Best & Worst Types of Alcohol for Weight Loss

You've heard having a glass of wine with dinner is good for your heart, right? Well, it's not that good, according to some research. A recent study has found that while alcohol has been shown to provide some protective factors against heart disease and diabetes in women, the positive effects were offset by the fact that alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, accidents, and dampen immunity.

What's more, having that nightly glass of wine isn't helping with weight loss. Any alcohol consumption can impact the metabolism and make weight loss more challenging. Alcohol contains empty calories and doesn't provide any nutrients for your body. It can not only cause a water weight increase, but it's also full of calories, so your actual weight can go up as well.

So what's the answer? The usual advice is to drink in moderation. Moderation is defined as up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. But if you're trying to lose weight, it's a good idea to limit your drinking even more, because drinking less is always healthier than drinking more.

Here are the best and worst types of alcohol to drink if you're watching your weight.

Best Types of Alcohol for Weight Loss

Red Wine (105 Calories per 150 ml Serving)

Enjoying a glass of red wine with dinner has long been considered a "healthy" move because of its purported heart-healthy benefits. And though there's never been a long-term randomized trial that proved some of these claims, a dry red wine (like a cabernet sauvignon or Shiraz) is one of the lower-calorie adult beverages you can have.

Light Beer (96 to 100 Calories per 350 ml Serving)

If you're in the mood for beer, go light. It's another low-calorie option. You'll save about 40 to 55 calories per 350 ml serving, compared with a regular beer.

Dry Vermouth (105 Calories per 90 ml Serving)

A 90 ml serving of dry vermouth contains 105 calories. And while you'll generally find it mixed into a martini or a Manhattan, you can save calories by sipping it neat.

Spirits on the Rocks (About 65 Calories per shot - 30 ml serving)

Whether you're into vodka or tequila, gin or whiskey, there's no real difference in calories or carbohydrates - they all have about 65 calories per shot. Your best bet when sipping alcohol is to have it straight, or with sparkling water or club soda. That's because a whiskey drink, for example, can quickly go from a 100-calorie drink to 300-plus when you add sugary, high-calorie mixers.

Worst Types of Alcohol for Weight Loss

Sugary Cocktails (500 Calories per 250 ml Serving)

Fancy mixed drinks might sound tasty, but they're often loaded with calories. A Long Island iced tea, for example, will set you back about 500 calories. That's more calories than you'll find in a double cheeseburger from McDonald's.

Frozen Beach Drinks (280 Calories per 150 ml Serving)

A sunny beach day may make you crave strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas - but watch out if slimming down your waistline is a goal. Both daiquiris and pina coladas have about 280 calories per 150 ml serving.

Craft Beer (170 Calories per 350 ml Serving)

A 350 ml craft beer runs about 170 calories (or more). The reason for this difference, compared with commercial beers, is that craft beers often have extra ingredients and carbs that amp up their flavor. Though the latter may lead you to drink less than you would when sitting with a light beer, ultimately craft beers tend to have higher alcohol content, and more alcohol means more calories.

The Bottom Line

If you are serious about losing weight then your best option is to avoid alcohol altogether. But if you're in a situatrion where a scocial drink is expected then go for one of the healthier, low-calorie options.