The short answer is yes; alcohol can make you fat - depending on
how much you drink. The body turns some of the alcohol into fat, which
ends up on you stomach - hence the "beer belly". This is because there
are calories in the alcohol and we all know if we are taking on more
calories than we are losing, we are going to put on weight and, in some
cases, get fat. But it is not just the calories themselves that make you
fat, it is the process they trigger. Research has shown that when the
body is met with a sudden intake of calories, it wants more of the same.
In other words it wants more alcohol or food - this is when alcohol can
make you fat.
Generally, when we drink we are mixing socially. We
are in a relaxed frame of mind, one drink helps us relax more and it
triggers the need for another drink - or food. If we drink before a
meal, which is common, our appetite is roused and we are ready to eat.
This means we can find ourselves drinking and eating more than we
normally would. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this, as it is
all very civilized and socially enjoyable. It only becomes a problem
when we are eating and drinking too much too often. It also depends on
what we are drinking and eating.
Some Drinks Make You Fatter Than Others
Not
all alcoholic drinks are created equal in the fat-making stakes. Some
drinks have additional fat producing qualities because of the
carbohydrates in them. For example, red wine and dry white wine have few
carbohydrates because the sugar has been turned into alcohol. On the
other hand, sweet wine has more, and fortified wines like port and
sherry have more still. Of course, beer and lager are very high in
carbohydrates, and cider is not far behind. Drinkers of whisky and
spirits will be pleased to know there are virtually no carbohydrates
present. All this makes sense, because the sweeter the drink the more
sugar would be present and sugar is a carbohydrate.
Do We Have To Give It All Up?
I
certainly hope not - I do like that glass of red wine with the evening
meal and I am sure I am not alone. It just means we have to be aware of
what we are drinking in exactly the same way we need to be aware of what
we are eating. Of course, too much alcohol will make you fat in the
same way as too much food, healthy or not, can make you fat. There is no
reason why a moderate amount of alcohol with its physical, emotional
and social benefits cannot form part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
