Are you drinking too much?
Summer has a way of making us relax the more conservative aspects of our personalities. We wear less clothing, shed some winter routines and inhibitions, search for ways to get away from the grind. In our search for ultimate relaxation, some of us will also increase alcohol consumption.
Drinking a margarita poolside can feel like the essence of summer. And it’s not a bad thing to occasionally indulge in something icy, sweet and alcoholic. But be careful about how much you drink for two main reasons–overall health and excessive calorie consumption.
What is an acceptable amount of alcohol? The American Heart Association defines it as an “average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.)”
According to the American Heart Association, “Drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of some fats in the blood (triglycerides). It can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and an increased calorie intake. (Consuming too many calories can lead to obesity and a higher risk of developing diabetes.) Excessive drinking and binge drinking can lead to stroke. Other serious problems include fetal alcohol syndrome, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.”
If the health issues aren’t enough to slow you down, here are the caloric facts:
Protein and carbohydrate have 4 calories per gram.
Fats have 9 calories per gram.
Alcohol (the least satiating) has 7 calories per gram.
A regular bottle of beer has 125-150 calories.
A bottle of light beer, 100 calories.
A 5 oz. glass of wine, 120 calories.
A frozen margarita, pina colada or daquiri, about 250-500 calories (or more depending on the size)
How many do you have when you go out? If you are exercising and eating well otherwise but not losing weight, you may want to lower your alcohol consumption.
Danielle
