Week 15 | A Low Carb Lad and Lady Walk Into a Bar...: A List of The Best Types of Wine, Beer, Liquor
In week 7, I covered how sugar promotes for the retention of fat in the body. Recent studies have gone as far as to link sugar to cancer and for these reasons and many others, day to day, I limit my intake of refined sugars to the point where most all of my carbohydrates only come from fiber. It is the hormonal response that sugars spur in the body that cause fat retention and all sorts of health problems and so it is wise to keep your blood sugar and insulin levels low. Fiber is a kind of carbohydrate, but unlike other types of carbohydrates that can be broken down, fiber cannot be digested or absorbed - it passes through the body undigested and does not call upon the release of insulin or raise blood sugar levels. In addition, fiber makes you feel full faster and so I tend to eat less at meal time. Most Americans get less than 10g of fiber a day when we should be at least clearing 30g. Wondering what it looks like to eat high fiber, low carb, visit the Well There’s This recipe section and wellness shop for foods and snacks including, high fiber, low carb pizza crust and chocolate!
Although it is best to keep alcohol consumption low and in moderation, being high fiber, low carb doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. This week I have listed for you liquors and cocktails according to their carbohydrate content. What is your go to drink?
Wine vs. Beer
(Photo Courtesy of the Diet Doctor - Drinks ordered from fewer carbs to high carbohydrate content)
When it comes to wine versus beer which should we opt for when looking to follow low carb guidelines? Wine wins. Your best bet is to stick to dry red or white wines over sweeter wines and wines in general over beer.
Wine
When it comes to wine stick to dry wines with champagne leading the charge in low carb content; “Dry wines have the least residual sugar...wine lovers watching their sugar intake don’t have to give up wine completely. Instead, they can choose wines that are low in sugar and drink them in moderation. Dry wines generally have less than 1 gram (g) of carbohydrates (sugars) per ounce while the carb content of sweet wines can be upwards of 1.5 to 2g per ounce. These sugars can add up quickly: ” (Washington Post).
Dry red wine varietals include: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Tempranillos.
Dry white wines include: Brut Champagne, Sparkling White Wine, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Viognier.
Beer
(Photo Courtesy of the Diet Doctor - Drinks ordered from fewer carbs to high carbohydrate content)
Beer is often referred to as, “liquid bread” because it is, “packed full of fast digesting, simple carbohydrates” (Ruled) . Beer should be avoided if you adhering to low card standards, but just in case reference the above chart to see which beers have the least sugar content.
Hard Liquor vs. Wine and Beer
(Photo Courtesy of the Diet Doctor - Drinks ordered from fewer carbs to high carbohydrate content)
When it comes to choosing wine or a beer versus unsweetened + unflavored hard liquor like tequila, vodka, whiskey, gin etc, hard liquors win as they contain zero carbohydrates; “Cutting out all the beer and wine is a great start, but sticking with hard liquor is usually the best choice. Even though hard liquor is made from natural sugars, grains, potatoes, and fruits – during the fermentation and distillation processes sugar is converted into ethyl alcohol” (https://www.ruled.me/ketogenic-diet-and-alcohol/). Warning, when it comes to pairing your liquor to ease it down try to steer away from mixers as that is where the sweetners usually lay. Aching for a cocktail the above chart lays out when many of your favorites may lie.
Cheers all! Please drink responsibly and only if you are over the age of 21. Also a kind reminder to check in with you doctor or medical professional when it comes to altering your diet.
