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Calories in Alcohol
Are there calories in alcohol? Isn't that what you've always assumed is the cause of the middle aged 'beer belly' or generous 'love handles'? Most people are aware that there is some connection between consumption of alcohol and weight gain. Enjoying the alcohol experience a little too much, 'partaking' a little too often. There is some truth to the idea of weight gain and regular over consumption of alcohol, but what is really going on? What is the connection between alcohol consumption and weight gain?
Commonly, people tend to think that alcoholic drinks contain a lot of sugar but many non alcoholic drinks such as sodas and so-called energy drinks contain more. So, is it actually the sugar content of alcohol that is problematic in the weight control issue? Well partially. Certainly the more you drink and the more often you drink, the more this could be a weight control factor for you. Alcohol minus the hops, grapes, additives and flavorings does not contain any sugar or carbohydrates. However, the finished product that you drink does contain a certain amount of sugar, this varies from product to product. Sugars or carbohydrates can fuel weight gain over time by raising your blood insulin level which can lead to progressive body fat accumulation. Consistently high blood insulin levels can promote the onset of a condition called insulin resistance syndrome, One symptom of which is weight control dysfunction. Moderate to high regular alcohol consumption will certainly add to your over all carbohydrate loading and therefore may increase your likelihood of gaining unnecessary weight, especially if your diet is improperly balanced and biased heavily towards refined carbohydrates. What About Calories in Alcohol? Alcohol is an energy dense substance, coming in at second place behind dietary fat. You consume energy as you eat and drink throughout the day. Your body fuels its energy requirements via your diet which enables you to function physically and mentally.
Calorie density is an indicator of how many calories are packed into a particular food or beverage. The calorie density of alcohol is high. Yes, I'm afraid your suspicions have been correct all along. There are a significant number of calories in alcohol based beverages. The major portion of the calories though come from the alcohol component itself rather than the flavor ingredients. Additionally, the Calories in alcohol are completely void of any nutritional quality. When you consume an alcoholic drink, aside from giving your body additional energy as Calories over and above your dietary requirement, you're not taking care of your body's constant need for high quality nutritional components. Quality nutrition plays a huge role in you Keeping Healthy , disease free and the promotion of a healthy, normal lifespan.
Although over-consumption of alcoholic drinks will promote raised insulin levels and increase your Calorie consumption, these reasons alone are not the main cause of weight gain due to being over indulgent with alcohol. The most significant issue that relates weight gain to alcohol consumption is related more to the way your body processes the chemical substance alcohol.
Unfortunately, there is more bad news. Alcohol also interferes with the process of lean muscle development in your body. Lean muscle development is important for both men and women and an effective weight control program should promote the replacement of body fat with lean muscle. Lean muscle mass development is not just a function of physical activity but also proper nutrition.
The calories in alcohol along with an added contribution to your daily carbohydrate loading and the priority that your body places on processing it because of it's toxicity all impact your ability to control your weight. If your diet is poor, you are physically inactive and you are a regular moderate to heavy drinker, the effects on your weight and your body composition will very likely be exacerbated.
If you are concerned about your weight and taking on all those extra calories in alcohol then start moderating your intake today. No more than one small glass of red wine a day is what is recommended by many health care professionals.
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