Cocktails: Is It Worth the Splurge?
Many of us enjoy a cocktail now and then, but when you're watching your weight, this can become a huge personal debate. We must all ask ourselves: "Is It Worth The Splurge?". This is a VERY individual choice. Check out the tips on how to make a better cocktail choice in my Today Show segment below.
It's a biological fact that humans do not register the calories we drink - alcoholic or any other - as effectively as the calories we eat. Many studies demonstrate this point: when we drink calories, along with eating food, we don't account for those liquid calories, and eat as much as if we didn't have any extra calories at all.
When it comes to alcohol, the calories are all over the place, and can range from 64 calories for an ultra-light beer to 800 calories for a giant frozen margarita. They sure can add up quickly.
Bottom line: Americans drink a lot more calories than we used to - and alcoholic beverages are a major part of this problem - as drinks have gotten fancier (with multiple kinds of spirits, liqueurs, and flavorings) and larger (20 ounce margarita, anyone?). Plus, alcoholic drinks have the "double whammy" of high calories and the inhibition-reducing effects of alcohol, which can easily lead to overeating (fried zucchini IS a vegetable, right? fried mozzarella sticks - calcium and protein, right? You get the picture!).
It's time to "size up" our alcoholic beverage choices to support our weight management effort, as well as a healthy lifestyle.
Watch the segment from TODAY
Let me know what you think of the drink options I've suggested. No need for deprivation. Control is the goal.
More from Madelyn:
It's a biological fact that humans do not register the calories we drink - alcoholic or any other - as effectively as the calories we eat. Many studies demonstrate this point: when we drink calories, along with eating food, we don't account for those liquid calories, and eat as much as if we didn't have any extra calories at all. When it comes to alcohol, the calories are all over the place, and can range from 64 calories for an ultra-light beer to 800 calories for a giant frozen margarita. They sure can add up quickly.
Bottom line: Americans drink a lot more calories than we used to - and alcoholic beverages are a major part of this problem - as drinks have gotten fancier (with multiple kinds of spirits, liqueurs, and flavorings) and larger (20 ounce margarita, anyone?). Plus, alcoholic drinks have the "double whammy" of high calories and the inhibition-reducing effects of alcohol, which can easily lead to overeating (fried zucchini IS a vegetable, right? fried mozzarella sticks - calcium and protein, right? You get the picture!).
It's time to "size up" our alcoholic beverage choices to support our weight management effort, as well as a healthy lifestyle.
More from Madelyn:
I have a hard time understaning the info on this topic.. There are reports that support alcohol while dieting and there are some that forbide it. I am dieting with a strict liquid diet plan, and was really wanting a glass of wine, I researched and found that typically there is about 100 calories in a small glass. So I added ice cubes to my white wine, and skipped my 200 calorie evening drink.
Another question, what about wine spritzers with soda water?
I think Madelyn is saying that of course if you want to hardcore diet then you shouldn't drink alcohol, there aren't nutritional benefits...
What she is saying is that if you want to drink alcohol there are small things you can do to save calories without denying yourself a drink.
Your site is wonderful, but can you tell us what medications produce wtg gain side effects. such as Hypertension medications.