Wine has become a very popular drink in recent times, partly because it is a great top drink, but also because of its much-touted health benefits. The antioxidants in red wine are said to do wonders for health if consumed in moderation. But despite this, we all know that the consumption of alcohol can lead to weight gain. It is what happens when the body breaks down the alcohol and turns it into sugar. So, while there are benefits to drinking wine, it can also help you add on a kilogram or two – which is obviously not so healthy. But there are ways to mitigate against weight loss. Here are a few ways to keep drinking and stay trim.
Earn your wine
Don’t sell yourself the lie that just because wine is healthy that you can drink as much as you like. That will soon catch up with you in all sorts of horrible ways. Wine is only good for you in moderation and it needs to be part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Simply making it to the end of the day is not reason enough reason to crack open a nice bottle of argentinian wine, you need to make sure that it comes as a reward for exercising or going to the gym. Whatever the reason, set fitness and lifestyle goals and then make the wine the reward for achieving these goals. Drinking wine should never be the goal.
Drink at the right time
As much as it might seem like there is never a wrong time to have a glass of wine, the truth is that there are plenty of wrong times. For a start, it is a bad idea to drink just before you go to bed. This logic applies to eat close to bedtime as well. It is highly likely that if this is a habit that you get into that you will quickly start to see the weight going up. It is similarly bad to drink before you have eaten. Wine should be consumed with a meal. If you drink when hungry you will get drunk quicker and probably end up consuming too much. Take the wine with your meal and pace the glass to last the distance with the meal.
Dry red is best
From an anti-oxidant and health perspective, dry red wine is the healthiest wine to drink. It has the fewest calories and the best medicinal properties. It is not always the easiest wine to appreciate, and for many, it is an acquired taste, but persevere, in the same way that dark chocolate is the healthiest chocolate to consume, it can take a while to get there and really appreciate its flavour.
Read the labels
As is the case with most foods, it is always a good idea to read the labels on the wine bottle. It is important to know how many calories the bottle contains and to make informed health decisions based on this. It is also important to see if the wine is organic or ethical and what has been added from a preservative and flavour perspective. Know what you are putting in your body – it can only benefit you.
You may like this