Alcohol Carbs

Will alcohol carbs help me to gain weight? Is it advisable for me?
(April 17, 2008)

Calories and Carbs in Alcohol

Our lifestyle has changed considerably in the last few decades and statistics prove that we are now consuming more alcohol than before. Unfortunately, drinking regularly can lead to weight gain and so people who are conscious of their weight and diet often wish to know the amount of carbs in alcohol. However, despite the wide assumption that alcohol and weight gain are directly proportionate, the relationship between the two is still not clearly defined.

An over indulgence in alcohol intake will definitely contain a substantial amount of calories, but the relationship between the two seems to be more centered around the fact that alcohol changes the chemical make up of the body – thereby reducing the body’s ability to lose weight and gain muscle. As far as the nutritional content and calories and carbs in alcohol go – an average 12 ounce of beer will contain about 130 calories while a single glass of wine contains about 120 calories.
 
The relationship between alcohol and weight management gets a little more complicated as some of the recent studies have shown that alcohol consumption in moderate quantities may actually facilitate weight loss. The same studies have shown that women that consumed between one and seven alcoholic drinks per week have a lower risk of weight gain than compared to women that have completely abstained from alcohol.


However, the same study conducted on men shows that those who consumed more than about 30 or more grams of alcohol per day are at a higher risk of suffering from obesity than others. Essentially, most experts share the opinion that the key to the relationship between alcohol and weight gain lies in how much and how often the alcohol is consumed.

As a result, how many carbs are present in alcohol is not really as relevant in context with weight loss as compared to food products. Another argument on the relationship sees alcohol consumption as a tool to help lose weight. This is dependent on the theory that alcohol actually helps boost the body’s metabolic rate – thereby allowing for weight loss and higher rates of fat burning. When it comes to alcohol consumption though, it is important to remember that its relationship with weight management should only be an afterthought to the other effects that it has on the human body and mind. If you keep a diet diary or if you use a calorie counter make sure that you keep a track of the amount you drink so that you can add up the total carbs in alcohol that you have consumed.

Carbs in Alcohol

Our lifestyle has changed considerably in the last few decades and statistics prove that we are now consuming more alcohol than before. Unfortunately, drinking regularly can lead to weight gain and so people who are conscious of their weight and diet often wish to know the amount of carbs in alcohol. However, despite the wide assumption that alcohol and weight gain are directly proportionate, the relationship between the two is still not clearly defined.

An over indulgence in alcohol intake will definitely contain a substantial amount of calories, but the relationship between the two seems to be more centered around the fact that alcohol changes the chemical make up of the body – thereby reducing the body’s ability to lose weight and gain muscle. As far as the nutritional content and calories and carbs in alcohol go – an average 12 ounce of beer will contain about 130 calories while a single glass of wine contains about 120 calories.

The relationship between alcohol and weight management gets a little more complicated as some of the recent studies have shown that alcohol consumption in moderate quantities may actually facilitate weight loss. The same studies have shown that women that consumed between one and seven alcoholic drinks per week have a lower risk of weight gain than compared to women that have completely abstained from alcohol. However, the same study conducted on men shows that those who consumed more than about 30 or more grams of alcohol per day are at a higher risk of suffering from obesity than others. Essentially, most experts share the opinion that the key to the relationship between alcohol and weight gain lies in how much and how often the alcohol is consumed. As a result, how many carbs are present in alcohol is not really as relevant in context with weight loss as compared to food products.

Another argument on the relationship sees alcohol consumption as a tool to help lose weight. This is dependent on the theory that alcohol actually helps boost the body’s metabolic rate – thereby allowing for weight loss and higher rates of fat burning. When it comes to alcohol consumption though, it is important to remember that its relationship with weight management should only be an afterthought to the other effects that it has on the human body and mind. If you keep a diet diary or if you use a calorie counter make sure that you keep a track of the amount you drink so that you can add up the total carbs in alcohol that you have consumed.

Weight Gain with Alcohol Carbohydrates

Any type of alcohol does not provide only carbohydrate. Alcohol in itself is high in calories, a gram of alcohol provides 7 calories which is much high than carbohydrates and proteins which provides 4 calories per gram and near to fat which provides 9 calories per gram. All alcoholic beverages contain calories and most of the calories in alcohol come from alcohol itself. Alcohol is processed first when a body has an option between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Thus this is the reason for gaining weight as drinking slows down the fat burning process. No hard liquor contains carbohydrates as they all are distilled so please do not believe the ads you watch that a particular brand of vodka or whiskey has 'zero carb'. It is as good as saying that all nuts are cholesterol free (cholesterol only comes from animal sources). With regards to wine let's take an example of grape wine. When grapes are made in to wine almost all of its carbohydrate is converted to alcohol (few carbs do remain). A 5 ounce beer will give 13 gm alcohol and only 5 gm carbohydrate which accounts for only 20 calories from carbohydrates and remaining 91 calories form alcohol. Beer also contains some amounts of carbohydrates but alcohol too.