LIST OF LOW CALORIE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

Dieting and drinking definitely do not go hand in hand. An alcoholic drink can add a few pounds easily to your body. And you certainly do not want to gain weight after all that rigorous dieting just because you decided to have one drink at a party. Alcohol is not the healthiest of drink choices. It contains 7 calories per gram making it the most calorie rich food group behind dietary fats (which contain 9 calories per gram). It also contains no vitamins or minerals, hence the reason the calories in alcohol are often referred to as empty calories. However the reality is that most people (even those who lead a relatively healthy lifestyle) enjoy alcohol to some degree. Alcohol consumption is increasingly becoming one of the common causes of weight addition. In fact, beer is one of the alcoholic beverages that are recommended to skinny people to put on weight, though in moderate amount. Now, the question is how to enjoy a party, without worrying too much about the weight gain. Simple, go for low calories alcoholic drinks. Neither do they take away the fun, nor do they add so much to the waistline. In case you are a bit clueless about low calories alcoholic beverages, check out the list given below. 1) LOW CALORIE BEER: Beers with less alcohol generally turns out to be less fattening than the alternative with more alcohol. On average most beers will fall below 150 calories per bottle. The best examples are 12 oz (330 ml) of Kingfisher Light Lager provides 99 calories whereas Kingfisher premium Lager provides 140 calories, Pabst Extra Light Low Alcohol is only 67 per 12 oz serving which is stunning, and Molson Light which is up to 82 for the same quantity. One of the few other beers coming in under 100 is Anheuser Busch Natural Light, at 95 calories per 12 oz. 2) CHAMPAGNE: Champagne is a popular celebratory drink and is also a very low calorie option with a small glass containing 100 calories and a large glass containing 201 calories. 3) WINE: Most types of wine are low in calories with a small glass of red, rose and white all containing less than 100 calories. Of the three, dry white wine contains the least calories with a small glass coming in at just 83 calories. 4) VODKA: Vodka is made from water and ethyl alcohol and it is a very popular party drink. Flavors are also added to this distilled drink, which contains fewer calories than the other loaded drinks, owing to its lesser alcohol value. 1 small shot (30 ml) of vodka provides 60 calories. Although, drinking neat vodka is the traditional way of consuming it, it is also used to make a variety of cocktails.

5) RUM: Light rums are used in cocktails, which are also low on calories. Low calorie rums are also available under the Bacardi brand. 1 oz of rum will have 65 calories. With low sugar content, ruminspired cocktails can be consumed without the fear of putting on those extra pounds. 6) WHISKY SOUR: Whiskey sour is a popular drink made by mixing Bourbon whiskey, lemon juice and sugar. It contains lesser calories than the other whiskeys, depending on the sugar content. 1 shot of whisky provides 50 calories. This is precisely the reason why it is so popular in cocktails. 7) JACK DANIELS: Straight spirits contain the lowest calories per unit of alcohol because all their calories come from alcohol. If you normally drink your Jack Daniels with Coke try it straight, on the rocks or with some water. Cutting out the Coke removes 111 calories from the drink and brings the calorie count for a single Jack Daniels down to just 55. 8) LOW CALORIE COCKTAILS: You can try: Bloody Mary: The classic Bloody Mary is only 150 calories and 10 grams of sugar, making this popular classic one of the most popular choices among low calorie mixed drinks. A classic Bloody Mary only remains a good choice, though, if the alcohol content is normal and not inflated or "strong".

Cosmopolitan: The Cosmopolitan is an excellent low calorie alcoholic drink that can be made easily. A Cosmopolitan is four parts vodka, two parts triple sec, two parts cranberry juice (use crystal lite or another 0 calorie substitute if possible), and one part lime juice for a tasty low calorie treat.

Vodka Cranberry or Cape Codder: This classic drink barely contains about 65 calories. Apart from the fact that cranberry juice can help flush out alcohol from the body, squeezing some lime wedge in your drink and around the rim of your glass can add more flavor to the drink.

Watermelon Martini: This fruity pink syrup contains a mere 125 calories, say experts. In order to cut down on calories, request for a drink that is made from agave nectar than simple syrup which adds fewer calories to your drink and at the same time sweetens your drink appropriately.

Mojito: A properly made Mojito has only 160 calories and 15 grams of sugar, and it is a tasty treat. To make a Mojito you need 3 fresh mint sprigs, two teaspoons of sugar, three tablespoons of fresh lime juice, 1.5 oz of light rum, and club soda. In a tall thin glass crush the mint with a fork to coat the inside. Add the sugar and lime juice first, stir thoroughly. Top it with ice and then add the rum and top it off with cold club soda, then add a lime slice and the remaining mint and you're done.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR COCKTAILS LOW CALORIE COCKTAIL

The sweetened syrups, sweet juices, the amount of alcohol, flavoring mixers and the amount of the whole drink make a difference in low calorie cocktails. Following these steps might help you to have a low calorie cocktail. Avoid wine if it spoils the mood of the evening The best way to decrease the calorie content is to drink just one drink in the evening. The drink might be made large to reduce the impulse to have another drink. Order a bigger quantity of cocktail with less alcohol content. This increases the drinking time and the light taste of alcohol can be enjoyed for a long time. Fill the big glass with fresh juice and low-calorie sugar. Avoiding vodka mixed with juices might help.

TIPS FOR LOW CALORIE COCKTAILS

The calories contained in each and every cocktail might differ from one drink to another. The calorie content increases according to the mixers, size of the drink and sweet syrups. Here are some tips to drink low calorie cocktails: The mixers you add to taste could be low calorie Ask the waiter about the ingredients of the drink Have water and fresh dry wines alternatively Beware of what you drink Slash down the snacks which you have in between the drinks Be in control so that number of drinks can be reduced.

ALCOHOL - EXERCISE CONNECTION

The detrimental effects of alcohol on human physiology have been well documented, adversely influencing neural function, metabolism, cardiovascular physiology, thermoregulation and skeletal muscle myopathy. Remarkably, the downstream effects of alcohol consumption on exercise performance and recovery, has received less attention and as such is not well understood. Studies have shown that small amounts of alcohol increase muscular endurance and strength output, but, these benefits are very short lived. After around twenty or so minutes, the problems start. All the negative side effects of alcohol fully outweigh any possible benefits it can have to anyone. Alcohol is a toxin (poison) and so a whole host of physical abnormalities can arise. Creatine kinase (CK) is an intra-muscular enzyme which when present in the peripheral circulation is widely used as a measure of muscle damage. Despite the clinical association between chronic alcohol abuse and skeletal muscle myopathy, acute ingestion appears to have impact on exercisemediated muscular damage. These can reduce your strength, endurance, recovery capabilities, aerobic capacity, ability to metabolize fat and muscle growth. When alcohol reaches the muscle cells, it can cause damage to them. Inflammation of the muscle cells is common among alcohol users. Over the long term, some of these damaged cells can die resulting in less functional muscle contractions. Alcohol will also leave you with more muscle soreness after exercise making recuperation periods longer. Additionally, once alcohol is absorbed through your stomach and small intestine and finally into your cells, it can disrupt the water balance in muscle cells, thus altering their ability to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is your muscles source of energy. ATP provides the fuel necessary for your muscles to contract. As a general rule, alcohol and exercise don't mix, whether you drink before or after a workout. Both can have negative effects on the body and its recovery after a workout. Try to schedule alcohol related events to your off days so they do not interfere with the muscle-building effects of your workouts.