Wondering About Alcohol

Do you take time out at the end of a long day to enjoy a quiet glass or two of wine in peace or do you suffer from a guilty sense of “I shouldn’t be drinking this”? Are you confused or concerned about what is the right choice? Is red wine better than white? What about spirits with a diet mixer? Does my squeeze of lemon increase my vitamin C load? Will I be able to metabolise fat if I drink alcohol as well? Do I have an alcohol problem if I drink more than two glasses a day, and do I really care?

Personally, I find after the first glass my concerns ease as I am tempted to indulge in another. At this point in the evening the snacks start to sneak in, and any concerns about additional calories, white or red etc, matter less than the joy of a few chippies or some cheese and olives. There is always tomorrow. I’ll start again then.

The most common question I am asked is whether red is better than white? The answer used to be simple, research showed that two glasses of red wine a day was associated with improved cardiovascular health and extended life expectancy. However more recently, an accountant friend (rather more skilled at addition than my mathematically challenged self) pointed out that alcohol adverts indicated she may have a problem on her two glasses. The advertising indicates an intake of 4 standard drinks makes you a binge drinker (a standard measure being 100mls). My friends’ rather elegant wine glasses hold a little more than the standard measure. Her two glasses a day, previously medicinal now seem to hold another problem for her.

The other question I’m often asked is “what is the best kind of alcohol to drink if I want to loose weight?” The simple response is none – well not if you want to loose weight as well. Alcohol sadly is a source of empty calories. It doesn’t matter how you wrap it up or what variety you choose, any alcohol is extra calories, so if you are loosing weight not particularly helpful.

The moral of this story is moderation. An occasional glass or two is not going to do any harm. Yes there are a few extra calories, be careful about how often and how much. But remember when you do have the occasional drink – Enjoy!!

Mary-Ann Carter

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