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| Credit: Morguefile |
Alcohol adds more calories to
the daily diet than might be suspected, finds a CDC survey. When you factor in beer and wine consumption,
the boost in calorie intake might be even more significant.
The message is important as the holidays approach. If you’re
trying to diet, it’s important to consider findings that alcohol can add 100 or
more calories a day that can thwart weight loss, exercise goals for weight maintenance and dieting.
According to results of a report that included survey data from adults over age 20 participating
in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2010, beer,
wine, liquor, or mixed drinks added an average of 174 calories a day for men aged
20 to 29.
For men, the calories came
mostly from drinking beer. For women, the average increase from drinking was
found to be about 50 calories. Women with higher income had a tendency to drink
more.
The study also found that 19%
of men and 12% of women exceeded recommendations for moderate drinking – one per
day for women and two for men.
According to the report and as a reference "…a 12-ounce can of regular soda
contains 140 calories, which is slightly less than a same-sized can of regular
beer. A five ounce glass of wine contains about 100 calories."
The study highlights the
importance of factoring in calories from alcohol for anyone trying to watch
their waistline. The surveys showed alcohol adds an average of 100 calories a
day to the average American’s diet. If you want to lose one pound a week, you
have to take in 500 fewer calories a day.
A past study shows alcohol and obesity are linked to the same regions of the brain, meaning alcohol consumption and overeating may share the same underlying mechanisms.
A past study shows alcohol and obesity are linked to the same regions of the brain, meaning alcohol consumption and overeating may share the same underlying mechanisms.
One mile of brisk walking –
15 to 20 minutes – can help you burn 100 calories. If you have one alcohol
drink a day, it would take 7 miles of walking each week to compensate for the
added calories that come from alcohol, according to the CDC.
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