As Christmas Day quickly approaches,it is a question that is on the minds of weight loss hopefuls. The answer is much more complicated than counting calories. Unlike carbohydrates, protein, and fat, alcohol is not an essential source of calories, nor is it significant source of vitamins and minerals your body needs to function. However, many people who are in good shape swear by a drink or two every now and then. Are they the exception or the rule?
Calories in Alcohol
Pure alcohol serves up 7 calories per gram, almost twice as many calories as carbohydrates and close to the 9 calories in a gram of fat. That makes that cocktail, margarita or Mai Tai a heaping mound of calories in a small glass. Just a 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof gin, rum, or vodka can add 100 calories to any drink. When you think of the addition of fruit juice, soda, or grenadine (a liqueur), you’re looking at a calorie-infusion that could add up to meal-size calorie counts. If you want to save calories, have alcohol straight with fresh fruit, or mixed with club soda, or stick to plain old wine.
Lowering Your Inhibitions
Beyond calories, something else to consider is alcohol’s ability to lower inhibitions. To keep yourself from overindulging, eat a well balanced meal with protein and fiber before you start drinking. It will also help you steer clear of searching for a late-night meal, when your only options may not include low-calorie foods like fruits or vegetables. Research shows that drinking before a meal may increase your caloric intake by 20%.
Alcohol’s Impact on Metabolism
A ‘beer belly’ is not caused by alcohol alone, but there are some direct correlations between alcohol and fat metabolism. When you drink alcohol, your metabolism slows down its energy conversion of fat and carbohydrates to first get rid of the alcohol in your body. Manuel Villacorta, MS, RD, CSSD, a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics shares, “Drinking alcohol stops fat metabolism in the liver causing it to build up around the waistline.†Of course this “build up” only happens in the presence of excess calories. In addition to staying under your calorie limit, rev up your metabolism by staying active and not skipping meals.
Alcohol’s Impact on Your Sleep
Even if you do control your alcohol calories, and keep your metabolism revved, consuming alcohol can have a major impact on your ability to have a good night’s sleep if you consume it right before bed. Michael Breus, PhD tells WebMD that even if alcohol helps you go to sleep, it’s detrimental to your sleep experience. “It will keep you in the lighter stage…it will also wake you up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, it will also dehydrate you which can affect your sleep.†He explains that alcohol consumption inhibits “deep sleep†stages 3 and 4, “where we see the increase in growth hormone, the cell repair, and the overall damage-from-the-day repair.†He continues that the resulting fatigued feeling can rob a person from feeling refreshed in the morning. Lack of sleep could affect not only your ability to workout effectively, but it could also hinder your well-intentioned eating habits. Just as you should aim to not eat 2 to 3 hours before bed, you should give up the glass or bottle within this time frame to enjoy a good night’s rest.
The Bottom Line
All things being equal, if you continue to burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. However, if lowering your caloric intake of food to accommodate 1 or 2 glasses of alcohol, ensure not to cut out essential calories from complex carbs, healthy fats and proteins. Also, while drinking on its own will not inhibit weight loss, depending on the frequency and level of consumption, the effects of drinking alcohol could have a negative impact on your ability to eat good food, sleep well, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Source: Caloriecount.com;Â
Edited by Rachel Berman 10/21/2013; Gabrielle Williams 28/10/13
Scientific research suggests that certain wine and food pairings actually improve the lingering taste of food in your mouth.
As Christmas dinners draw near, get help choosing tasty wines that complement your favourite cuts of meat and seafood or which wines are just great to bring along to the party.
During Salut a few weeks ago, I was able to taste the wines BETCO Premier Ltd. had to offer, paired with an array of chicken, salmon bites, sausage and shrimp. BETCO poured at The Regency Bar & Lounge at The Terra Nova and Bin26 at Devon House.
Both events were a success but at Bin26, Best Dressed Foods Ltd. joined BETCO for the marketing opportunity and as food was pushed out quickly, the sequential order of pairing with the wines was mixed up. However, due to the exemplary culinary talents of Chef Celeste Gordon and her team coupled with continuous strikes of fine wine to the palate, the sequential order of wine pairing was overlooked by many of the guests.
Some of the pairings you could try are as follows:-
Red
â— Cupcake Merlot – poultry, red meat, pork, pastas, salads
Merlot is fairly versatile when it comes to food pairing, it can handle them all well!
â— Cupcake Pinot Noir – Jerk Sausage & blue cheese (Try making a nice crostini appetizer)
The famous Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K is slated for December 7, 2013, where runners and walkers from all over the world will make their way along Negril’s internationally well-known coastline.
Check the Reggae Marathon site below for details and sign up today!
http://www.reggaemarathon.com/
After you sign up for the Reggae Marathon or any other marathon at all, please get ready for it the right way.
‘Running a successful marathon consists of a number of factors, whether you are an
experienced runner or not, getting an adequate amount of training or even just choosing the right shoes.
Conquering the miles is not all physical though preparing the mind and fueling the body properly is key.
Calm the pre-race jitters and see tips for Running a Marathon in the Infographic below, allowing you to focus on what you need to do mentally, physically an nutrition-wise from a few days before the race to a few hours after you cross the finish line.’ -Source: Caloriecount.com (edited)
– *Exclude jelly advice and see healthy brand of peanut butter below!
Better’n Peanut Butter:
Two tbsp. of regular creamy Better’n peanut butter contain 100 calories, 2g total fat, 13g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 2g sugar, 4g protein and 190mg sodium. The low sodium version has the same nutritional value, but only 95mg sodium.