Cut alcohol intake to stay healthy

By Patrick Hill

Last updated 17:25, Monday, 07 April 2008

If you want to become more fit and healthy you must cut your alcohol intake.

According to conventional wisdom, the infamous beer belly is caused by excess alcohol calories being stored as fat. However, less than five per cent of alcohol calories are turned into fat.

Although alcohol increases your metabolic rate, it also suppresses the number of fat calories your body burns for energy — far more 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 don't mix.

While dieting, many people choose low-calorie alcoholic drinks. However, drinking too much has a far more damaging effect than you can predict simply by looking at the number of alcohol calories.

Not only does it reduce the fat calories you burn, alcohol can increase your appetite and lower your testosterone levels for up to 24 hours after you finish drinking.

Conventional guidelines state that men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week and no more than four units a day.

Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week and no more than three units a day.

A unit of alcohol is 10ml of pure alcohol. A pint of ordinary lager is two units, a pint of strong lager is three units, a pint of ordinary bitter is two units, a pint of best bitter is three units, a pint of ordinary cider is two units, a pint of strong cider is three units, a glass of red or white wine is 2.3 units, a pub measure of spirits is one unit and an alcopop is 1.5 units.