Calories in Alcoholic Beverages


            Can drinking pile on pounds?

            In short, the answer is yes. Even though calories are the same no matter where they come from, alcohol has a
            negative effect on metabolism, which is the body’s ability to burn fat for energy.

            Here’s how it works:

                  • When a person drinks alcohol, only a small amount is used by the body as energy.

                  • The majority of the alcohol goes to the liver, where it is changed into acetate.

                  • Acetate is then released into the bloodstream – and the body will always use acetate to fuel the body
                    instead of fat stores.

                  • Over time, the harm to the body’s metabolic system results in the infamous “beer belly” – because the body
                    is not burning fat stores for energy whenever alcohol is present in the blood stream.

            Quite simply, frequent alcohol consumption leads to weight gain and obesity – and it also leads to major health
            problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some forms
            of cancer.

            The best way to avoid piling on the pounds when it comes to drinking alcohol
            is simple: learn the facts about serving sizes, alcohol content, calories
            and carbs. And if you do choose to drink, follow the U.S. Dietary
            Guidelines for moderation: one drink per day for women and two
            drinks per day for men.



            See the chart of alcohol facts for specific examples. Learn more
            about guidelines for responsible alcohol use with the
            Domino Strategy.