Abdominal weight gain, otherwise known as
the beer belly, is not only unsightly it can have serious health implications.
Beer bellies are commonly associated with one too many pints down the pub and
it’s true that alcohol has the potential to seriously hamper your weight loss
efforts.
Did you know that a pint of beer contains
up to 250 calories and a glass of wine contains around the same amount of
calories as a slice of cake? This means that your alcohol consumption can
quickly add to that pot belly. Not only does alcohol add to the empty
calories and carbohydrates in your diet, it also affects your brain chemistry
making you more likely to experience hunger pangs and food cravings. We all
know how quickly our will power ceases to exist after we’ve had a couple of
drinks!
Gaining weight around the middle is
particularly dangerous as it is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease,
diabetes and certain cancers but the good news is, your risk can be decreased
through a healthy diet and moderating alcohol intake.
Many of us are unaware of how much it’s
safe to drink, but it’s important to know. Women should not regularly exceed
2-3 units of alcohol per day, the equivalent to one small glass of wine. Men
shouldn’t exceed 3-4 units of alcohol per day, equivalent to one and a half
pints of beer. If you stick to these guidelines you’ll experience numerous
health benefits and maximise your dieting efforts.
If you think you’re drinking too much, here
are some practical ways to reduce your intake:
- Make your units go further. Opt for bottles of beer or halves instead of pints and drink them slower. Choose a small glasses of wine and add soda water to make a spritzer.
- Eat a healthy meal before you go out which will help slow the absorption of alcohol.
- Keep hydrated. Hangovers are largely due to dehydration so keep hydrated by alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks like sparkling water with fresh lime.
- Be the designated driver. By taking your car on a night out you’ll have a good excuse to stay tea total.
- Many of us have an after work drink to relax, but in reality alcohol can make you feel even more anxious. Get into positive stress-busters habits like hitting the gym with friends or running a bath at home and putting some relaxing music on.
- For more information on practical ways to cut down your alcohol intake you can go to www.drinkaware.co.uk
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