FitSugar

How Many Alcoholic Drinks Do You Have a Week?

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:30:26 -0700

Hello Friday, and hello glass of wine after work! When the end of the week rolls around, sipping a glass of chardonnay or pinot noir is definitely one way I like to wind down.

Although there are tons of health benefits associated with wine, many studies point to the rule that women should enjoy one alcoholic bevvy or less a day. Limiting the amount of alcohol you gulp down can help prevent breast cancer and other cancers, lower your risk of stroke, and prevent loss of bone density. Some days, it's tough to stick to that rule though, so be honest . . .

Another Reason to Stop After One Glass: Weight Gain

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:00:27 -0700

You all know I am big fan of moderation, especially when it comes to vices like chocolate or red wine. While alcohol might be the new exercise motivator, another health study was recently published seemingly to remind us all to be moderate when it comes to beer, wine, and booze. The UK study found that binge drinking leads to weight gain. And not just all over weight gain, but it increases belly fat, which is known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease.

Binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting and doing so has measurable health consequences - women who tend to binge drink were found to have waists four inches larger than those who did not. The study found that drinking one drink a day for five days didn't have the same effect of increasing abdominal fat as binge drinking. The study was unable to determine how long one would have to regularly binge drink to create the weight gain. Regardless, add this one to your lists of reasons to stop after one glass.

Health Benefits of Wine: Red vs. White

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:00:41 -0700

Have you been wondering, while sipping on your Chardonnay, if white wine offers all the benefits of red? You're in good company, for the New York Times has been wondering this as well.

If you prefer a light Pinot Grigio, you are missing out on many of the antioxidants found in grape skin, like resveratrol, which may help keep you get slim as well as protect your heart. There are less flavonoids, beneficial micro-nutrients found in the skins as well. All that being said, there have been few studies comparing the two. The whites with the highest amounts of flavonoids are made from granache blanc grapes in the Mediterranean regions: Spain, southern France, and Sardinia. Regardless of the shade of wine you prefer, to reap the health benefits of the wine, women should limit their intake of wine to one glass a day.

What are you drinking these days?

Summer Beverage Breakdown: Alcoholic Edition

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:00:16 -0700

When it's sunny and warm and you're craving a crisp, cold beverage, sometimes an iced coffee or fresh-squeezed tangerine juice just doesn't satisfy your thirst. Sometimes, you're in the mood for something with a little kick.

To see a breakdown of your favorite Summer alcoholic beverages keep reading

For Health Benefits, Sip Your Wine Slowly

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Wine from long habit has become an indispensable for my health." Let's hope he savored each sip, because new research indicates that the health benefits of wine are absorbed in the mouth, and I am not talking about taste. Resveratrol, the powerful antioxidant found in red wine, is not absorbed in the lower digestive tract like many nutrients, but by the mucous membranes in the mouth. Savoring the wine, like a connoisseur, can increase the amount of the antioxidant that makes it into our bloodstream by 100 percent. The bottom line: don't gulp your wine. Not only is it uncouth, but it is unhealthy as well.

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Dating Diet Tip: Have a Glass of Wine, Not a Bottle

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:30:00 -0700

When out on a date, sharing a bottle of wine can be quite romantic. But drinking half a bottle means you'll end up drinking over two glasses of wine. Although red wine does have many health benefits, remember that it's recommended that women only have one alcoholic beverage a day. Aside from overdoing it on the alcohol front, an extra glass of wine will tack on 120 calories to your meal. Not only that, but alcohol can lessen your resolve to eat healthy. So order one glass for the evening, and sip on water when you're done. It'll benefit your waistline, your health, and your wallet.

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The Connection Between Wine, Sulfites, and Headaches

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0800

Sipping a glass of wine is supposed to make you feel relaxed, but for some people, it can cause headaches, an upset stomach, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, hives, or even anaphylactic shock. It's caused by a sensitivity to something in the wine called sulfites. It's a sulfur-based preservative that occurs naturally or can be added to food such as wine. According to the FDA, sulfite sensitivity is pretty common - one out of every 100 people has it.
Reactions can range from mild to severe.

