9 Best Alcoholic Drinks For Weight Loss
When you initially decide to reduce weight, you might be more concerned than ever before with the number of calories in the food and beverages you consume. And you might be shocked by how many calories some of your favorites contain. Consider alcohol; many of the cocktails you order at eateries and bars are high in calories and sugar. And since weight loss requires a calorie deficit, it raises the question of whether drinking is even possible.
Drinking or abstaining from it can affect weight loss more than just consuming extra calories. Alcohol is both a toxin and an inflammatory substance for our bodies, and our body does not have the ability to store alcohol. We will burn alcohol calories first since they are directly prioritized as an energy source by the liver. In other words, drinking alcohol can hinder or stop your efforts to lose weight.
Alcohol reduces our inhibitions and makes it more difficult for us to concentrate during meals, which might cause us to overeat or choose things we ordinarily would not. It is also said that alcohol also lowers blood sugar, which can lead to increased hunger and snacking.
In addition, hangovers are awful. We are more likely to forgo our regular exercise class or grocery shopping if we wake up drunk, choosing instead to order a bagel and do nothing.
Having said that, drinking while attempting to reduce weight *is* doable. Just be mindful of the dosage and understand that some alcoholic beverages are better for weight loss than others. Here are all the specifics on the top low-calorie beverages that dietitians recommend drinking at home or at a bar.
How many calories are there in various alcoholic drinks?
Different varieties of alcohol typically contain around the same number of calories. A 100-calorie drink will not stop you from achieving your goals on its own. The truth is that the sweet mixes, simple syrups, and other ingredients that the bartender adds to your drink, rather than the alcohol itself, are what make it so filling.
Here is a breakdown of how many calories each sort of alcohol has for your reference:
- One shot of vodka has 97 calories and 0 grams of carbohydrates or sugar.
- Rum: Each shot has 97 calories and 0 grams of carbohydrates or sugar.
- One shot of whisky, bourbon, or scotch has 105 calories and 0.03 grams of carbohydrates and sugar per ounce.
- Gin: Each shot has 110 calories and 0 grams of carbohydrates and sugar.
- One shot of tequila has 105 calories and 0 grams of carbohydrates or sugar.
- Champagne: A 4-ounce serving has 90 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and 1 gram of sugar.
- Beer has 153 calories per 12-ounce serving (13 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar).
- Wine: A 5-ounce glass has 123 calories, 4 grams of carbohydrates, and 1 gram of sugar.
- One shot of Baileys has 147 calories (11 grams of carbohydrates and 9 grams of sugar).
Here are a few low-calorie alcohol drinks:
1. Vodka soda
A traditional beverage known as vodka soda is created by mixing vodka with plain club soda.
It is one of the lowest-calorie mixed cocktails you can order with only 133 calories in a 7.5-ounce (225-mL) serving.
Additionally, you can boost the flavor of your beverage by garnishing it with mint or cucumber. Alternately, try spritzing in some lemon or lime juice.
As an alternative, you might try replacing the club soda with another kind of sparkling water to easily improve your beverage.
2. White wine
White wine can be a fantastic choice if you are trying to reduce your calorie consumption because it only contains 123 calories per 5-ounce (150-ml) glass. Additionally, there are other varietals to choose from, including chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and a sweet riesling.
If you are feeling inventive, experiment with mingling some sparkling water or club soda with your wine to create a delightful spritzer.
3. Hard seltzer
Cocktails, beers, and mixed drinks can all be replaced with cold, refreshing hard seltzer.
Seltzer water and alcohol made from fermented cane sugar are combined to make hard seltzer. It often comes in a variety of fruity flavors.
A 12-ounce (355 mL) serving of mango hard seltzer has just 99 calories, even though the exact number of calories varies depending on the brand and flavor.
4. Tequila with lime
Tequila and lime are not only one of the most straightforward drinks to prepare, but it also has a few calories.
A shot of tequila (42 mL) with a wedge of lime only contains 99 calories overall. If tequila straight up is not your thing, consider making a low-calorie cocktail by adding club soda, mint, or coconut water.
5. Light beer
Light beer frequently contains fewer calories and less alcohol than regular beer.
This makes it a fantastic option if you enjoy beer’s flavor but want to lose weight. A 12-ounce (360 mL) can of light beer typically contains 104 calories, though the exact figure may vary depending on the brand.
6. Gin and tonic water
Gin and tonic water are usually poured over ice in a tumbler to make the popular beverage.
However, you may easily cut the number of calories in this traditional cocktail by using diet tonic water instead of regular tonic water, which has no calories.
Gin and diet tonics have 128 calories overall when made with 2 ounces (56 mL) of gin and 4 ounces (118 mL) of diet tonic water. By altering the ratio of your drink to incorporate more ice and diet tonic water with less gin, you can further reduce the calorie count.
7. Dry martini
Gin and vermouth make up a traditional martini, which is usually garnished with olives or lemon slices.
Choose a dry martini instead, which has more gin and less vermouth, to reduce the number of calories. There are 185 calories in a dry martini with 2.5 ounces (70 mL) of gin and 0.5 ounces (15 mL) of vermouth.
For a tasty, low-calorie drink, add a dash of orange bitters and a lemon wedge on top.
8. Paloma
Tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, or soda are combined to make the refreshing cocktail known as a Paloma and are served over ice.
Even though most recipes also ask for more sugar, you can cut calories by eliminating it or using a calorie-free sweetener.
Mix 1.5 ounces (42 mL) of tequila with 6 ounces (186 mL) of grapefruit juice, some ice, and a little bit of lime juice to create a low-calorie Paloma that has just 169 calories.
You can choose to top the drink with a splash of grapefruit-flavored sparkling water and salt the rim.
9. Diet Coke and Rum
Rum and Coke, also referred to as a Cuba Libre, is a mixed beverage produced by combining white rum with Coca-Cola. You can reduce your calorie intake by substituting Diet Coke for regular Coca-Cola.
Diet Coke has 135 calories per 7.5-ounce (225-mL) serving, which is around 33% fewer calories than regular Coke.
How are low-calorie alcoholic beverages made?
Here are some suggestions on how to make a light, low-calorie alcoholic beverage at home.
- To any cocktail, add seltzer (contemplate a wine spritzer). With no calories and no carbohydrates, this adds some extra fizz and volume.
- To extend your drink and increase volume without adding extra calories, pile on the ice.
- Before and after drinking, sip on some seltzer or water. As a result, consumption will be slowed, and the drying effects of alcohol will be lessened.
- If you need a mixer, choose a sugar-free mixer like Sparkling Ice, which has no sugar and only five calories per bottle, over regular mixers like Diet Coke or tonic.
- To reduce calories and carbs, stay away from adding sugary fruit puree, syrups, or juice.
Here is how you can start reducing your calories:
There are various simple ways to reduce the number of calories in your favorite drinks.
Start by making your own cocktails at home rather than purchasing prepared mixers, which are frequently loaded with sugar and calories.
Fresh herbs like rosemary, mint, basil, or lavender can be used to improve the flavor of your favorite beverages rather than adding high-calorie sweets or syrups.
Also available and frequently having few or no calories, low-calorie or unsweetened versions of additives like soda or tonic water are an option.
Finally, you might find it helpful to change the proportions of your materials. In your drink, experiment with adding more ice, sparkling water, or seltzer and less soda or juice.