Dieting and drinking definitely do not go hand in hand. An alcoholic drink can add a few pounds easily to your body. And you certainly do not want to gain weight after all that rigorous dieting just because you decided to have one drink at a party. Don't fret anymore because our experts have charted out a diet plan where you can enjoy some selected drinks without worrying about calories.
Here are seven drinks that won't wreck your diet:
- The Ultralight Beer: People who are on a diet are wary of beer because beer comes with high calories. But in recent years the arrival of ultralight beer has changed the scenario. Ultralight beer contains less than 3 percent alcohol when compared to the light beer that contain on an average 4.5 percent alcohol. But be sure not to overindulge because then the low calorie advantage would no longer persist.
Calorie Count: 355 ml/12 oz equals to 95 calories. - A Guinness: You may think that a Guinness is an antithesis of a light beer but experts claim that Guinness is packed with lots of goodness. In a recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin, the presence of antioxidant compounds in Guinness was found. These can prevent clotting of blood which is responsible for heart attack. The researchers claim that a pint of Guinness a day has the same effect as the daily intake of the low dose aspirin as the doctors recommend.
Calorie Count: 1 pint/568 ml equals to 210 calories. - Red Wine: Experts have time and again informed us about the goodness of red wine but that does not mean that you have to overdo it. Experts recommend that women should take only one glass and men should stop at two glasses of wine. Also, if you are having wine with the dinner, avoid eating pasta, bread or rice as it increases your calorie intake. Instead opt for lean protein and non-starchy vegetable.
Calorie Count: 1 glass/120 ml equals to 68 calories. - Champagne and Sparkling Wine: Champagne and other sparkling wines are no different from non-sparkling wines in terms of calories and that is almost 20 calories per ounce (around 30 ml). But what sets sparkling wines apart from non-sparkling wines is that they produce a head when poured. So once the foam disappears you are left with less amount of liquid than the non-sparkling wines, and this would mean lower calories.
Calorie Count: 1 glass/120 ml equals to 76 calories. - Preferred Liquor with Club Soda/Water/Diet Soda: The standard varieties of 80 proof liquor (40% alcohol by volume) like whiskey, vodka or other drinks such as rum, gin, tequila and brandy that most of us love to drink contain roughly 100 calories in a shot. So make sure that the additional drink that you add do not contain extra calories. So you can either opt for ice and water or ice and club soda. Even ice and diet coke wouldn't be a bad combination. But totally avoid orange juice or other cola and even sugary mixers for that matter because it will definitely add to the total calories.
- Mojito: Mojito which is favorite drink of Cuban's, is considered as a good alternative to fruity cocktails and blended drinks. Mojito is a blend of rum, mint and lime juice topped with club soda and the best part is that it contains only 1 teaspoon of sugar. Mint is loaded with goodness and is used to treat stomachache and chest pain. Also it is extensively used in aromatherapy.
Calorie Count: 355 ml/12 oz equals to 130 calories. - Martini: You can always opt for martini because it is a subtle blend of gin and vodka along with classic olives or lemon twist and it is a low calorie cocktail.
Calorie Count: 100 calories per martini shot and 5 calories for each olive.
So follow these simple tips and you can enjoy a drink or two at a social gathering. Now you don’t have to worry anymore about the extra calories due to drinks.
