Alcohol and Weight Gain

Are you watching your waist? Drinking alcohol may help you lose weight, according to one source.

Drinking alcoholic beverages has shown to reduce weight for women. The reason for this weight loss is unclear, but researchers think that alcohol energy is not used efficiently. Alcohol may also increase the metabolic rate significantly, which causes more calories to be burned rather than ending up on the hips.

Research has also shown that people consume less sugar when they drink more.

Sound too good to be true? It might be. The key to the weight loss is drinking in moderation. What is moderation? It is advised that men have two drinks and day and women only consume one. A drink is:

·           A 12-ounce bottle of beer

·           A 5 ounce glass of wine

·           A shot of liquor

Drinking in moderation has many health benefits, including a reduced risk of hypertension and high blood pressure.

However, some weight loss groups say that alcohol can sabotage your diet. They say that when you drink, the liver spends its time processing the alcohol, which in turn changes the carbohydrates and dietary fats that you consumed into body fat.

Alcohol may also lower your inhibitions, especially when it comes to what you eat. If you have been at a diner at 4 a.m. on a weekend night, you know this to be true. Alcohol stimulates the appetite. While alcohol itself has calories, it will not fill you up.

Alcohol is also a diuretic, which means that it causes water loss as well as dehydration. With this water loss comes the loss of important minerals such as potassium, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. These minerals are important to the maintenance of chemical reactions, fluid balance, muscle contraction, and muscle relaxation.

Are you trying to avoid carbs? You might think you are being healthy by not drinking beer or wine, but liquor is not the best choice. Liquor still contains calories, and it is not much more low-cal than beer or wine. Most people mix their liquor with other drinks – this adds even more empty calories. If you are going to mix your liquor with anything, make it a diet or club soda.

How will alcohol play a role in your weight loss program?