Christmas Alcohol Guide

With the festive season approaching fast it is very difficult to avoid alcohol.  This time of year, full of parties, family dinners, corporate and social events knowing alcohol facts could help you to keep your weight and diet under control.

Should I give up alcohol?

You don’t have to completely give up alcohol. Most diet and weight loss programmes advise to keep your alcohol intake to a minimum or completely eliminate it from your diet.

This is because alcohol actually provides no nutritional value. It is neither carbohydrate, nor fat, nor protein. It does not provide any nutrients. If you are on a diet and are limiting the number of calories you consume, you want to choose calories with the most nutritional and filling value like protein or fibre.

One more negative point of alcohol consumption is that it lessens your willpower and makes it is very easy to lose your determination and slip into bad habits.

Drinking in moderation

However, research shows that people who drink in moderation are less likely than non-drinkers to be obese. Overindulging with drinking is linked to a greater risk of being overweight or obese.

So what is moderation?

For a woman, it’s no more than one “standard drink” a day or two for a man. One standard drink is either a 1 single shot of spirits, a small glass of wine or a 330 ml bottle or can of beer.

Most people don’t realise when they are exceeding moderate drinking limits. If you’re not sure if you’re overdoing it, track your intake for a week or two. 20-40% of people think they are light drinkers, only to find out that they’re well above what’s considered moderate after writing down their alcohol intake.

Mind the mixers

A single shot of Vodka or Rum is 96 calories. Add coke to it and you double the intake. Go for lime and soda or diet mixers to avoid excess sugar and calories.

On the plus side…
One theory for the beneficial effects is that the liver breaks down alcohol in a different way, which means that surplus energy turns mainly into heat, rather than fat. So, if you take in 120 calories from a small glass of red wine, most will be burnt off. But if they come from a slice of takeaway pizza, more will be turned into fat.

Alcohol Calories Guide

The following guide should help you to monitor your alcohol and calorie intake during the festive season. Plan your parties and make informed choices.

Calories in Alcohol – Wine

Calories in Alcohol – Gin

Calories in Alcohol – Vodka

Calories in Alcohol – Rum

Calories in Alcohol – Other Spirits

Calories in Alcohol – Beer

Calories in Alcohol – Cider