Alcohol and Weight: 8 Ways Drinking Slows Weight Loss

 How Does Alcohol Affect Weight Loss?

Drinking alcohol is a people's favorite pastime both socially and culturally.

Some research suggests that alcohol may have health benefits. For example, red wine can lower your risk of heart disease.

However, alcohol also plays an important role in weight management. Anyone looking to shed these more stubborn pounds may consider skipping the evening wine.

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Here are ways alcohol can interfere with your weight loss and what to drink instead.

How Alcohol Affects Weight Loss

1. Alcohol often contains "empty" calories

Alcoholic beverages are often referred to as "empty" calories. This means that they provide your body with calories but contain very few nutrients.

A 12-ounce can of beer has about 155 calories, and a 5-ounce glass of red wine has 125 calories. By comparison, a recommended afternoon snack should have between 150 and 200 calories. A night out with several drinks can consume a few hundred additional calories.

Drinks that have a mixer, such as fruit juice or soda, have more calories.

2. Alcohol is used as the main source of fuel.

There are also other ingredients that can add weight beyond calorie content.

When you consume alcohol, your body burns it first as a fuel source before using anything else. These include sugars to glucose or fatty lipids.

When your body uses alcohol as its primary source of energy, excess glucose and lipids are depleted, unfortunately for us, it is like adipose tissue or fat.

3. Alcohol can affect your organs

The main function of your liver is to act as a "filter" for any foreign substances that enter your body, such as drugs and alcohol. The liver also plays a role in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Excessive alcohol consumption is known as alcoholic fatty liver.

This condition can damage your liver and affect the way your body metabolizes and stores sugars and fats.

Changes in the way you store energy from food can make weight loss very difficult.

4. Alcohol can contribute to excess belly fat

The "beer gut" is not just a myth.

Foods high in common sugars like candy, soda, and even beer are high in calories. Excess calories are stored in the body as fat.

Eating too many sugary foods and drinks can lead to rapid weight gain.

We can't choose where that extra weight will end up. However, fat accumulates in the abdomen of the body.

5. Alcohol affects the call ... especially with food.

Even the most staunch diet fanatic will have a hard time fighting the urge to dig up while getting drunk.

Alcohol lowers barriers and can lead to poor decision making in the heat of the moment, especially when it comes to food choices.

The effects of alcohol, however, go beyond the social drink label.

A recent animal study from an unreliable source found that rats fed ethanol for three days showed a significant increase in food intake. This study suggests that alcohol can actually trigger hunger signals in the brain, increasing the urge to eat more.

6. Alcohol and sex hormones

It has been known for a long time that drinking alcohol can affect hormone levels in the body, especially testosterone.

Testosterone is a sex hormone that plays a role in many metabolic processes, including muscle building and the ability to burn fat.

One study found that low testosterone levels could predict the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in men. The metabolic syndrome is characterized by:

High cholesterol

Hypertension

High blood sugar levels.

High body mass index

Additionally, low testosterone levels can affect sleep quality, especially in older men.

7. Alcohol can negatively affect your sleep

A drink before bed may seem like a good ticket to a night's rest, but you may want to reconsider.

Studies have shown that alcohol increases the duration of wakefulness during the sleep cycle.

Lack of sleep, poor sleep, or inadequate sleep can create an imbalance in hormones related to appetite, satiety, and energy storage.

8. Alcohol affects digestion and absorption of nutrients.

The only thing your social anxiety doesn’t prevent is alcohol. Drinking alcoholic beverages can also impede proper digestion.

Alcohol can create pressure on the stomach and intestines. It reduces the secretion of digestion and the movement of food through the tract.

Digestive secretions are an essential ingredient for healthy digestion. They break down food into basic macro and micronutrients that are absorbed and used by the body.

Alcohol consumption at all levels can lead to poor digestion and absorption of these nutrients. It can greatly affect the metabolism of the organs that play a role in weight management.

The best alcoholic beverages for weight loss

All of this may seem like alcohol is ruining your chances of getting a beach body. But don’t be afraid: watching your weight doesn’t mean you have to completely eliminate alcohol from your diet.

Instead of consuming high-sugar or high-calorie foods, enjoy some of these 100-calorie options:

1. Vodka

Calories: 60 calories per 60 ounces of 60 Prousty Distilled Vodka

Alternative cocktails: Choose low-calorie blenders like club soda and avoid very sweet juices.

2. Whiskey

Calories: 100 calories in 1.5 ounces of 86 proof whiskey

Alternative Cocktails: Dig up the cola for a low-calorie alternative and place your whiskey on top of the ice.

3. Gin

Calories: 115 calories in 1.5 ounces of 90 proof gin

Alternative Cocktails: Look for something as simple as a martini and don't skip olives, they contain beneficial antioxidants like vitamin E.

4. Tequila

Calories: 100 calories per 1.5 oz of Tequila

Alternative Cocktails: The best part about tequila is that the usual tequila "shots" are salt, tequila, and lime.

5. Brandy

Calories: 100 calories per 1.5 ounces of brandy

Alternative Cocktail: This drink is best served as a dinner-digest and should be slowly sipped with good brandy to taste the delicate resulting sweet.

BOTTOM LINE

Completely eliminating alcohol from your diet is not the only way to lose weight, but reducing alcohol can greatly improve your health journey.

You can enjoy a healthier body, better sleep, better digestion, and fewer extra “empty” calories.

And if you plan on drinking, enjoy vodka or whiskey on ice and avoid soda!

Article source healthline.com