During the holiday season, you may need to be reminded of the benefits and hazards of drinking and overdrinking.
The studies look good if you limit yourself to one drink/day for women and two drinks/day for men. This is quite difficult if you’re female and invited to a cocktail party, dinner and late get together at a club. As I like to enjoy parties, I allow myself a drink per occasion, which means some evenings no drinks, other evenings two, bending the rules somewhat. In New York City few people drive, which makes drinking less scary.
What is considered a serving size and how many calories do these drinks supply?
Examples of one drink/serving:
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE and CALORIES
1 bottle (12 oz.) beer - 5% alcohol: 145
1 bottle light beer: 100
1 bottle “extra light” beer - 2% alcohol: 60
1 glass wine (5 oz.) - 11% alcohol: 100
1 shot (1 1/2 oz.) liquor - rye, gin, rum or scotch: 100
Gin and tonic (1 ½ oz gin with 6 oz tonic): 170
Liqueurs (1 ½ oz.): 185
The Good News
• May lower risk for heart disease and cancer; wine more than beer or liquor
• Fun to be social
The Bad News
Excess can lead to:
• Fetal alcohol syndrome if pregnant
• Increased cancer risk
• Liver cirrhosis
• High blood pressure
• Increased family violence
• Increased home accidents
• Increased traffic accidents
• Dehydration resulting in lack of sleep and a hangover
• High calorie intake: Supplies 7 calories per gram
• Slows fat burning
• Lowers willpower around high fat snacks
• High costs
• A study showed that five or more drinks daily was associated with a 10% increase in death
Perhaps we should follow the DRINKING RULES:
1. Drink water when thirsty.
2. Eat a small fat-containing snack such as 2T nuts or 1 oz cheese before you drink to slow down absorption of alcohol.
3. Sip alcoholic drinks slowly.
4. Dilute your drinks with soda water or diet soda.
5. Drink what you want to drink, not what is expected of you. If you don’t feel like an alcoholic drink, have an orange or tomato juice, tonic water or club soda.
6. Limit your alcohol intake to recommended servings and save money!
