The Truth About Alcohol And Fat Loss

     It's a common belief that any alcohol that you consume will cause weight gain, but the research suggests that not only may this be wrong, the opposite may be true. Alcohol and weight loss may not be opposing forces.

Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, just 2 fewer calories as fat, so it is logical to think that it could promote fat storage. The reality is not so neat and simple.

Alcohol may actually benefit your metabolism when you keep it to moderate levels. First, moderate alcohol intake can activate an enzyme called AMP kinase which improves insulin sensitivity, lowers triglycerides, lowers blood glucose, and lowers body weight.

Lastly, moderate alcohol seems to prevent the breakdown of catecholamines, compounds that are produced by the body that stoke metabolism and burn fat.

Now the down side. Not surprisingly, alcohol consumption can have side effects. First, alcohol is a caloric beverage, and can bring substantial amounts of calories if you aren't careful. Drinking low-calorie and low-carbohydrate beverages can help you make it through the party with few calories.

Next, alcoholic beverages can open up the doorway to eating fattening bar food. This can clog up the metabolism and render any benefits associated with alcohol consumption ineffective.

Scientists discovered that alcohol doesn't make you do stupid thing, it simply makes you not care about doing stupid things. This means that alcohol knocks out the mental breaks that prevent you from acting on impulses and thoughts. This means that you are far more likely to eat a whole pizza, a bucket of chicken wings, or that big bag of cookies that awaits you at home. This may be one of the bigger problems with alcohol...it may trigger eating behaviors that will promote weight gain.

So, what do you do? Drink alcohol? Avoid it like the plague?

1. Avoid high-calorie, fat-laden bar food when drinking alcohol. Go to the bar with a stomach full of healthy food.

2. Choose alcoholic beverages that are low in calories and carbohydrates. Some great choices include: rum and diet cola, dry red wine, MGD 64, and Michelob Ultra. Don't drink sugary beverages.

3. If you're looking to burn that spare tire, my recommendation is to avoid alcohol altogether. If you're not actively trying to burn fat, rather you are trying to maintain weight, keep to no more than one glass a night or one "party night".

4. Remember that alcohol can interfere with healthy sleep, so plan on getting a few extra hours of sleep after your "party night"

5. If you have a particularly bad night, try using a meal replacement shake for weight loss support. Meal replacements can give your body the break it needs to burn some of the extra fat.

Alcohol is definitely no fat loss miracle, even though it does have some benefits. That being said, it also is not as fat provoking when you consume it responsibly. So, the final word is...keep alcohol to a minimum and if you happen to enjoy a couple of bottles of beer or glasses of red win on the weekend, enjoy it.

Copyright (c) 2012 Raymond Hinish

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