How fattening is alcohol?

[bruceH]

My friend told me that there are a lot of calories in alcohol, but I find that hard to believe. I mean...it's just liquid mostly, isn't it? I know some of it is high in sugar and I guess that can be high in calories like all those cocktail drinks and things, but is a glass of wine or a glass of beer really that fattening?

[Kyra]

It's actually very fattening. All alcohol has a lot of calories, even the ones you would least expect. Remember, just because you can't taste the sugar doesn't mean that it's not there. To put this into better perspective, give or take, there are:

154 calories in 1 can (356 g) of Beer
123 calories in a serving of wine (148 g)
105 calories in a single shot of whiskey (42 g)

That might not sound like a lot of calories, but considering most people don't typically have 1 shot, 1 can of beer or 1 glass of wine per sitting, that can reallllly add up. Worse still, these are empty calories! If you are trying to lose weight, you're definitely going to watch your alcohol intake. The don't call it a "beer gut" for nothing!

[anne]

LOL exactly Kyra! "beer gut" and even beer belly says it all. Alcohol is definitely something that falls into the "treat" category. Don't fall into the mindset that a glass of wine a day is good for you...cause, that's total crap. That's like saying a chocolate bar a day is good for you. Alcohol is high in calories, it's not good for your health, it's literally poison for your liver.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be all preachie here or anything, I don't actually have anything against alcohol, I personally enjoy a nice glass of wine. It's just something that needs to be respected and thought of as a treat. By all means enjoy it, just don't make the mistake of thinking that it's doing something good for your physical health.

[char]

LOL exactly Kyra! "beer gut" and even beer belly says it all. Alcohol is definitely something that falls into the "treat" category. Don't fall into the mindset that a glass of wine a day is good for you...cause, that's total crap. That's like saying a chocolate bar a day is good for you. Alcohol is high in calories, it's not good for your health, it's literally poison for your liver.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be all preachie here or anything, I don't actually have anything against alcohol, I personally enjoy a nice glass of wine. It's just something that needs to be respected and thought of as a treat. By all means enjoy it, just don't make the mistake of thinking that it's doing something good for your physical health.

I agree! Calories from alcohol can really add up, especially if you drink it a lot. Plus, usually when people drink alcohol they also tend to eat high-fat and high-calorie foods with it.

Essentially, if you really really want to lose weight, it's best to cut out a lot of sugar from your diet, starting with sugary beverages and this includes alcohol. It really needs to fall into the treat category and should be consumed in moderation.

[Paplo]

Basically the only alcohol that's really low in calories is vodka and maybe gin. If you mixed those with 0-calorie liquids like water, sparkling water, it's not so bad. But, yeah, I agree with everyone else, for the most part, alcohol should be treated like a treat food.

[bruceH]

It's actually very fattening. All alcohol has a lot of calories, even the ones you would least expect. Remember, just because you can't taste the sugar doesn't mean that it's not there. To put this into better perspective, give or take, there are:

154 calories in 1 can (356 g) of Beer
123 calories in a serving of wine (148 g)
105 calories in a single shot of whiskey (42 g)

That might not sound like a lot of calories, but considering most people don't typically have 1 shot, 1 can of beer or 1 glass of wine per sitting, that can reallllly add up. Worse still, these are empty calories! If you are trying to lose weight, you're definitely going to watch your alcohol intake. The don't call it a "beer gut" for nothing!

HAHA you're right! They do call it a beer belly or a beer gut. Guess I should remember that the next time I ask a silly question LOL. That said, I have to say while I guess I'm not too surprised that beer and cocktails are high in calories, I was really surprised about just plain spirits...I guess it's the sugar content?

[Nelly]

HAHA you're right! They do call it a beer belly or a beer gut. Guess I should remember that the next time I ask a silly question LOL. That said, I have to say while I guess I'm not too surprised that beer and cocktails are high in calories, I was really surprised about just plain spirits...I guess it's the sugar content?

Yup. Mostly it's the sugar from the fermenting. Alcohol is the worst when it comes to empty calories even when you consume only a small amount. That said, I think Vodka has the least amount of calories. This summer, I've really enjoyed making my own beverages with vodka, carbonated water and a slice of fresh fruit. It's refreshing and low-cal - win-win!

[Tiff]

Yup. Mostly it's the sugar from the fermenting. Alcohol is the worst when it comes to empty calories even when you consume only a small amount. That said, I think Vodka has the least amount of calories. This summer, I've really enjoyed making my own beverages with vodka, carbonated water and a slice of fresh fruit. It's refreshing and low-cal - win-win!

It's amazing how tasty soda water, vodka and a fruit slice can be! This is my favorite drink when it's hot, too.. It's very refreshing and is low cal and easy to make. It's also one of the cheaper beverages you can make, too. Also, if you want to make things different, you can add fresh herbs like mint and basil :)