Most wines contain sulfites, except for ones that are specifically labeled "sulfite free." Yeast, used in the production of wine, naturally produces sulfites during the fermentation process. Winemakers also add sulfites to wine to prevent microorganisms from growing. In the US, it's required that wines contain a sulfite warning label, but you won't find labels like on imported wines.

There are other foods that contains sulfites, and to learn what they are read more.

Sulfites can be found in many foods. Some shrimp and lobster contain sulfites to prevent black spots from forming, and they are also used to condition dough and maintain the stability and potency of certain medications. Sulfites may also be found in baked goods, soup mixes, jams, molasses, grape juice, pickled foods, bottled lemon and lime juice, maraschino cherries, and dried fruit. If you're concerned about sulfites in your foods, check the package for these ingredients: sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, or potassium metabisulfite. If you've noticed symptoms after drinking wine or eating certain foods, you may want to look for sulfite-free alternatives.

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Americans Are Drinking Less Beer - How About You?

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0700

In a recent study conducted over a 50-year span, scientists discovered that people's drinking habits have changed in the US. According to the new study published in the American Journal of Medicine, Americans drink less beer and more wine. I guess they've realized that beer isn't chock full of beneficial antioxidants like wine. It was also reported that hard liquor use hasn't really changed, but more people said they don't drink at all. Overall, the study found that people born later in the 20th century are drinking more moderately than people born earlier.

People are beginning to see that there are horrible health issues associated with heavy alcohol consumption (such as breast cancer), and since drinking a little alcohol has actually been shown to improve cardiovascular health and may fight aging, people are adopting healthier drinking habits.

I'm ready to conduct a little study of my own now. When it comes to alcohol consumption . . .

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5 Reasons to Stop After One Glass of Wine

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

When drinking red wine, I enjoy my glass knowing I am reaping some health benefits with each sip. As with everything, moderation is key, and drinking more than one glass a day can tip the balance and be detrimental to your health. Here are five reasons to stop after having just one glass of wine.

One glass of wine a day can reduce you risk of having a heart attack, but two glasses of wine a day increases your chance for developing breast cancer.
One glass of wine a day can increase bone strength, but two or more glasses daily can weaken bones. This decrease in bone density can put you at risk for developing osteoporosis.
One glass of red wine a day may help you stay thin, but two or more glasses a day may raise the fats found in your blood.

To see my final two reasons, read more.

Drinking wine in moderation may help improve your ability to create and maintain memories, but two or more glasses, especially when coupled with tobacco use, can hasten the onset of Alzheimer's.
Drinking one glass of wine a day can lower your chances of having a stroke, but drinking more can raise your chances of having one.

If you use the health benefits of wine to justify or rationalize having a glass, stick to the one 4-oz. glass. Moderation is key when it comes to drinking alcohol. A little bit does the trick, but a little more than that can be risky.

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Fight Aging With Wine?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Are you looking for the fountain of youth? So is GlaxoSmithKline, and the pharmaceutical company is betting that it has found it - in red wine no less. Researchers have found a compound in red wine that slows the aging process, possibly prolonging life. American biotechnology company Sirtris discovered the compound, but Glaxo wants to own it and plans to buy the pharmaceutical start up for $720 million in cash. The company is gambling that this compound really works and hopes to reap the profits on many types of antiaging products.

Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School isolated the longevity compound resveratrol when experimenting with yeast. While helping yeast live longer may not seem that exciting, that same compound also countered the effects of a high-fat diet in mice and lengthened their little mouse life spans. Drugs modeled after this compound might help safely treat many deadly diseases that shorten our lives. So far, preliminary tests have shown the compound could lower blood sugar for people with diabetes. Sirtris hopes to develop compounds that have even stronger effects on slowing aging. Pretty cool, huh? Scientists are not encouraging us to drink more red wine, but this seems like pretty great reason to drink a glass tonight - just one glass, of course.

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