Photo: Anna Shvets

Which alcohol doesn't make you fat?

#1 Go for spirits Clear alcohol like vodka, gin and tequila have lower caloric counts, but they're also easier to consume straight, with ice or with soda water, which means there won't be any added calories.

globalnews.ca - These alcoholic drinks won't make you gain (much) weight | - Global News

Which fruit is richest source of vitamin D?

Orange. There are limited Vitamin D fruits. Around 75% of the people worldwide are either allergic to dairy products or are lactose intolerant, and...

Last updated May 11, 2019

What happens to your body when you stop eating sugar?

Many people experience fatigue, headaches, or even a feeling of sadness or depression, he added, aka tell-tale signs that your body is adjusting to...

Last updated Jun 19, 2022

Strange purple cocktail removes 2.7lbs every 4 days

Contains a potent powdered supplement blended right into water or your favored beverage to be appreciated as a scrumptious morning smoothy.

Learn More »

Promotion

Summer is just around the corner, and for many of us, that means more socializing and more drinking. Post-work drinks, summer Friday cocktails and cottage weekend benders are frequent occurrences, and they can all spell trouble for your weight management goals. “Alcohol is just empty calories,” says Abby Langer, a Toronto-based registered dietitian. “I have a lot of clients who go home and drink two or more glasses of wine every night and I tell them they’re not contributing anything positive to their diet. Your body processes it like fat.”

WATCH BELOW: Cool cocktails for Spring and Summer

3:29 Cool cocktails for Spring and Summer

While Langer is reluctant to suggest that her clients stop drinking entirely — some use it to manage their stress — she does say spacing out the drinking is a small step that can have big benefits.

Story continues below advertisement

“If you drink five times a week, decrease that to two or three times per week. And decrease the number of drinks you consume. It’s a small change but it’ll make a big difference in calories,” she says.

What you drink is also a big consideration.

“By itself, alcohol has seven calories per gram,” says Susan Macfarlane, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Ottawa. “And that’s just the alcohol. Then you need to consider what else is in your drink.” She says on the worst end of the spectrum are highly processed and sugar-laden drinks like Kahlua, which contains rum, corn syrup and vanilla bean; one shot of the liqueur clocks in at 91 calories. On the safer side are spirits like vodka, gin and whisky, which are lower in calories and average roughly 80 calories per shot. But what it comes down to is what you’re adding to your drink — Coke, ginger ale and juice are popular mixes, but all they do is amp up the sugar count. “When you start mixing alcohol with sugary drinks, juice and syrups, it adds up. After three or four cocktails, you’re consuming as many calories as you would if you had a sugary muffin from Tim Hortons,” Langer says.

How many laser treatments are needed for a full face?

For the best results, we recommend a course of 8 treatments, but this can vary slightly depending on the client.

Last updated Mar 27, 2021

Should you mix fruits and vegetables when juicing?

To get the most out of these unique nutritional benefits, you want to separate your fruits and vegetables. The same is true whether you're drinking...

Last updated Oct 11, 2021

Tasty breakfast juice melts 59lbs of wobbly fat

A scrumptious morning smoothy based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

Story continues below advertisement

With that in mind, remember these tips for safe and relatively healthy drinking this summer.

#1 Go for spirits

Clear alcohol like vodka, gin and tequila have lower caloric counts, but they’re also easier to consume straight, with ice or with soda water, which means there won’t be any added calories. “People will opt for a flavoured vodka like one infused with blueberry and mix it with soda water, or they’ll mix regular vodka with fruit-infused water. Either way, they’re cutting out any added calories,” Macfarlane says.

#2 Make wise beer and wine choices

Wine and beer can clock in at anywhere from 120 to 200 calories per serving respectively. But there are tweaks you can make to lessen the caloric blow. “High resveratrol red wines, like [ Malbec and pinot noir ], are a cleaner option than a sugary mixed cocktail,” says Quinn Hand , a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. In addition to the antioxidants in resveratrol, it is also credited with helping boost cardiovascular health . (Although, if your main source of resveratrol is wine, it only helps if you consume it in moderation.)

Story continues below advertisement

With beer, Quinn points out that the yeast in beer can be beneficial, while Macfarlane says the fermentation process creates some beneficial bacteria. Plus, beer won’t spike blood sugar levels in the same way a mixed cocktail like a mojito or a margarita will. “There are low-calorie beer options on the market that use added water to dilute the calories,” Macfarlane says.

#3 Mix with frozen fruit

Sugary sodas, juices and syrups are popular additions to mixed cocktails, especially those with exotic flair. But you’re basically drinking a glass of sugar. “I personally don’t like to dilute my drinks with a ton of water,” Macfarlane says. “But I love to throw some frozen blueberries, raspberries or strawberries in a glass of white wine with a splash of water. The fruit takes up more room in the glass, leaving less for alcohol and as it melts, it adds water.”

Which is healthier V8 or tomato juice?

Vitamins. Tomato juice is the absolute winner in this section. Tomato juice is an excellent source of vitamin C: it is more than two times higher...

Last updated Nov 1, 2020

Why does a colonic hurt?

Does it hurt? Most people report their colonic hydrotherapy sessions as both relaxing and refreshing, however if you have an accumulation of...

Last updated Jun 8, 2020

7-second natural hack eats through 64lbs of belly flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

#4 When all else fails, drink champagne

Champagne carries a number of benefits that could make it the best (though maybe not the most cost-effective) drink of choice. For starters, it has less calories per glass than wine — 90 calories per four ounces, versus 100 for wine. And it’s typically poured into smaller glasses, so you’ll naturally drink less.

Story continues below advertisement

“Most people don’t want to consume champagne so quickly, either,” Macfarlane says. “The bubbles encourage sipping, versus chugging, so it extends the amount of time it takes to finish one drink.”

#5 Be mindful of your snacks

Social drinking is almost always accompanied with snacks, but here’s where you can really make a concerted effort to be healthy. Macfarlane suggests putting out smart munchies like crudites or fruit, especially if you’re generally trying to get more of these in your diet. The mindless snacking that tends to accompany drinking will actually work to your benefit. “It’s important to eat while you’re drinking because that way it won’t have such a large impact on your liver and won’t go directly into your bloodstream. Food will delay the absorption of alcohol. So, you might as well opt for eating something clean, even if you aren’t necessarily drinking clean.”

globalnews.ca - These alcoholic drinks won't make you gain (much) weight | - Global News

Are eggs good before bed?

Yes, having eggs before bed can help improve your sleep. Because eggs are an excellent source of tryptophan, melatonin, and vitamin D, they can...

Last updated May 5, 2022

What two vegetables kills body fat overnight?

Spinach and other leafy green vegetables like kale, lettuce, etc. are great for burning belly fat and are very nutritious as well. There have been...

Last updated Dec 10, 2021

Purple weed obliterates 72lbs of flab

The main ingredient for a potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

How much Himalayan salt for adrenal fatigue?

5 to 1oz of brine to 30oz of water. Our hormone system, adrenals very much included, requires a big set of minerals to operate properly and produce...

Last updated Aug 10, 2020

Traditional “juice” activates 24/7 fat-burning

A scrumptious morning smoothy based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

Does beetroot regrow hair?

There are umpteen beetroot uses, not only to prevent hair loss, but to improve the overall quality of your hair as well. Get back your hair's...

Last updated May 21, 2018