Most dietitians tell people to steer
clear of alcoholic beverages when trying to lose weight, but if properly
managed, it can be included in your diet.
This usually doesn't stop people from tying to rationalize, "what
is the best drink to have on a diet?"
There alcoholic beverages that are more waistline-friendly than others,
so your choices are critical if you really want to “have your cake and eat it
too”. If you're looking to shed pounds,
you first need to gather the information on what you are drinking and change what
you drink. Here are some of the
lowest-calorie bets are a shot of spirits or with water or on the rocks. A
1.5-ounce shot of vodka, gin, rum, whiskey or tequila contains an average of 97
calories, a glass of champagne, about 84 calories per 4 ounces, a glass of dry
wine 120 to 125 calories per 5 ounces or a traditional martini, with an average
of 124 calories for a 2.5-ounce serving. Light beer is approximately 100 calories or a
glass of reduced-calorie wine, about 90 to 100 calories are some of the other
lower-calorie options.
Pure alcohol contains 7 calories per gram,
this is less than a gram of fat, which has 9 calories, but more than protein
and carbs, which have 4 calories per gram each.
The biggest variable of your drinks that influence the calorie counts
the amount of alcohol, the total volume of a beverage including the amount of
carbohydrates and sugars and mixers you add to the alcohol.
Most spirits, including vodka, tequila,
rum and gin, do not contain any carbohydrates or sugars. Some producers may add
small amounts of sugar to combat any perceived bitterness, but this small
amount would not bump the calorie count much. Though they have higher alcohol
by volume, the volume of a standard shot is small, making them a relatively
lower-calorie option, if you can stick to one shot or mix it with a
zero-calorie beverage, like ice, water, diet cola, soda water or seltzer. Other ingredients including mixers, tonic
water, juice, soda, syrups, cream and coconut, pack sugar and fat calories on
top of alcohol and should be consumed with caution. "Margaritas and pina coladas can have
close to 500 calories per drink, depending on the size and how it's made, and
could be a real challenge for anyone trying to lose weight.
