Christmas is certainly a time for excess, as parties and reunions abound. But the collective weight gain isn’t just caused by all the food we allow ourselves. It’s also all the drinks we let ourselves enjoy during this time of year.
According to nutritionist and dietitian Christian Jay G. Vasquez, alcoholic drinks “mainly provide calories, and contain little to no essential nutrients.”
A gram of alcohol contains about 7kcal of energy and no nutritional value like vitamins, minerals, or fiber, Vasquez said.
And because of “its calorie content and its ‘addictive effect, which can lead to short-term over-consumtpion of energy from foods” alcoholic drinks become a big factor to why people tend to gain more weight during the holidays.
Besides, alcohol can make you crave high and greasy food and we all know how that can ruin our diets.
Vasquez shared how much calories our favorite drinks contain:
- Beer (320ml) contains 138 calories, 11.4 grams of carbs, 1.5G of protein, and 0 grams of fat.
- Light beer (320ml) contains 93 calories, 5.2 grams of carbohydrates, 0.8 grams of protein, and 0 grams of fat.
- A shot of rum, gin, and whiskey (about 30ml) each have 89 calories with zero grams of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
A shot of 70 proof vodka has 85 calories, Healthline reports. The higher its proof, the more calories it contains, Healthline adds.
While 80 proof tequila has 64 calories.
Of course, all these calorie counts will differ when any of these alcoholic drinks are mixed with soda, fruit juices and enjoyed as a cocktail.
Meanwhile, according to Medical News Today, a glass of wine contains somewhere between 120-165 calories, with sweet wine clocking the most at 165calories.
It’s important to note that like calorie-counting your food, calorie-counting your drinks isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to weight gain.
In fact, Vasquez say, “It is not necessary to count calories in order to have a healthy relationship with food. It’s more important to prioritize the quality of the food we eat (i.e., nutritional value).”
“We should focus on moderation, variety, and balance, rather than obsessing over calorie counts,” he added as a reminder.
As we enjoy the Christmas season, let’s make sure we don’t go over beyond ourselves — lest we suffer yet another hangover.
— LA, GMA Integrated News
