Low Calorie Alcohol - Red Wine Is The Best Choice

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If you are on a weight loss diet, but don't' want to give the pleasure of drinking some alcohol, you would be better to choose low-calorie alcohol drinks, such as wine and beer, since the caloric value of alcohol beverages only depends on their content in alcohol (or ethanol), which provides 7.3 calories per gram.

But, among all types of low-calorie alcohol drinks, which is the best one? Well, the answer is simple and unique: red wine is the healthiest choice. Several research studies support the common idea that enjoying a glass of red wine with dinner is beneficial to health, especially heart health. In fact it has been shown that moderate drinkers of red wine seem to have a lower risk of heart disease.

It is not exactly clear which is the substance responsible for the heart health benefits of red wine, although it has been hypothesised that many different compounds may come into play: antioxidant polyphenols such as flavonoids and resveratrol (a non-flavonoid polyphenol), as well as ethanol itself.

It has been shown that antioxidants contained in red wine can help prevent heart disease by reducing blood levels of LDL cholesterol (the so-called "bad" cholesterol), protecting arteries from damage and preventing the formation of blood clots within blood vessels. Since red wine is the alcoholic beverage with the highest antioxidant content, this may explain why red wine is a healthier choice than white wine and beer.

However, as already said above, the heart health benefits of red wine can result in part from its content in alcohol, as well. In this respect there is no difference between red wine, white wine or other types of alcohol: all of them can have heart-health benefits thanks to their content in ethanol (alcohol). The mechanism by which ethanol can help prevent heart disease has not been definitely established, although it has been suggested that ethanol helps increase HDL cholesterol (the so-called "good" cholesterol), prevent artery damage caused by high levels of bad cholesterol and reduce the formation of blood clots.

In any case it is important to remember that red wine is not a medicine and no doctor prescribes red wine to prevent heart disease. Although a moderate drinking of red wine (one or two 5-ounce glasses of wine per day) can have some beneficial effects on heart health, it is important to always remember that the consumption of too much alcohol (whatever the type) can increase the risk for cardiovascular and heart diseases, as well as of obesity, liver disease and certain types of cancer.

So, if you don't want to give up the pleasure of drinking some alcohol, remember that red wine is the best and healthiest choice, but only when consumed in moderation. And if you don't drink at all, that's good for you. Keep it up!