One of the questions that comes up most regularly when people are dieting is, “Do I have limit my alcohol intake to lose weight?”
And the answer to that is, unfortunately, “probably”.
Theres a couple of factors to consider and one of the most important is that alcohol is metabolized by your body differently than other foods and drinks. Alcohol needs no digestion so it goes right through the stomach wall and can reach the brain and liver in minutes. Since it is absorbed so quickly it gets first priority in the liver meaning that the other foods you are eating while you are drinking are changed into body fat, waiting to be carried away for permanent fat storage in the body, instead of being broken down into energy sources. On top of that Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram and offers no nutritional value. And of course after a couple drinks your inhibititions and willpower are lowered so you are more likely to say yes to dessert or a second serving. So essentially drinking alcohol at the same time as your meal is really detrimental to your weight loss efforts. Save that drink ’til after you are done with your meal when you are already full and less likely to overindulge.
Another big problem is that alcohol is a diuretic and causes water loss and dehydration. Hello bloating! It also prevents you from sleeping well, causes stomach inflamation and over time can lead to stomach ulcers, liver disease and heart troubles. Of course this does not mean you can’t enjoy liquor in moderation, just keep in mind that balance is key.
Posted in Main at February 24th, 2009 by Miss T
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