Does Wine Make You Fat?

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This is a question that has plagued me for years, does drinking wine make me gain weight? Is that just bloat? There are so many mixed opinions on wine, so let's find out the truth together.

Wine is Pretty Calorie Loaded

Wine can have anywhere from an abysmally low 25 calories to an embarrassingly high 400+. Obviously, not all wines are created the same way, and not all wines have the same sugar content. A pinot Grigio will hit you somewhere around 130 calories while a less sweet Sauvignon Blanc will be about 120 per glass. Reds will have the same range with Merlots and Pino Noirs being in the lower 120's and Burgundies being closer to 130. 

A nice little trick to staying on the lower side of the calories is to steer clear of dessert and sweeter wines like Rieslings that can have anywhere from 125-240 calories per serving! Dry wines will have less sugar, and therefore, fewer calories. Reds will have more alcohol content (on average) and will take longer for your body to digest. 

Wine Slows Your Metabolism

First off, wine is made up of 14% carbs and 86% alcohol. There are no fats or protein, and really, hardly any carbs. So where does that bloat come from? Well, any alcohol will trick your body into breaking it down before any food item. Calories from alcohol cannot be stored in the body, and therefore, must be broken down first. This means that if you are drinking a glass of wine with dinner, all digestion stops when that white or red touches your lips. 

Likewise, all metabolic activity ceases and anything fat unable to be broken down will be stored. This process will also increase fat storage around the belly- that bloat!

Alcohol Increases Our Want of Fats

When we digest wine (or any alcohol), our bodies digest the alcohol first and the carbs second. This can lead to a drop in our blood sugar and a feeling that we must eat. And this is what leads you to binge eating after a big night out. Of course, there is pretty little chance of this happening with one glass, unless it is a dry wine which causes blood sugar to drop. 

The sad thing is, any alcohol consumption will trigger the same area of our hypothalamus that says we need more fats. A chemical called galanin is produced when we drink alcohol or eat fatty foods. This chemical is also the one that makes us crave it. Therefore, the more we eat or drink, the more we will want to eat or drink. 

What About the Bloat? 

Yes, unfortunately wine can cause bloat. But, it may be for a different reason than what you are thinking. Alcohol dehydrates the body and increases the visible signs of cellulite, also known as my nemesis. Like galanin, both the bloat and the increased cellulite are tied together. Any alcohol will cause dehydration and inhibit vitamin absorption. This can lead to water retention, known as bloating, and increased cellulite since the skin is not as elastic as usual. Loss of elasticity in the skin can make cellulite easier to see because the fat molecules that are pulling on the connective tissue that is less elastic and more susceptible to that pulling effect. 

The Real Kicker

Ready to think all science is just bored people spinning a bottle on what new discovery has been made? Well, here is is. Long and broad scientific studies have found that women in their middle ages who have had a normal amount of wine on a daily basis (one 5-ounce glass) gain less weight and are less likely to become obese than those that did not. 

Of course, there are a few things we can do to ensure that one glass per day does not wreak havoc on our bodies. Be sure to drink plenty of water, only drink wine when your body is not digesting other foods, continue your normal healthy diet, and keep working out! All of these little things will ensure a healthy body now, and apparently, a healthy one later in life as well. 

The Pros and Cons of Drinking Coffee

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Coffee is great and the hoard of Starbucks receipts you could find in my purse at any given time would not argue that fact. But, for as good as coffee is, it has also been getting pretty mixed signals for the health world. Sure, the sugars, creamers, and flavors that are just more sugar are not great- Well, actually, they are quite bad- but, what about coffee itself. If you are one of those highly disciplined people out there who never touches a Starbucks drive-thru or coffee creamer with a 10-foot pole, there is a pretty good chance you are doing quite well since most of the pros for coffee are when it is in it's purest form. 

Go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back all you black coffee drinkers. Now, go on and read the good, bad, and ugly of that cup of jo.

Brain Health

Pros

One of the biggest, and best, pros to drinking coffee is the brain health that comes along with it. Researchers from some of the leading Universities have found that coffee increases memory retention and also decreases our risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. This is because, like all plants, coffee has phytonutrients and antioxidants that fight free radicals in our body. Free radicals are the things that reduce cell production and harm our DNA and include UV rays, carcinogens, and even the air we breathe.

What is even more incredible is that coffee has been found to actually repair damage to our DNA. This means that our DNA has fewer errors in reproduction and stays longer for longer (all about those telomeres). Keeping our DNA healthy also goes a long way for reducing our risk of cancer. Specifically, coffee helps reduce the risk of brain cancers.

Heart Health

Pros

The antioxidants found in coffee are not just for the brain. Turn's out, that they also reduce inflammation in our arteries and can lower our blood pressure. Both of these being extremely great for that ticker. The reduction of swelling in the arteries decreases one's risk of a stroke. the Nitric oxide found in coffee may also increase the diameter of arteries, lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.

Cons

With all these great pro's, the only con to drinking coffee for a healthy heart is the caffeine. The caffeine found in coffee regular will actually negate the health benefits, making it a "con" instead of a "pro". Caffeine in coffee can also caused increased heart rhythms and an abnormal heart beat.  If heart health is on your mind, switch that caffeinated coffee out for the decaf variety.

