How to Lose Weight with Wine and Alcohol

Ask any nutritionist and they will tell you that their clients will constantly ask questions about alcohol and their diet. Whether they are guiltily confessing to consume it or telling you proudly that they have enjoyed a couple of "healthy" glasses of wine. There are actually a few facts that everyone should know about combining alcohol and their diet.

1. Know Your Limits on Alcohol
There really is a right amount of alcohol to enjoy and stay healthy. Those who do not drink any alcohol have a slightly higher risk of heart disease. That risk decreases with reasonable alcohol consumption. However, if you choose to drink more the risks begin to rise. Stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure are all risks when drinking too much. According to the American Medical Association, to get the benefits without the risks of enjoying alcohol women should stick to one drink a day and men two drinks a day. Beware not to use the carryover excuse that is to not drink all week and then consume seven drinks on the weekend.

2. Alcohol Can Weaken Your Stamina
As any athlete will tell you, alcohol and exercise does not mix. The reason is that alcohol hinders the body's ability to replenish glycogen after exercise. This in turn will lead to a lack of endurance or stamina the next day. High carbohydrates the day before exercise without the alcohol is the best situation. Adding alcohol can deplete glycogen in the body by up to 50 percent.

3. Alcohol Can Increase Your Risk of Injury
The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that loss of strength in athletes was up to 40 percent when exercise was followed by consumption of alcohol. That same study also found that twice as many football players who drank alcohol regularly were routinely injured compared to those who did not drink at all.

4. Organic Alcohol is Healthier
It has been found that both red and white wines will increase the good HDL cholesterol levels in the body. However, to go a step further, choose organic versions of your wine of choice. Organic wines will not have the chemicals and will not contain added sulfite preservatives that often cause headaches and asthma symptoms.