Alcohols Impact on Your Appetite
Drinking too much alcohol has potentially damaging effects beyond just the calories associated with your drink of choice. It not only can reduce the number of fat calories you burn but it can also increase your appetite and lower testosterone levels.
A recent study reported:
Eight men were given two drinks of vodka and sugar-free lemonade separated by 30 minutes. Each drink contained just under 90 calories. Fat metabolism was measured before and after consumption of the drink. For several hours after drinking the vodka, whole body lipid oxidation (a measure of how much fat your body is burning) dropped by a massive 73%.
What happens when you drink alcohol is that alcohol isn’t metabolized into fat like ordinary food. It is actually converted into a substance called acetate. In fact a recent study showed that after drinking vodka acetate levels increase to 2.5 times normal levels.
When acetate levels rise, your body simply burns more acetate, and less fat.
Another Study:
A Canadian study shows that an aperitif (an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to increase the appetite) increased calorie intake to a greater extent than a carbohydrate-based drink.
Although an alcohol-rich meal does increase your metabolic rate, it also suppresses the number of fat calories your body burns for energy — far more so than meals rich in protein, carbohydrate, or fat. While the odd drink now and again isn't going to hurt, the bottom line is that alcohol and a leaner, stronger body just doesn’t mix. So for optimum weight loss we highly recommend cutting down on alcohol to the barest minum.
So instead of reaching for the beer or wine with your meal check out some healthier alternatives.