Publication
The little book of white lies
Alchohol And Your Weight
Check the current advice on sensible drinking.
For men:
• If you drink 3-4 units per day there will be no significant health risk. Consistently drinking 4 or more units a day is not advised.
For women:
• If you drink 2-3 units per day there will be no significant health risk. Consistently drinking 3 or more units a day is not advised.
(In later life drinking a small amount of alcohol is thought to help prevent coronary heart disease. For men over 40 and women through the menopause this is thought to be 1-2 units a day.)
1 unit of alcohol = 1 small glass of wine or a measure of spirits or 1 /2 pint of beer.
Cutting down on alcohol means you’ll cut down on your calorie intake, too. For example, a pint of beer is actually higher in calories than a bag of crisps. Changing the type of alcohol you drink is another way of reducing your calorie intake.
• A pint of stout has more calories than a pint of beer.
• A small glass of wine has less than half the calories of a pint of beer.
Other ways of reducing your intake:
• Making longer drinks with low-calorie or calorie-free mixers.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic, low-calorie ones.
• Alternate pints with half pints.
Note: alcohol-free beers are high in sugar, and not low in calories.