Beyond the Bottle

Surprising Facts About Alcohol

Summertime BBQs are the absolute best. They’re like Christmas, but they last for three months. Everyone is happy and excited to hang out and especially happy to share a cold drink.

Since summer parties and fun drinks go hand in hand, we thought we’d give you some facts about alcohol. Alcohol is tied with sugar as the number one reason why we can't reach our health goals, and it's not just because of the calories… Here's why: 

1. Alcohol is 7 calories per gram – much closer to fat (9 cal/g) in caloric density than carbs or protein (4 calories per gram). One drink = 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, or 1.5 oz liquor (Restaurants have a heavy pour – You're likely getting more calories than you think!)

2. Causes Dehydration – inhibits the action of anti-diuretic hormone in the body, releasing more fluids than usual. 

3. Interferes with Fat Burning – Our bodies aren't designed to store alcohol, so they try to expel it as quickly as possible. This gets in the way of other processes and slows them down… like fat burning! Your body will prioritize burning the alcohol first (before fat).

4. Depletes Glycogen Storage – Like an intense workout, it depletes us. But it's the opposite of what an intense workout does. This is why we crave high-calorie and greasy food after a night (or day) of heavy drinking. 

5. Liver Works on Overdrive – While it should be filtering daily toxins, it focuses its attention on getting rid of alcohol. 

Are we saying don't ever drink? You should know us well enough by now that we never give hard or fast rules to follow but encourage you to figure out what feels best for YOUR body. However, if you're trying to achieve weight loss or other health-related goals, you may want to consider cutting back or cutting it out. As you can see now, it's more than just empty calories!

 IF you're going to enjoy an adult beverage occasionally, we suggest clear drinks and pairing your drinks with protein and fat. This pomegranate cocktail/mocktail is quick and easy.

Pomegranate Lemon Gin Fizz

• 2 ounces top shelf Gin (or try this non-alcoholic gin alternative!)

• 1/2 ounce Fresh squeezed lemon juice

• 6 ounces of Pomegranate Kombucha (GTS or Health-Ade brands are great)

• Twist of lemon rind and pomegranate arils, for garnish