04. 2023 Low-Carb Holiday Alcohol Guide

We made it through Thanksgiving! It is now officially party season. There will be tree-trimming parties, cookie-baking parties, Festivus parties, Yuletide celebrations, Hanukkah get-togethers, New Year's Eve party, and even my sister's Twelfth Night party. Just general all-out merriment from now until at least January 2nd.This means it is time for my annual rundown on drinkingContrary to popular belief, alcohol does not turn into sugar in your bloodstream. However, it is carbohydrate-derived. Alcohol is what yeasts pee out after eating sugars. Doesn't that sound yummy? Hey, it doesn't stop me. Alcohol does behave like a carb in one important way.Your body burns it preferentially. Just as eating carbohydrates shuts down fat burning, so does drinking alcohol. Or, as a medical journal article I read DONKEY'S years ago phrased it, "Alcohol profoundly inhibits lipolysis." Furthermore, at 7 calories per gram, nearly twice the calorie count of carbs, It can take you longer to burn through the booze.This is why alcohol, despite some apparent benefits, is always an indulgence when you're trying to lose weight. Because alcohol is carbohydrate-derived, there are a fair number of alcoholic beverages that contain residual carbohydrates.Beer is the worst offenderYour average can of beer has in the neighborhood of 15 grams of carbohydrates and dark beers and red beers can run considerably higher.What to Drink on the Low-Carb CruiseI’ve learned to keep a good supply of sparkling water at hand and use that to quench my thirst. It makes a huge difference. When I’ve gone on a Low-Carb Cruise, I always buy the unlimited soda package. I pay a flat fee for the week for all the soft drinks I can swallow, which otherwise run two bucks a can.I don’t even drink soda. I hate it. I just do this so that I can suck down club soda while we’re all out in the bars and lounges at night. Not only does this help to moderate drinking, but it also prevents dehydration, which is a big contributor to hangovers. Since dehydration does indeed contribute to hangovers, downing a big glass or two of water before hitting the sack is a great idea.Gulp down a couple of aspirin or ibuprofen with it, and your prospects for a good New Year’s Day become even brighter. Here’s another public service announcement, this one quite serious: Do not take Tylenol for hangovers. Both alcohol and acetaminophen are rough on the liver. Taking the two together can cause serious liver damage or even liver failure.Pop a multivitamin with your aspirin to replace the water-soluble vitamins you’ve washed out. And I don’t have to tell you not to drive drunk, right? Many towns have free public transit on New Year’s Eve, so take advantage. Around here, the cabs run free, but it will only take you home, not to another bar. It’s a huge public service, and I laud them.Links and Show NotesWebsite CarbSmart.comhttps://CarbSmart.comFind Hundreds of Articles and Delicious and Easy-to-Make Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpenderhttps://www.carbsmart.com/author/danaShow Noteshttps://www.carbsmart.com/podcast-04-low-carb-alcohol-guide.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.