Bottles of alcoholic drinks. (photo credits to www.abc.net.au)
Drinking alcoholic beverages is part of every social gathering. And now that we are in a holiday season, drinking sessions are everywhere. It plays a societal role in many cultures. But what nutrition do we really get in drinking alcohol?
Alcoholic beverages comprise a large group of beverages such as beer, wine, tequila, and vodka, that contain varying amounts of alcohol (ethanol) produced through fermentation of grains or fruits. The components of alcoholic beverages are highly complex and over 1300 compounds have been identified in various beverages.
Alcoholic drinks are rich in energy, containing 7 kilocalories per gram but with pure sugar or fat. Alcohol can add extra calories that may lead to weight gain. You might be surprised for twelve ounce of regular beer provides 153 kcal while its light version of the same amount gives 103 kcal. Five ounce of red wine has 125 kcal while white wine has 121 kcal. These kilocalories are comparable to the calories of a half cup rice. The kilocalories in alcohol are empty nutrients. The more alcohol people drink, the less likely that they will eat enough food to obtain adequate nutrition. More so, it would add up and may exceed their recommended energy intake in a day.
According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, alcohols should be consumed in moderation – up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men—and only by adults of legal drinking age as cited by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recommendation is for a single day consumption and is not intended as an average over several days. It is also not recommended to any individuals who do not drink alcohol to start drinking.
As a guide for a healthy body, remember Kumainment number 10: “Maging aktibo. Iwasan ang alak; huwag manigarilyo.” The healthier choices of drink to enjoy this holiday season are the fresh fruit juices which give rich amount of nutrients, and water for a calorie-free and guilt-free drink that is essential for our body processes. (BLVMEstrella)
Sources:
Whitney, E.N. and Rolfes, S.R. (2016). Understanding Nutrition, 14th ed. Cengage Learning
Cacho J.F., and R. Lopez. (2005) Encyclopedia of Analytical Science (Second Edition)
www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm
www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Alcohol-and-smoking/Alcohol-and-Nutrition.aspx
