| The holidays are a time of year when many of | | | | but the wine itself is not the problem: |
| us have to loosen our belt buckles just a | | | | rubbing the nose of your bottle of Port |
| bit, attempting to satisfy our expanding | | | | against your bathroom scale and repeatedly |
| waistlines. It's not our fault; the pumpkin | | | | telling it "No" is unwarranted. It's not the |
| pie, the chocolate fudge, and the buttered | | | | consumption of wine that adds pounds, it's |
| yams all sit smugly on the dinner table, | | | | the consumption of wine without cutting back |
| daring us to take a bite: yes, we are | | | | on food. Wine, like other liquids, doesn't |
| practically being force fed. Even so, the | | | | have the ability to curb our appetite. Thus, |
| calories still add up, not just one crumb at | | | | many of us start to drink wine without taking |
| a time but also one sip at a time. | | | | into consideration the extra calories and we |
| | | | consume our regular caloric intake through |
| In moderation or in abundance, the calories | | | | food. When the calories of wine are added to |
| of wine can make a difference in weight. | | | | our regular intake, additional calories are |
| Drinking a few servings a day gives you a few | | | | consumed. Still, these additional calories |
| hundred more calories, giving you a few more | | | | are often better for you than additional |
| pounds over time. For this reason, it's | | | | calories from other alcoholic sources. |
| important to account for the calories | | | | |
| consumed whenever you raise your glass. | | | | When compared to other alcohol, wine has a |
| | | | slight edge. Beer, particularly light beer, |
| As a general rule, a glass of wine contains | | | | may be less caloric than wine, as a 12 ounce |
| about 80 calories, when the term "glass" is | | | | light beer typically has 100 calories, but |
| comparable to 4 ounces and not comparable to | | | | beer doesn't possess the health benefits of |
| a 7-11 Big Gulp. Fortified wine is typically | | | | wine; it doesn't have the antioxidants. When |
| higher in calories and wines with higher | | | | compared to mixed drinks and straight shots, |
| alcohol content - because alcohol is where | | | | wine wins bottles down. Mixed drinks, |
| the majority of the calories are generated - | | | | especially when mixed with sugary sodas, and |
| may pack a better punch, but they will also | | | | shots of hard alcohol are very caloric and |
| pack on more pounds. To put this in | | | | contain no health benefit. They have nothing |
| perspective, the US Department of Agriculture | | | | to offer but calories and they know it, |
| states that 100 grams of wine with a 12.2 | | | | leaving them to sometimes throw themselves |
| alcohol content have roughly 85 calories; 100 | | | | down the drain when the bartender is not |
| grams of wine with a 18.8 alcohol content | | | | looking. |
| have 135 calories. The sugar in wine also | | | | |
| plays as much a dramatic role as the alcohol; | | | | Drinking wine doesn't have to equal increased |
| the higher the sugar content, the more | | | | pounds. One way to have your wine and drink |
| calories it will have. For this reason, some | | | | it too is to simply adopt physical activity |
| dieters prefer to consume dry wines with | | | | as a means to make up for the additional |
| lower alcohol content. | | | | calories - instead of driving to the bar, |
| | | | walk there; instead of pushing a cart through |
| Even when the above is taken into | | | | a liquor store, carry your supplies; instead |
| consideration, many wines contain a similar | | | | of drunk dialing your ex-lovers, jog to their |
| amount of calories or only differ by a small | | | | house and speak to them. You can also keep |
| number. Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Burgundy, | | | | from gaining weight by cutting back on the |
| White Burgundy, Beaujolais, Chardonnay, | | | | calories consumed through other means - eat |
| Chianti, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc , Champagne | | | | less candy during the day; have a banana for |
| , and White or Red Zinfandel all contain | | | | a snack instead of a muffin; eat a salad |
| between 90 and 100 calories per serving. To | | | | instead of a steak. Adopting a few of these |
| tip the scales, Madeira, Muscatel, Ruby Port | | | | habits will make room for the wine calories |
| , White Port , and Tokay all contain between | | | | you consume. If, for some reason, these |
| 160 and 180 calories per serving. | | | | habits don't quite work, getting rid of wine |
| | | | is not the answer. Instead, simply remember |
| No matter the type of wine consumed, people | | | | two little words: liquid diet. |
| who drink do run the risk of gaining weight, | | | | |