Wine or beer: Which of these alcoholic drinks has the most calories?
You watch your character and when it's time for an aperitif, you vacillate between a glass of wine or a pint of beer. What is the best option to reduce weight gain? Lighting by Florence Waxin, Dietitian.
It's summer and during this time, it's not uncommon to spend a lazy day at the beach or at the pool with an iced aperitif. While some opt for fruit juices, detox cocktails, or sodas, others are tempted by alcoholic beverages.
Among the most consumed appetizers in this context are wine and beer. However, we know that alcohol is not without consequences for health...or at stake! But which of its two drinks has the biggest impact on weight?
Wine and beer: empty calories
A glass of wine generally contains 12 cl of the drink and contains about 100 calories. On the other hand, beer is generally drunk in two forms: the half, which equals 25 cl, or the pint, which is 50 cl. The pint has also become the basic unit. A half beer containing 3% alcohol contains 108 calories, while a pint has 216.
The problem: The calories in these alcoholic beverages are said to be "empty," meaning they have no nutritional value, and the energy these calories provide is not used by the body. In the end, the ethanol molecule contained in alcohol turns into glucose, that is, sugar, and then into triglycerides, that is, fat.
consequences ? The more alcohol consumed, the more empty calories are stored. It also affects the liver which can only neutralize a small amount of alcohol. So heavy alcohol consumption can have an impact on the line and on health, even if it depends on the metabolism of each.
Monitor the amount consumed and frequency
What gives the calorie side of the drink is the degree of alcohol. The higher it is, the more calories the drink contains. Thus, wine contains more calories than beer, but since a glass of wine contains 12 cl and a beer contains 25 to 50, beer can, depending on the degree of alcohol, become more calories.
Finally, when you consume alcohol, it is not the choice of drink that promotes weight gain, but the amount consumed and frequency. So it is possible to monitor your figure while drinking alcohol, if this consumption is limited to a few glasses per week. Drinking more regularly and in larger amounts promotes fat storage.
If the amount of alcohol consumed and frequency have a greater impact on weight gain than drink selection, beer has a peculiarity: it tends to increase the size of the stomach due to the gas it contains, which can have consequences for the line.
Wine and beer: How do you limit the impact these drinks have on the line?
To consume alcohol while taking care of your health and personality, the following are recommended:
limit the amount and frequency of consumption;
Drink a large glass of water before consuming alcohol and between each glass as this helps to reduce the feeling of thirst and thus reduce the quantities consumed;
Avoid sweet white wine, it is sweeter than others;
Avoid cocktails such as Monaco, which contains beer, lemonade, and grenadine syrup, or liqueurs that contain crème de cassis and white wine, as this adds sugar and calories.