As I mentioned previously, it was my birthday this past weekend and the celebrations included a few alcohol-laden beverages, as usually happens when my friends and family get together. So I thought it would be a good idea to do a post about alcohol consumption (a reader also suggested we cover this topic.) I did a bit of digging and found this BBC article, which explains alcohol and the effect on the body quite well. It also has a handy reference guide listing the calorie content of many popular drinks. I also found this Alcohol calorie counter — just enter what you drank and the calculator does the rest!
Lots of sites I came across seemed to take the stance that alcohol consumption and a healthy lifestyle cannot go hand in hand, which I think is ultimately unrealistic, as drinking is a fairly big part of our society. I think people can drink and still be healthy — the key is moderation and some common sense. Alcohol is essentially composed of empty calories that will pack on the pounds without giving you any nutrients. Creamy and/or sugary drinks have the most calories, so try to avoid them. Light beer, wine and cocktails with sugar-free mixer are the best options. And remember to keep track of your portion size — a giant wine glass filled to the brim probably doesn’t count as ‘one’ glass — it’s probably more like 2 or 3.
In case you do happen to over-indulge, check out this former post on hangover cures. And don’t beat yourself up — just because you had one too many, doesn’t make you a raging alcoholic.
Author by Martha Edwards
