Is Alcohol Allowed on a Diet?
For many of us, the occasional drink with friends or nightcap before bed is an important part of our lives. However, when you’re trying to lose weight, things can get a lot more complicated. After all, alcohol is high in calories, and can contribute significantly to weight gain. On some diets, certain types aren’t allowed at all. Here’s what you need to know about alcohol and dieting.
Check Your Diet Plan
The first thing you’ll need to do is look at the diet plan you’re following. Different types of plans will restrict alcohol to a greater or lesser degree, and some may permit more of certain kinds of alcohol. For instance, low carb dieters will want to steer clear of beer and other fermented beverages that haven’t been distilled. That’s because they include a surprisingly high level of carbohydrates. Sweet drinks are out, as well, since sugars are also classed as carbs. Atkins dieters are more likely to be allowed spirits and liquor, but still need to pay attention to calorie count and the mixers. Calorie counters and people on point diets like Weight Watchers will need to add their alcohol into their daily totals.
Calories and Nutrition
Even if your diet plan allows some alcohol, it’s a good idea to limit it. There’s little to no nutritional value in a glass of wine or a shot of liquor beyond its calorie count. That count can also be surprisingly high. A pint of lager includes about two hundred calories – the same as a candy bar. 250 ml of wine has a similar calorie content, but many people will choose the wine over the lager, since wine is usually sipped and lager is drunk quickly. A shot of liquor is generally around fifty-five calories, but the content of the drink depends on the mixer. A white Russian will be much higher in calorie content than a gin and tonic. Creamy liqueurs, like Irish cream, can be very high, at 163 calories for 50ml.
Moderation Is Best
For those of us who enjoy a drink and consider it important, quitting alcohol entirely isn’t a good idea. After all, if you feel deprived on a diet, you’re much more likely to break it and go back to your old habits. What you can do is limit your alcohol intake. While it’s not a good idea to go out and party if you’re dieting, you can definitely enjoy a weekly glass of wine. Treat alcohol like any other food, and keep track of what you’re consuming, and your diet will work the way it’s supposed to.
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