Diabetes and Weight

Pros

That's right, coffee reduces our risk of Type II Diabetes. Researchers have found that those who drink 4-6 cups of coffee (decaf or regular) reduce their risk of diabetes by, up to, 30%. Those that drink more than 6 cups per day reduce their risks by a whopping 35%. This crazy decrease may be due to the antioxidant compounds cholorogenic acid and quinides found in coffee that reduce cell's sensitivity to insulin and help regulate sugar levels.

Cons

Unfortunately, this benefit is mainly found in the decaffeinated version since caffeine increases insulin sensitivity. The sugar high that you get from caffeinated coffee will also adversely effect most people's diets when they get to that sugar crash. This is because most people will reach for something high in fats and carbs to even out their blood sugar levels once more.

Weight gain can also be associated with coffee. New research has found a correlation with coffee drinking and an increased sweet tooth. This may be because of chemical reactions in our body, or simply because, as a society, we associate coffee with sweets.

Aging

Cons

Drinking too much coffee can dehydrate the body, causing premature aging of the skin. If you are wanting to drink your usual coffee, it is best to drink it with a cup of water on the side. This will also decrease the headaches that some associate with their morning cup of jo since most coffee related headaches are a symptom of dehydration.

Cholesterol and Your Liver

Pros

Well, this is a mixed bag if I ever saw one. Turns out that caffeinated coffee might just lower your risk of liver cancers by, up to, 43%. Just like it worked in our brains and arteries, coffee limits swelling and inflammation in the liver, thus reducing the risks of many liver diseases. Likewise, caffeine may help inhibit cancer cells from forming.

Cons

Now, for the mixed part of this bag. Unfiltered and boiled coffees increases the LDL or bad cholesterol found in our blood. This is especially evident in French presses and Turkish coffee makers that do not filter the coffee first. To decrease the LDL increasing properties, opt out of non-filtered options and get a drip filter coffee maker instead. It may not be quite as good (so true), but you won't be increasing your cholesterol with each cup.

Energy

Pros

Ready? Caffeine makes you more awake. Bam. Mind blown.

Not quite. Caffeine keeping you awake may not be such a mind blowing idea, but it sure can be a pro in a pinch. There are many people out in our world that rely on that morning cup of jo for their eyes to open and their foggy brains to clear.

Cons

The only bad thing about this increased energy is when it gets in the way of when we need to sleep. Coffee can increase your risk of insomnia since the brain is wired and simply cannot turn off. Everyone reacts differently to caffeine, but it is best to not drink coffee within 6-hours of hitting the hay. Even if you have an easy time falling asleep, your sleep will not be as deep or rejuvenate you quite as well with caffeine in your system.

As our bodies become more accustomed to the effects of caffeine, we will also begin to need more to feel the effects. This can be a not-so-great addiction that will only increase over time and decrease the proper sleep we need to be getting.

Pesticides

Because of all the places coffee comes from, it is one of the most pesticide laden foods we can get. Pesticides in coffee are absorbed into our bodies when we drink it. And, they are not easily gotten rid of. To reduce your pesticide intake (which can lead to multiple diseases including different forms of cancer), opt for the organic option. The coffee industry is pretty strict on what makes coffee organic. This means that you can feel at ease knowing your organic coffee does not contain harmful chemicals.

Here is my favorite organic coffee brand :)

TBT: The Benefits of Aloe

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When I was little I remember my Mom going outside, cutting some aloe leaves off our plant, and rubbing the juice on my sun-burnt skin. Fresh aloe was the best things to have over the summer when everyday was a beach day and everyday I came home a bit more red than brown. When we used fresh aloe, the sunburn and pain would be gone before bed that night.

This memory of aloe has always made it one of my favorite plants. Now that I have learned that the benefits of aloe go much further than sun-burnt skin, it is my favorite all over again!

It is no wonder we are still finding uses for aloe vera 5,000 years after Egyptians added it to their daily life. The plant has over 75 nutrients, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 200 enzymes, and 20 minerals- enough to place it in the super food category. Going a little further, aloe is one of the only vegetarian places to find vitamin B12, a natural energizer that also helps with neurological functions.

Since aloe works on the membranes of our skin, it reduces pain from ulcers and aids in healing due to the many nutrients and enzymes. Aloe can also help with heartburn for this same reason. The mucus found in aloe gel can help increase the pH level in our stomachs (making them less acidic), and help repair damaged areas of the esophagus.There has also been new research performed that show aloe to reduce colitis when consumed twice per day and calm psoriasis when applied to the skin.

If you have ever had issues with digestions, aloe could help with that too! The enzymes in aloe kill bad bacteria in places like our gums and our intestinal tract. This makes it easier for our digestion to carry on, unhindered and with a boost. Aloe helps in releasing pepsin, a gastric enzyme used in digestion and also has a high amount of aloin, a naturally occurring laxative.

To get the full effects from aloe, it is best to eat the gel fresh from the plant without cooking. Aloe can be grown indoors in a well lit area with watering once per week. The leaves can also be stored in the fridge for multiple uses.

If having the plant is not possible, there are quite a few aloe products available at health food stores like Whole Foods Market. Be sure to read the label before you buy, not all aloe products are equal. The more whole aloe is used, the better. Drinks like aloe energy drinks or aloe infused water will do far less than an aloe vera gel. My go-to brand is quickly becoming alo Exposed. They use the juice and the pulp plus a few extra flavors to make it yummy!

This article was originally posted on February 6th, 2013.