Wine & Dieting?

Low-calorie diets usually cut out all alcoholic beverages. However, a recent study by a university in Indiana states that drinking a glass of wine a day helps us lose weight thanks to a natural compound called piceatannol. According to the research, the compound not only blocks fat cells from forming, but also reduces those that already exist.

In order to clear up our doubts, we talked to Estrella Pujol, the director of one of Barcelona's most prestigious weight loss centers, Oxigen Centre de Bellesa. She confirmed that drinking alcohol on a low-calorie diet is bad, “because it contains a lot of calories and interferes with how the body metabolizes fat.”

The most fattening alcoholic beverages are sweet liqueurs, followed by whisky, rum, cognac and white spirits. These can serve up 250 to 400 calories per drink when combined with a mixer. “If you're going to drink any kind of alcoholic beverage,” Estrella explained, “A glass of wine or cava is your best bet.” Depending on the type of wine, a 100 ml glass contains 65 to 80 calories. A significant difference when compared to high alcohol spirits.

Are some wines preferable over others when on a diet? According to Oxigen's director, “it is best to avoid sweet wines. Dry wines are better, because the drier they are, the less sugar they contain.” She goes on to say that there is little difference between red and white wine, “but white wine tends to be less alcoholic, which means fewer calories, thus making it a better choice.” So as far as exceptions go, a glass of wine a day—preferably a dry white or cava—won't ruin your diet. “Mixing different types of drinks during the same meal is not recommendable,” she tells us.

Dealcoholized wines like Natureo Muscat, the first of its kind in Spain, are also a good option. Seeing how it has an ABV of 0.5%, it contains less than half the calories of a regular glass of wine.

A few interesting tips for enjoying a glass of wine on a diet: “I recommend drinking the wine very slowly and in small sips if you're having it with a meal. Alternating it with water also helps to make the wine last longer,” Estrella explains. In addition, she recommends pairing wine with protein rather than carbs, “because the first thing to get metabolized is the alcohol, and your body will store any unburned carbs as fat.” In other words, go for meat, fish or eggs rather than pasta or rice.

As for the Indiana study and its claim that red wine can help us lose weight, Oxigen's expert has a few reservations. “A weight loss diet must be highly controlled. If you consume these additional calories, you have to make up for it by cutting out other food that is more important for your metabolism,” she explains. A small treat, however, does wonders for our motivation—that's a personal opinion, but one that many would agree with. “When on a diet, you can have whatever you want, but in controlled amounts,” Estrella Pujol points out. This is music to our ears!