Alcohol and Weight gain!

Found an Amazing article on Alcohol in Medimanage

How does alcohol make me gain weight?

Even though alcohol does contain more calories per gram than proteins or carbohydrates- 4 grams each; a very miniscule percent of the total calorie count is actually converted into fat. So how is alcohol really making its drinkers gain weight?

The answer lies hidden in the fact that excess alcohol consumption not only slows down the amount and rate at which the body burns fat to gain energy, but also increases your appetite! A combination of these two factors could very well be the reason behind those 'beer bellies' but is it the only reason?

Are there any health effects of drinking alcohol?

Alcohol if had in moderation poses no health risk; in fact wine if had in moderation is known to be good for the heart! But alcohol in general, had in excess, does pose many health risks!

Dehydration – Alcohol acts as a diuretic, meaning, it makes you urinate frequently, thereby furthering the loss of water from your body which leads to dehydration.

Weight effect – A single bout of binge drinking reduces your testosterone levels considerably for about 24 hours and increases the levels of the stress hormone Cortisol, this leads to muscle wasting. In fact studies conducted on the topic have proven that men who drink excessively carried less muscle than their teetotaler counterparts!

Liver Damage – Drinking heavily for longer periods of time affects the liver and leads to liver cirrhosis. This condition leads to disturbances in the normal functioning of the liver.

What is the right amount of alcohol intake, to avoid weight gain?

While the usual standard of drinking alcohol is 3-4 drinks per day for men, and 2-3 drinks for women, it is really dependant on the person, their body type and their origin as to how much they must drink.

To know the right amount of alcohol for you, it's best to know the calorie content of your drink. Following are some popular types of alcohol, with their calorie content,

Beer: 135-145 calories, 12 fl Oz

Wine (red, white): 70-75 calories, 3.5 fl Oz

Vodka, Whiskey, Rum: 97 calories, 1.5 fl Oz (One shot)

*note – 1 fl oz equals approximately 28 grams*

The key to avoiding weight gain from drinking alcohol is nothing but moderation. Just like we practice moderation in our food intake to cut down the calories build up, similarly to avoid a beer belly, one must practice moderation while drinking alcohol.

Finally, as Winston Churchill says, "Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me" practicing moderation is the safest route to avoiding weight gain and enjoying your drink or two!