sugar, high-fat, energy dense foods.

So how can you fight back if you’re concerned about your weight but don’t want to abstain completely? Think of alcohol as a treat; choose dessert or alcohol for the night, not both. Have one glass of wine, not two. Pour a half glass, not a full one. In addition, you can reduce the number of calories in an alcoholic beverage by eliminating sodas and creams in cocktails. And if you are a beer/cider drinker, choose one with a low calorie and low carb count.

Mindfulness is the key to limiting your alcohol consumption so you can limit the expansion of your waistline! If you have any questions about your alcohol and weight gain or loss, click on the button below to book a complimentary assessment with Success Studio’s Registered Dietitian, R.D. Helen Ballew. Cheers!