Alcohol: Making the right choices

Following on from one of my first blog posts, and a concern of mine which prompted me to begin this blog in the first place (University: to drink or not to drink), I'm now taking this concept further. Myths around our alcoholic beverages, the right choices, the wrong choices, the better choices: you want to get drunk, not fat. This post, as with all my others, is directed at Students. As discussed in my first alcohol post, consumption of alcohol is a part of University life and one which is enjoyed immensely by the majority of students. I would never have considered cutting alcohol out altogether during my studies, but sometimes there's not always a need for it, and you can save yourself money and calories.

Alcohol Habits
Firstly, ask yourself the question: how many days of the week do you consume alcohol? If the answer is four-five times a week, you might think about linking that to your weight gain or lack of results despite exercising. As an ex-student myself, there was a period of time where my flatmate(s) and I would have a crate of beer in our halls at all times. However, it meant we found ourselves dipping into it almost every night, and spending up to £15 a week on it. When we decided to stop, we found ourselves going for alternative options, saving ourselves money and calories. A simple solution, if you think about it, and you'll notice the difference almost immediately.

The best way to limit your alcohol intake is to try and limit your drinking to nights out only, as opposed to casual drinking at home. My nights out were Wednesdays and either Thursdays or Fridays. I started thinking of these days as my student 'weekend', and therefore those days were acceptable for me to drink what I like. Sooner or later I found that I was only drinking 2-3 times a week, automatically limiting my alcohol intake and feeling much more energetic and alert on a day to day basis.

Which alcoholic drinks are the 'healthiest'?
Now, in my opinion it seems ridiculous to put healthy and alcohol in the same sentence, because here's your answer: they're not. However, in terms of making the better choices, here's some helpful information.

Beer
Beer is probably the worst (outside of certain cocktails) for calories per glass. A pint of Larger ranges from 170 calories (Fosters, Becks Vier) to 250 calories (Stella, San Miguel). Generally the 5% lagers will have more calories than the 4% ones, unsurprisingly. Bottled lagers such as Budweiser and Carlsberg Export are around 135 calories. There are, of course, 'Light' beers, which range from 90-100 calories. But in my opinion you do compromise on the taste. If you're only drinking 2-3 times a week, you may as well drink something you enjoy. So bare that in mind if you're thinking of sinking a few pints down the pub.

Wine
Wine has been known to be marginally better than beer, but it obviously depends on your quantities. A standard pub serving of red wine comes in at 120-140 calories. And a standard pub serving (175ml) of white wine comes in at 130-150 calories. But if you're planning to sink the whole bottle, we're talking 700 calories. So by the glass, it's better than beer, but when you have the temptation of the whole bottle it could be a different story.

Spirits
This is the main one, especially for students. Spirits on their own are pretty low in calories (most are under 100 calories). However, mixed drinks have the potential to become calorically disastrous. Once you start adding mixers to your 100 calorie shot of alcohol, things soon start adding up. Mixers such as fruit juices (Cranberry/Orange) can contain up to 136 calories on their own because of their sugar content. A jagarbomb (jagarmeister and red bull) contains 156 calories. The other mistake people make is reaching for the cordials, which are hidden sugars likely to increase your drink in calories. Try diet sodas, slimline tonic or soda water as a mixer for a drink just over 100 calories.

Use the Drink Aware website for more information on calories: here.

To sum up, here's a list of tips to consider:

1. Try to limit your drinking to your big nights out (2/3 times). If you happen to have 3/4 big nights out a week, then move onto the next step for alternative advice.

2. Set a budget. If you only take out £20 cash, you will only spend £20 cash. Don't do the typical mistake of taking out your card and waking up with heartbreaking figures written on receipts.

3. Go for a smaller one. If you go for a single rather than a double, or bottled beer instead of a pint, you're automatically cutting down whilst still being involved.

4. Stay hydrated. Don't go for alcohol if you're really dehydrated. You'll drink it faster and therefore more of it. Quite a few studies suggest drinking a glass of water with each drink you buy, which doesn't suit everyone. But ensure you hydrate properly before you start drinking.

5. Take it a day at a time. If you currently drink 4-5 times a week or more, try cutting out one day a week until you reach your target. For example, make tuesdays a non-alcohol day. Every day you do is a step in the right direction.