Many may think that drinking alcohol causes them to gain weight, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. On the contrary, there are actually several ways that drinking alcohol could help you lose weight. Here are just a few of them.
Reduces Food Cravings
When you binge on food, especially the highly-caloric, fatty kinds, your body becomes stimulated enough to crave for more. This leads to added weight gain. However, if you are drinking alcohol when you eat, your brain will actually receive a sedative effect from the alcoholic drink. This reduces cravings for food, helping you to lose a few pounds.
Boosts Metabolism
Alcohol has been known to increase your body’s metabolic rate, resulting in more calories being burned even when at rest. This leads to weight loss, especially if you are drinking a lot of alcohol. There is also evidence to suggest that some alcoholic beverages work better than others when it comes to increasing your body’s metabolism. For instance, red wine has been shown to increase the body’s metabolism more than other alcoholic beverages. One study even showed that drinking a glass of red wine before each meal could help you to lose a pound a week without really trying!
Gives You Energy
While not necessarily true for all alcoholics, there is evidence to suggest that drinking alcohol can give you energy. This is mostly because alcohol inhibits an enzyme in your liver, which prevents you from metabolizing carbohydrates as effectively as before you started drinking. As a result, you will experience a boost in your daily energy levels, and this could translate to extra weight loss. Just make sure that you drink alcohol in moderation, especially if you are drinking to relieve stress.
Prevents Overeating
If you’re constantly feeling stressed, there is a good chance that you will overeat. This is especially true if you’re an emotional eater, where upsetting events will often result in you reaching for comfort foods. One way that drinking alcohol can help you prevent overeating is by providing your brain with a sedative effect. Therefore, you will be less likely to reach for foods with high caloric densities, like ice cream or cake, because your brain will be sending you signals to slow down. This is why it’s important to drink alcohol in moderation, especially if you’re already struggling with overeating behaviors. Otherwise, you could end up having an extra meal or two every day, which could result in weight gain.
Increases Water Consumption
If you are not drinking enough fluids, there is a good chance that you will become dehydrated. This can cause you to lose weight, as your body will be in a constant state of dehydration, which results in you losing water and thus, weight. However, if you are drinking alcohol, you will be able to retain more water, as it has been known to reduce the dehydration caused by alcohol. One study even went as far to say that alcohol could prevent dehydration-induced weight loss in those who chronically drank alcohol! So, if you’re interested in trying to lose weight, drink alcohol regularly to retain more water and prevent dehydration-induced weight loss.
Helps Clear Your Mind
Alcohol has been known to help clear your mind, which is fortunate for those who struggle with mental health issues. This is why many alcoholics end up becoming successful businessmen or women after they stop drinking. One study showed that moderate alcohol consumption can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in those who suffer from these mental health conditions. So, if you’re interested in trying to lose weight, consume alcohol to help clear your mind and keep your body active, as this will result in you burning more calories than you consume.
Improves Digestion
Your digestive system plays a very important role in maintaining health, so it’s fortunate that alcohol has been shown to improve your digestion. This is mostly because alcohol inhibits the action of a protein called amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates. Amylase is responsible for digesting starches and other complex carbohydrates, which gives your digestive system enough rest so that it can break down food more effectively. As a result, you will experience some bowel movement regularity, which could result in some weight loss as well. Amylase is also present in your saliva, so if you’re suffering from dehydration and oral hygiene has become a problem, then you could experience fewer cavities and less tooth decay as well. Thirsty? Having trouble concentrating? These can all be signs that you’re dehydrated. If this sounds like you, then you should drink plenty of fluids to avoid any weight loss due to poor digestion.
Fewer Medical Complications
If you are diabetic, then it’s important to maintain a healthy weight, as excess weight puts you at risk for several medical complications. One of these complications is kidney damage. Your kidneys play an important role in filtering your blood, so it’s fortunate that alcohol has been shown to reduce the risk of kidney damage in those who have this condition. This is mainly because alcohol inhibits the enzyme, phosphatase, which has the ability to cause serious kidney damage. Your kidneys will thank you for keeping your weight in check if you’re a diabetic!
There are several ways that drinking alcohol can help you to lose weight. Overall, it is a safe bet to say that consuming alcoholic beverages regularly will help you to shed some pounds. Just remember to drink alcohol in moderation, especially if you are drinking to reduce stress. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause you to gain weight in multiple ways, so it is essential that you pay attention to how you drink and how much you drink, if you want to lose weight effectively. Otherwise, there are the multiple medical complications that come with being overweight!