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Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks

By Diane Hanson

Don’t you agree if I say it’s really not easy to watch your weight and enjoy alcoholic drinks at the same time? Very often we are not mindful of our alcohol choices until our beer belly exposes the truth. Alcoholic drinks, like food, contain calories, and the higher the alcohol content, the more calories it has.

Alcohol content of a drink can be calculated from its percentage alcohol content by volume (% ABV).

Generally speaking, beer can have an alcohol content ranging from 0.05 to 10 percent, wine is usually about 5 to 13 percent while liquors and liqueurs can be as high as 14 to 40 percent alcohol.

So, the next time whether you’re at the bar or entertaining at home, make sure to make these low calorie alcoholic drinks your preferred choice if you want to remain slim and svelte while drinking alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol Drinks with Least Calories

Vodka Cranberry or Cape Codder

Cranberry juice is surprisingly calorific so it’s a good idea to replace it with diet cranberry juice (as your mixer*) instead. That way, you slash almost 100 calories off your drink. And since cranberry is known as a natural diuretic, it will help flush alcohol out of your system.

*Mixers that are not fattening include orange juice 84 calories, light orange juice 50 calories, light lemonade 5 calories per 8 ounce serving.

Mojito

Can’t make up your mind between Mojito and Margarita? Always choose Mojito. According to an article on Forbes on the most fattening drinks, Margarita has a whopping 740 calories! Choose Mojito, you save close to 132 calories. To cut more calories, use sugar substitutes rather than regular sugar and always make sure to pour fresh lime juice to mix your Mojito. Lime is rich in Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant which helps neutralize the toxic breakdown products of alcohol metabolism.

Rum and Diet Coke

Rum and Coke, 185 calories. Rum and Diet Coke, 100 calories. Enough said, you do the maths.

Light Beer

If you’re going to drink beer, make sure it is light in both calories and color. Dark colored beers (Guinness) pack more calories than their cousins. Light beer, or “low-carb” beer has about 98 calories per serving. My personal favorites, Michelob Ultra (96 calories) and Miller Lite (98 calories).

So which alcoholic cocktails are lofty in calorie content and which ones have the lowest calorie amount? Note that calorie content figures are approximate, depending on ingredients and portions.

Pina Colada (6 oz): 378 calories
Cosmopolitan (4 oz): 200 calories
Skinnygirl Margarita (4 oz): 100 calories
Martini (2½ oz): 160 calories
Bloody Mary (5 oz): 118 calories
Port wine (3 oz): 128 calories
Red wine (5 oz): 120 calories
White wine (5 oz): 120 calories
Alcohol-free wine (5 oz): about 20-30 calories
Beer (12 oz): about 150-198 calories
Champagne (5 oz): about 106-120 calories
Eggnog with rum (8 oz): 370 calories
Vodka and tonic (8 oz): 200 calories
Screwdriver (8 oz): 190 calories
Mimosa (4 oz): 75 calories
Gin and Tonic (7 oz): 200 calories
Long Island Iced Tea (8 oz): 780 calories

Very importantly, don’t forget to also drink lots of fluids – preferably water, or unsweetened coconut water – to help alleviate dehydration. Always drink a glass of water after every alcoholic beverage you consume.

Alcohol has a diuretic effect that makes you go to the bathroom more often. Increased urine production may lead to dehydration, and also possibly worsening hangover symptoms such as headache and fatigue.

Water fills you up quickly, and therefore will help control the amount of calories you take in throughout the night. Moreover, water reduces hangover risks, and may lessen the severity of the hangover significantly, so say “cin cin” to that!

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