FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

Hard Cider vs. Heineken

FitSugar — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Apple cider is practically synonymous with Autumn. Hard cider, the alcoholic counter part to the G rated apple juice, is often served at Fall fairs. But how does this fermented juice compare calorie wise with beer?

Take this one question quiz to see.

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 . . .Source

Americans Are Drinking Less Beer — How About You?

I'm usually a beer drinker.

Wine is fine.

I'm into cocktails and hard liquor is my choice.

I like to mix it up between beer, wine, and liquor.

I rarely drink.

I don't drink at all.

In Honor of Cinco de Mayo: Margarita vs. Mexican Beer

FitSugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:00:00 -0700

Cinco de Mayo is coming up this Monday, so you may be in the mood to celebrate with a cold beverage this weekend. How do you choose between a margarita and a Mexican beer with a squeeze of lime? Quite possibly knowing the caloric content of each drink would help you decide. Take this short quiz to see how these two faves stack up against each other.

Source

Beer Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:00:00 -0700

The warm weather of Spring seems to say "Miller time." It's perfect for BBQs and cold beverages. I sometimes call beer "liquid bread" because of all the carbs, so it's good to know that not all beers are created equally, especially when it comes to calories.

If you're watching your waistline and enjoy an ice cold brew, you'll probably want see how they compare. The numbers may surprise you. To see the breakdown

Great Workout, Now How About a Beer?

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:00:00 -0800

After exercising (and during) I always crave some gulps of cool, crisp H2O, but a new study shows that having a beer after a workout could do more good than regular water. Hmmm. I'm listening...

In my opinion, the study doesn't hold too much weight since it involved only 25 participants, and they were all college students. Over several months, they were asked to do strenuous exercise in 104° temperatures. Then they were split into two groups, one was given beer and the other was given water.

The study's leader, professor Manuel Garzon of Granada University, said that the hydrating effects of those who guzzled beer were "slightly better" than those who drank water. The only problem is that previous studies show that drinking alcoholic beverages increases the amount of liquid lost through urination, so that won't really help if you're dehydrated. A nutrition expert from Bath University in Britain, said that a moderate amount of beer might be just as quenching as water, but it's unlikely that it's any better.

Want to hear the rest? Then

The Alcohol and Breast Cancer Connection

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought you'd like to know that drinking any type of alcohol adds to the risk of developing breast cancer. We're talking, wine (even red), beer, and liquor. It has nothing to do with the kind of beverage you choose, it's the amount of alcohol you consume that could pose a problem.

Previous studies made a connection to alcohol and breast cancer risk, but there were conflicting views about what kinds of alcohol had this effect.

This new study analyzed 70,033 women of different races, from 1978 to 1985. By 2004, 2,829 of the participants were diagnosed with breast cancer. Researchers discovered that it didn't matter what kind of alcoholic drinks these women consumed, but the women that drank one to two servings of alcohol a day increased their risk of developing the disease by 10%. Women kicking back more than three drinks a day increased their risk by 30%.

I know that we've all been drilled to think that having a glass of red wine a day is healthy for our heart, but when it comes to breast cancer the same is not true. It's not clear why alcohol increases breast cancer risk, but some experts think it raises hormone levels in the blood, which could potentially cause cancer.

Fit's Tips: As with everything, moderation is the key. Enjoying an occasional drink is fine, but know that pounding a 6-pack every night may increase your risk for developing breast cancer.

Source

When you drink do you prefer beer or wine?

FitSugar — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Gallup released data from a recent poll on the drinking habits of Americans and it seems that beer is still our national alcoholic beverage of choice, even though wine makes health news headlines on a regular basis.How about you:

When you drink do you prefer beer or wine?

Beer

Wine

I don't drink alcohol

Which drink contains FEWER calories?

FitSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:00:00 -0700

Here's the scenario:

You are at a BBQ on this three day weekend and the cooler is filled with bottles of Budweiser and bottles of Mike's Hard Lemonade. If you are watching your calories and want to choose the drink with less calories. Which drink do you choose if you want the beverage with FEWER calories?

***Please note: The bottles are not shown to scale.

Which Would You Rather Give Up?

FitSugar — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 13:00:00 -0700

If you had to choose one to abstain from would you give up all meat (meat, poultry and fish) or alcohol (the hard stuff, wine and beer)? If you like to talk about food DearSugar wants to know what meal you could eat for eternity.

Which Would You Rather Give Up?

red meat, poultry and fish

alcohol, wine and beer

Beverage Break Down

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 13:00:00 -0800

Ok, so we've done break downs of cocktails and beer, but what about regular everyday drinks? How do they compare?

For 12 fl oz - the size of a bottle or can - how many calories do they have:

Orange juice (fresh): 167
Orange Julius (in the mall): 304
Apple Cider: 186
Apple Juice: 175
Lemonade: 165
Grapefruit Juice: 145
Unsweetened Cranberry Juice: 174
Ocean Spray Cran-Grape: 210
Carrot Juice: 142
V-8 100% vegetable juice: 75
Glaceau Vitamin Water: 75
Skim Milk: 136
Whole Milk: 220
Lowfat Milk: 156
Chocolate Milk: 227
Soy Milk: 150
Gatorade: 75
Tea: 0
Iced Tea (sweetened): 107
Black Coffee (no cream or sugar): 0
Coffee with 1 tbsp cream: 50
Hot Cocoa (Mix): 120

How does this compare to sodas?

Beer Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 17:30:00 -0800

When you go out for a night on the town or a slice of pizza, you're bound to order yourself a beer. There are tons, and I means TONS to choose from. It's good to know how many carbs, calories, and alcohol content is in each 12 oz glass. Here's a list of the the most popular ones...

Amstel Light - 5 carbs, 95 cals, 3.5% alcohol
Anchor Steam - 16 carbs, 153 cals, 4.9% alcohol
Budweiser - 10.6 carbs, 145 cals, 5% alcohol
Bud Light - 6.6 carbs, 110 cals, 4.2% alcohol
Budweiser Select - 3.1 carbs, 99 cals, 4.3% alcohol
Busch Light - 6.7 carbs, 110 cals, 4.2% alcohol
Coors Light - 5 carbs, 102 cals, 4.2% alcohol
Corona Light - 5 carbs, 105 cals, 4.5% alcohol
Guinness - 17.6 carbs, 194 cals, 6% alcohol
Harpoon IPA - 15 carbs, 170 cals, 5.9% alcohol
Heineken - 9.8 carbs, 166 cals, 5.4% alcohol
Heineken Light - 6.8 carbs, 99 cals, 3.5% alcohol
Magic Hat #9 - 12 carbs, 146 cals, 4.6% alcohol
Michelob - 13.3 carbs, 155 cals, 5% alcohol
Michelob Ultra - 2.6 carbs, 95 cals, 4.1% alcohol

We're only half way through the alphabet. So if you want to learn about Sam Adam's

Which Drink Has the Fewer Calories?

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:00:00 -0800

Between 1 bottle of Sam Adams Winter Ale or 1 Pomegranate Martini, which do you think has the least calories?

Which Drink Has the Fewer Calories?

Winter Ale

Pomegranate Martini