People typically drink vodka drinks in addition to their regular diet, and those extra calories add up. Consuming approximately 3,500 extra calories over your daily needs leads to a pound of fat gain, according to Mayo Clinic. The extra calories from a drink here and there won’t do too much damage, but drink vodka drinks regularly and you could reach that 3,500-calorie mark more quickly than you realize. Eating nutritious foods and controlling your calorie intake will put you on the fast track to sustainable fat loss and improved health.
Light Beer (96 to 100 Calories per 12 oz Serving)
If someone was already obese, they had a 35 percent higher risk of staying that way and gaining more weight. Some evidence suggests that eliminating alcohol among people who drink heavily helps control weight. In a study published in 2018, people who stopped drinking lost 1.6% more weight than those who did not change their alcohol intake.
It changes how your body processes fat
Further, studies show that alcohol temporarily inhibits “lipid oxidation” — in other words, when alcohol is in your system, it’s harder for your body to burn fat that’s already there. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning https://ecosoberhouse.com/ all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. So yes, it’s possible to gain weight from alcohol, but it’s not inevitable. Your metabolism plays a key role in how alcohol affects your weight.
Diet Mixers: What’s Really in Your Vodka Drink?
Talk with a doctor if you have any questions about alcohol, weight, or limiting your alcohol intake. The exact number of calories can vary widely by drink and serving size. According to two studies published in 2021, a high intake of alcohol may increase food cravings. “If somebody is getting hungover the next day, the chances of them waking up and having a healthy lifestyle [are slim],” Simon says.
Vodka has around the same amount of calories as any other type of alcohol (around 100 calories per shot). So, if you’re drinking too much at one time, those calories will start adding up, and your waistline will feel the effects over time. If you’ve had one too many drinks, this can lead to poor decision-making when it comes to meal and snack choices. Studies show that those who engage in heavy drinking tend to consume diets higher in calories, sodium, and fats than those who do not drink. Do you ever have problems falling asleep at night no matter how tired you are or how busy your day was? Have you turned to drinking a shot of vodka every night at bedtime to help you relax and best your insomnia?
Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining
All types of alcohol contain calories, and the calories found in vodka are no exception. H-2 antihistamines, like Pepcid (famotidine), help to lower stomach acid and are used to treat acid reflux, gastritis, and stomach ulcers. And prolonged alcohol use can lead to can you gain weight from vodka mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. “Excessive alcohol consumption can cause nerve damage and irreversible forms of dementia,” Dr. Sengupta warns. When you drink too much alcohol, it can throw off the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut.
- This can lead to inflammation and irritation of the stomach lining, knowns as acute gastritis.
- Six ounces of ginger ale has 62 calories, and the same amount of cranberry juice has 116 calories.
- Furthermore, factors that may explain the conflicting findings in this research area are discussed.
- Some of these ingredients can be high in added sugars and calories, so they could contribute to a calorie excess.
- And prolonged alcohol use can lead to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
The researchers hypothesized that weight gain due to H-1 antihistamines may be due to the disruption of insulin and leptin signaling; however, NHANES did not measure leptin levels, so no comparison could be made. Short-term or intermittent use of Zyrtec is less likely to cause significant weight gain, but this can vary among patients. A sunny beach day may make you crave strawberry daiquiris and piña coladas — but watch out if slimming down your waistline is a goal. According to the Cleveland Clinic, both daiquiris and piña coladas have about 280 calories per 5 oz serving. Your body breaks alcohol down into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which damages your DNA. Damaged DNA can cause a cell to grow out of control, which results in cancerous tumors.
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These carbs will most likely be stored as fat, leading to the dreaded beer belly. Alcohol can break down your intestinal walls leading to leaky gut and other health issues (9). And this will have a more significant impact on you gaining weight from alcohol rather than just the calories the alcohol contains. This may all sound as if alcohol is ruining your chances of that beach body.