Do You Imbibe? You Know, Like Hit the Bottle?
photo by digimist
There are usually four ways I react to scientific studies.
The first, is what I call No Duh. That’s what I felt when I read about researchers who actually spent money to learn high heels can cause heel and ankle pain. Obviously these were men.
The second is what I call No Way! As in: Really? I never in a million years would have guessed that and yet it’s right here on my computer screen. It’s usually accompanied by wide eyes and a dropped jaw.
The third, I like to call Not Again… These are the studies that deem a formerly evil thing (a food, action, habit, you name it) really, really, ridiculously good for your health. You can spot these by the key words “surprise,” “astonishingly,” and “changes everything we thought about…”
The fourth is called Errr? That’s the sound I make when I read one of these studies that doesn’t make any logical sense. That’s the type of study I read about on the New York Times today.
The study involved 19,220 women age 39 and older. The researchers followed their drinking habits for 13 years then categorized the women as light or regular drinkers. Ready for the Errr? moment? The nondrinkers in the group gained more weight (nine pounds) over the years than those who imbibed (three pounds). The chances of being overweight were 30 percent lower for drinkers than teetotalers.
photo by rogiro
So, let me get this straight: Alcohol is high in calories? Yes. But the big drinkers gained less? Yes. Huh? That’s what I thought.
A can of beer has more than 150 calories. Five ounces of wine (the amount in a typical glass) has about 120. And a single shot of alcohol has close to 100 calories.
So, what’s the cause for the weight discrepancy? The Times article didn’t really give a final solution, but it did mention that women who drank alcohol reported they replaced food calories with alcohol calories. So, yeah, I guess that includes women who skip dinner to binge into the wee hours. Not the healthiest decision, which makes this study all the more interesting. How important is plain old weight when other factors—like unhealthy habits of picking alcohol calories over food—come into play?
On the flip side, drinkers might have other healthy habits. Someone might drink one or two glasses of wine a night—hey, it’s heart healthy!—with a home-cooked meal. The nondrinker may drink an alcohol-free Pepsi in the drive-thru.
In the end, I’m left without an impetus to booze it up nightly. I like a glass of wine every now and again, but even hearing about the magical effects of resveratrol (much of which is overblown, but whatever) I can’t drink a glass a night. For starters, I like to have water with a meal. I get thirsty, people!
On top of that, wine, red in particular, tends to make my already stuffy nose even more closed-up. It will also give me a headache if I’m super congested or it happens to be the right bottle of tannins. I love a good glass, but I’m not convinced downing a bottle will help me any.
What about you? Do you have a glass of alcohol with dinner? Do you do it because it’s healthy or because you love wine/beer/hard liquor (thank you very much)?
13 comments
I rarely drink alchohol….this past weekend Keith and I had red wine at a resturaunt and that was probably the first class of wine I had since Thanksgiving.
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Well you know, when I quit drinking for an entire month, I didn’t lose weight, to my surprise. I think I was subconsciously making up the calorie difference. I can’t explain why non drinkers gained more, but it’s got to be lifestyle, right? People who appreciate wine and beer are often also food people who cook from scratch at home which is much healthier than the fast-food convenience-food route. And I drink wine or beer most nights with dinner; not for my health (ok maybe for my mental health) but mostly because it’s an enjoyable complement to my meal.
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I don’t drink at all…it just doesn’t hold any appeal to me. Also, I am usually the one who has to make sure others get home safely. People think I am uptight but whatever, I save so much $$ and unnecessary calories!
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I seen this on the news this a.m…of course the Dr. said she is not advocating alcohol as a weight-loss plan haha!! But they were saying that a glass of wine or whatever may cause you to avoid other higher-calorie, sugary treats…or sometimes can calm you down more…
I don’t know, I do drink wine or liquor most evenings with a meal…but anymore than that -out with the girls – and I’m eating whatever’s in sight
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I heard about this study this morning!
I would call myself a social imbiber
I don’t have a drink with dinner… but on the weekend I will enjoy a glass of wine or two
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I saw this article, too! I have a glass of wine or a light beer 2-3 nights a week. I may have 2 on one weekend night. I must say, I would love to have a glass of merlot every night but evenings are my workout times and wine + treadmill is bad (though, when I lived in Italy they worked out WHILE drinking wine, no joke). Plus it’s a cost and calorie issue. I drink because I loooove the taste !
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I saw this article yesterday, and I actually don’t find it all that surprising. I don’t think it’s the actual alcohol keeping people from gaining weight at as fast of a rate, but the social settings that are often tied to alcohol. Social drinkers may be more likely to get out and less likely to stay at home sitting in front of their TVs and snacking on junk.
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i “errr’d” over that study too. i never take any research like that too seriously! there are just too many possible 3rd variables going on. i don’t drink at all anymore (doctor’s orders) but if i did i would likely only have a little wine maybe once a month?
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I drink a glass of wine about once every three months. I do LIKE wine, but I’m taking meds that don’t go well with it and can cause serious liver problems. That said, when I DID drink wine more often, it had no affect on my weight, up or down. What I ATE did that.
)
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This was a weird study. I’m a little skeptical. I don’t drink. Maybe a glass of wine every three months or so. No reason in particular, I just sort of felt bored with it after college and never went back.
Thanks for the interesting info though. Really thought provoking.
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I read this study too. Found it a little strange. Anyhow, yes I drink a glass of wine maybe a little to regularly because I love it!
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I am not opposed to drinking. Try to go with the flow and not lay restrictions or labels, I guess.
I like this post though…these studies are ridiculous but interesting…must be why I like the 20/20 type stories
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On average I drink about once a month. I do love a great red wine and it’s quite possible I appreciate it more as I drink it so infrequently.
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