Alcoholic beverages such as cocktails, beer, fruit wine, and wine are always popular choices for social gatherings. However, according to surveys, you may be consuming up to 1000 calories after each party.
1 Cocktails
Cocktails are becoming more common, and you can easily find drinks like Margaritas, B-52s, Bacardis, and Mojitos anywhere, even in cafes.
But did you know that according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), every 100ml of Margarita contains about 160 calories?
Traditional cocktail recipes used to include only liquor and lemon juice, but nowadays, to save time, bartenders add large amounts of sugar syrup, with up to 5 teaspoons of sugar per drink.
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day. So, just by drinking two cocktails, you’ve exceeded the daily limit.
2 Tonic
Tonic is a drink made mainly from soda and liquor. However, tonic also contains high-fructose corn syrup, which means that a 350ml serving can have up to 8 teaspoons of sugar.
Typically, a 50ml serving of gin mixed with 150ml of tonic water contains about 150 calories. So, when you drink gin and tonic, you’ll notice a sweet taste at the back of your throat.
Therefore, if you want to mix liquor with a soft drink, it’s better to use sugar-free carbonated water or soda instead of tonic water.
3 Wine
Wine enthusiasts can rest assured that wine has a moderate calorie content and is even recommended by experts.
Red wine: On average, 150ml of red wine contains about 130 calories.
White wine: On average, 150ml of white wine contains about 125 calories.
Wine also contains antioxidants and resveratrol, which can increase good cholesterol, prevent bad cholesterol from sticking to artery walls, and reduce inflammation.
However, it’s important to choose your wine wisely, as some wines made from dried grapes can have higher sugar content. For example, a glass of Riesling can contain up to 165 calories.
4 Beer
Light beers typically have about 100 calories per 350ml. However, beer is also known to be one of the most harmful alcoholic drinks for your health.
On the other hand, a survey of 70,000 women found that moderate beer consumption can be good for your blood pressure, and beer also contains Vitamin B and some other beneficial minerals.
5 Vodka Soda
Compared to other alcoholic drinks, vodka mixed with soda is a healthier option, with about 100 calories per 50ml.
This combination is also said to hydrate the body and prevent headaches after drinking alcohol, and it may even slow down your drinking pace.
6 Champagne
With only 80 calories per 110ml, champagne is considered the alcoholic drink with the lowest calorie content by nutritionists.
A standard champagne flute contains just 84 calories.
Now you know which drinks to choose to suit your health needs. You can also check out our article on how many calories your body needs per day for more information.