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2003/07/13, 01:54 PM
Ok, I know alcohol is a bad thing, that is a given. What I'm wondering is since I am not going to be going stone-cold sober or anything (not that I drink a lot, but I do drink), what is better?
1 beer, 1 glass of white wine, 1 glass of red wine or a hard-alcohol drink like a vodka-tonic? If someone could rank these from best to worst, I'd appreciate it.
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2003/07/14, 01:17 AM
1 glass of winw (red or white - doesn't matter), beer, hard alcohol - anywy...best is the clear water ;)
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2003/07/14, 05:14 PM
Considering that scotch is really the only alcohol that diabetics are told by most doctors they could indulge in, I'd think it would be best.
However, my personal feeling is that if you are wanting to lose weight or cut, you should not have alcohol at ALL. Here is why.
Successful weight loss is all about oxidizing (or burning), more calories than you eat. Drinking too much has a far more damaging effect than most people think. Not only does it reduce the number of fat calories you burn, alcohol can increase your appetite and lower your testosterone levels for up to 24 hours after you finish drinking.
Some evidence for this comes from research carried in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Eight men were given
two drinks of vodka and lemonade separated by 30 minutes. Each drink contained just under 90 calories. Fat metabolism was measured before and after consumption of the drink. For several hours after drinking the vodka, whole body lipid oxidation (a measure of how much fat your body is burning) dropped by a massive 73%.
Rather than getting stored as fat, the main fate of alcohol is conversion into a substance called acetate. In fact, blood levels of acetate after drinking the vodka were 2.5 times higher than normal. And it appears this sharp rise in acetate puts the brakes on fat loss.
A car engine typically uses only one source of fuel. Your body, on the other hand, draws from a number of different energy sources, such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein. To a certain extent, the source of fuel your body uses is dictated by its availability.
In other words, your body tends to use whatever you feed it.
Consequently, when acetate levels rise, your body simply burns more acetate, and less fat. In essence, acetate pushes fat to the back of the queue.
So, to summarize and review, here's what happens to fat
metabolism after the odd drink or two.
- A small portion of the alcohol is converted into fat.
- Your liver then converts most of the alcohol into acetate.
- The acetate is then released into your bloodstream, and
replaces fat as a source of fuel.
Not only does alcohol put the brakes on fat loss, it's also one of the most effective ways to slash your testosterone levels. Just a single bout of heavy drinking raises levels of the muscle-wasting hormone cortisol and increases the breakdown of testosterone for up to 24 hours. The damaging effects of alcohol on testosterone are made even worse when you exercise before drinking.
The effect of alcohol on testosterone could be one reason that people who drink a lot carry less muscle. In fact, a 1993 study shows that alcoholic men have bigger waists and smaller muscles than teetotalers.
The bottom line is that alcohol and a leaner, stronger body just doesn't mix.
To view this update on-line, visit:
http://thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/alcohol.htm
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~Jennifer
http://www.gwindalyn.com
If you dont stand for something, you will fall for anything.
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2003/07/14, 05:22 PM
Oh I agree 100% that having alcohol is far from ideal. I just know myself, and I am 23, and I enjoy tossing back a few with buddies on the weekends occasionally. It's my method of relaxation, and I'd rather weigh another 5-10 pounds than not do it, hence my question.
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2003/07/14, 07:36 PM
If I am correct alcohol has 7calories per gram, doesn't matter what type of alcohol is injested. If you are going to drink I would stick with light beer. I personally think that it can be better for you if you don't want those extra fat calories. To answer your question 1 glass of light beer. I would imagine.
ANYONE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG
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2003/07/14, 07:41 PM
jeheinz.....finally another guy with some perspective. Despite my clean diet and rigorous lifting, I end up binge drinking like a hobo who won the lottery on weekends. I'm young, single, and still in school, so I figure what the hell; I won't be doing this in 5 years.
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OSU Law Rugby....specializing in personal injury and pain & suffering.
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2004/03/25, 03:16 PM
bump
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2004/03/26, 07:57 AM
I have heard red wine helps to clear out the arteries(sp?)
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2004/03/26, 10:06 AM
I just read a study that a person who drinks on occasion is 44 percent less likely to have heart failure then those who don't drink at all. I like a little bourbon from time to time.....but watch out more than 3 and you're in for a rough morning.
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Jay
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2004/03/26, 12:02 PM
red wine (and sherry for that matter) contain high levels of antioxidants, which if taken in moderation have a cardioprotective effect
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2004/03/26, 12:37 PM
What if you are a college student? Most college students drink. I'm a college student. What can I do to minimize weight gain from drinking alcohol? I usually only drink once a week.
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