The lowest-calorie, healthiest alcohol choices for a less bloated Celebration

Each year, around 70% of adult Americans consume alcohol. Moderate alcohol use can have benefits even though it does have some unfavorable health effects.

While drinking alcohol is never a healthy decision, some types of alcohol are better for you than others.
Better than beer and sugary drinks are red wine, whiskey, tequila, and strong kombucha.
According to the CDC, women should only have one drink per day and men should restrict their intake to two.

“It must be made clear that alcohol is poison. Therefore, we’re not attempting to argue that alcohol by itself is beneficial,” explains registered dietitian. “But research has shown that having a drink or two a day can actually have some protective heart health benefits and in my opinion, it’s because it helps us relax.”

If you choose to drink, you can choose alcohol in a healthy way. What you need to know about the healthiest and unhealthiest types of alcohol is provided here.

Healthiest alcohol

Red wine

Red wine is the best option when it comes to alcohol that is healthier.

Red wine has polyphenols that can strengthen your heart and antioxidants that can shield your cells from harm. Although in lesser amounts, white wine and rose also contain them.

According to research, red wine is linked to enhancing:

cardiovascular well-being
Density of bones
mental wellness

Dietitian advises seeking out natural wines regardless of the kind you’re drinking. “These wines have far fewer additives and your liver won’t have to work as hard, adding to the health benefits that you may get from your wine,” she claims.

General recommendation: Find out which natural wines are the healthiest by visiting your neighborhood wine shop.

Champagne

Champagne is made from grapes that are strong in phenolic compounds, an antioxidant class that can improve brain function and possibly lower the incidence of dementia.

Indeed, a 2013 study on animals discovered that aged rodents’ memory was enhanced by champagne. Although the results have not yet been verified for human brains, scientists thought the results were encouraging and aligned with studies for other foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries.

Tequila

a couple of glasses that have some lemon in them

Consuming agave tequila plant can enhance calcium absorption and promote bone health, according to studies conducted on mice. Tequila use is unlikely to be able to alleviate bone disorders like osteoporosis or calcium deficiencies in people, though.

However, according to Dietitian, clear liquors like tequila are typically low in calories and you could do much worse if you’re drinking.

“Clear liquors like vodka, tequila, and gin are lowest in sugar and calories and are easiest for our bodies to metabolize,” explains Dietitian.

Whiskey

Red wine is known for its antioxidant qualities, and studies have shown that whiskey can have a comparable impact.

Indeed, the study came to the conclusion that a moderate alcohol intake combined with an increase in antioxidants may help lower the risk of heart disease.

It’s still up for discussion, though, whether alcohol can actually prevent heart disease, so it’s probably best to indulge in other foods high in antioxidants, like dark chocolate.

Hard kombucha

A tea that has undergone fermentation is called kombucha. Usually, it contains so little alcohol that it isn’t even considered an alcoholic beverage.

On the other hand, some kombucha producers are now making hard kombucha, which is akin to hard seltzer or beer in terms of alcohol level. Consuming kombucha on a regular basis can improve digestion and lower cholesterol and blood pressure, among other health advantages.

Whether those translate into hard kombucha is still unknown. On the other hand, Dietitian notes that certain strong kombucha types are sugar-free, which is fantastic for your health. “You want to stay away from sugar no matter what kind of alcohol you’re drinking,” she says, as sugar has been linked to a number of negative health outcomes, including weight gain and heart disease.

Alcohols to stay away from

While it’s interesting to learn about the health advantages of moderate alcohol use, it’s just as crucial to know which drinks to avoid. Remove these drinks from your rotation if you’re trying to maintain your health, advises Dietitian.

Beer: Beer has a lot of congeners, which are chemicals that cause hangovers, and empty calories. “Beer is probably last on my list of alcohols that could potentially have health benefits,” adds Dietitian.

Sweet drinks: According to Dietitian, juice-based drinks are high in sugar, which adds to the calories and hangover severity. “Stick with sparkling water, lemon, lime, cucumber slices, or orange slices to flavor,” she explains.

The 5 Healthiest Alcohols to Drink and Which You Should Avoid (businessinsider.com)