Alcohol: are the low carbs really a benefit?

by Jen (February 4, 2008)

It’s true: most hard liquors have no carbs, and some beers are deliberately made low carb. But does that mean alcohol fits in with a low carb weight plan?

The answer is more complicated than “yes” or “no.” Your body processes alcohol before fat, protein or carbs, so when you drink you’re front-loading your diet with empty calories that need to be burned before you start burning all the calories from your food. That’s energy your body could be spending on burning fat and building muscle.

While the effects of alcohol on weight vary from person to person because of genes, diet, and other factors, and some people are able to drink without gaining weight, it would be misleading to say that alcohol can help you lose weight. If you’re going to drink - and there is evidence that moderate drinking can benefit your health in some ways - the key is, as always, moderation.

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