Alcohol and Nutrition

Alcoholic drinks are something that most people enjoy from time to time. Scientific journals state that 1-2 drinks per night for someone who normally drinks can be healthy. It has even been proven to help stave off certain heart problems, including high cholesterol levels. Red wine contains certain antioxidants such as flavanoids that may add to the cholesterol lowering effects. These reports also state that there is no evidence to suggest that someone who does not drink should start drinking, even moderately!

Still, alcohol is a toxin. Therefore, your body produces certain enzymes to remove this toxin from your body. When your body cannot keep up with your intake, a hangover (or worse) follows. In addition, your liver and kidneys need water to produce these enzymes as well as transport these toxins out of the body. For this reason, alcohol acts as a diuretic and can lead to dehydration. This often leads to increased trips to the bathroom, as well as a headache the next day. This means it is generally better to drink alcohols that are higher in quality, which will generally have slightly less toxins.

In addition, alcohol inhibits your body’s ability to metabolize fat. This may explain why excess stomachs are referred to as beer bellies! Keep this in mind when trying to shed a few pounds.

With this in mind, I often get asked from time to time, “What should I drink when I go out?” As a general rule, beer and wine are the best alternatives. Most wines are roughly the same in nutritional value. They are fairly low in calories, and are less dehydrating than, say, a shot of Jack Daniels or a martini. The additional liquid allows your system to more easily process the alcohol. Mixed drinks tend to be mixed with sugary alternatives such as tonic, sour mix, etc… Substitute diet tonic and soda as your mixer. If possible, alternate each glass of alcohol with a glass of water or club soda. This will help dilute the alcohol in your system, giving your body a chance to digest. If possible, avoid frozen drinks. Most frozen drinks are mixed with sugar or corn syrup that can add up to 500 calories in some drinks!

The following is a list of the basic nutritional content of some common drink choices:

• Light beer- 90-110 calories, 3-6g of carbohydrates
• Beer- 140-180 calories, 10-20g of carbohydrates
• Wine- 80 calories, 0g of carbohydrates
• Bloody Mary- 120 calories, 5g of carbohydrates
• Gin and Tonic- 170 calories, 14g of carbohydrates
• Irish coffee- 220 calories, 8g of carbohydrates
• Long Island Iced Tea- 230 calories, 25 g of carbohydrates
• Martini- 160 calories, 1g of carbohydrates
• Margarita- 170 calories, 4g of carbohydrates
• Kahlua and cream- 290 calories, 14g of carbohydrates
• Shot of whiskey, bourbon, or vodka- 80 calories, 3g of carbohydrates
• Mudslide 270 calories, 41g of carbohydrates
• Frozen drinks- 360-600 calories, up to 75g of carbohydrates
• Flavored Martini- 350+ calories, 5g+ carbohydrates

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• Tip of the Month

  January 2012

  Smart Starbucks and Steakhouse Choices

  Starbucks Choices
  • Peppermint Choc Mocha- 520cals, 20g fat
  • Pumpkin Frappuccino- 420cals, 13g fat
  • Flavored Latte- 360clas, 16g fat
  • Latte- 220cals, 15g fat
  • Coffee w/cream and sugar 180 calories
  • Cappuccino- 120cals, 4g fat
  • Coffee w/sugar 90 calories
  • Coffee w/cream 90 calories
  • Coffee w/whole milk 60 calories
  • Coffee w/skim milk 30-50 calories

  Order a coffee with cream and sugar every work day?  Add 900 calories per week to your diet.  That is over 13 pounds in one year.

  Enjoy a cappuccino every day instead, and you save 300 calories per week, and cut 4 pounds per year from the above diet.

  Go to coffee with skim milk and Splenda?  Now you are only adding 250 calories per week, and under 4 pounds per year in coffee weight.

  Enjoy a flavored frappucino or latte once per week?  That could add up to 26,000 calories, and another 7.5 pounds per year.

  Just your coffee could account for 20 pounds of caloric intake annually!

  Steakhouse Choices
  • Caesars Salad- 800cals
  • Chopped Salad, 320cals
  • Spinach Salad, 170cals click here for more »

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• Recipe of the Month

  January 2012

  Drink alcohol a little more wisely!

  Drink Choices
  • Eggnog, 350cals
  • White Russian, 260cals
  • Riesling, 160-200cals
  • Shot of liquor, 70-125cals
  • Tonic or Soda, 100cals
  • Winter Beer, 150-200cals
  • Beer, 150cals
  • Bloody Mary, 130cals
  • Wine, 120cals
  • Light Beer, 55-85cals
  • Champagne, 85cals
  Enjoy a small glass of eggnog and two gin and tonics, and you have drank 750 worthless calories.
  Or, start with some champagne, and enjoy two glasses of wine and you only have drank 330 calories, less than half of your first choices.