Alcohol is generally a no-no when you make clean eating a lifestyle. This is because alcohol postpones your progress due to the high amount of calories and lack of nutrients. Personally, I have quit drinking any type of alcohol. In fact, whenever I hear about people getting wasted, it makes me think back to the horrible feeling of waking up with hangovers and feeling like crap most of the day.
Can You Drink and Eat Clean?
In my opinion, this is a bad combination if you are looking to get healthy and lose weight. Many people don't realize that you can drink a significant amount of calories from alcohol. Let's take a look at the average calories in several common drinks below:
- 1 can of beer - 150 calories
- 1 glass red wine - 160 calories
- 1 glass white wine - 120 calories
Mixed drinks can be even higher in calories when you account for the calories from fruit juices and soda. If you are drinking several times per week, of at least two drinks each time, the calories can add up fast by the end of the week.
Besides the empty calories, alcohol can also:
- Damage the liver and kidneys
- Increase appetite
- Cause weight gain
- Cause alcoholism
- Postpone fat loss
Why do this to your body when you are doing your best to follow a healthy lifestyle? Many health conscious individuals will drink red wine for its known heart health benefits. Of course that is a matter of doing your own research on whether red wine will truly benefit you. I feel if you do not already drink, it's probably best not to start just because red wine may be healthy.
In general, you can eat clean and enjoy an occasional drink. It is best to limit your alcohol consumption to special occasions, and even then, stick to wine or champagne.
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