I know I know this is perhaps the worst time to bring up such a sensitive topic. Here we are with our hefty bonuses (the only time of the year I hate to be working for myself) and our festive sweet arrays and treats and I come along playing the party pooper measuring calories.
But this is what I call the first phase of our New Year resolutions. This is when we lay the foundation stone of needing to make such drastic calls that we term as Resolutions. The extra weight, the binge drinking and spending ? they all start right here. Party pooper or timely warning, whatever you think of me, here I come.
Wine contains alcohol, which burns to release energy. One gram of alcohol releases about seven calories of energy. To give you a perspective, pure fat gives us about nine calories per gram whereas carbs or proteins both give four calories/gram each. So wine, or more so alcohol, in that sense, is energy-rich. A glass of wine (say 150ml) which has about 13-14% alcohol will release almost 147 calories of energy. A 60ml whisky peg releases a similar 160 calories or so. Beer only seems lighter as a pint packs almost 112 calories which isn?t all that far from what are considered the more potent tipples.
All alcohol burns the same way, is absorbed the same way and the effective ?kick? is, logically speaking, the same. The notion that champagne gets you higher or hits you harder is only because it is fizzy and gets absorbed faster by the blood but then is also expelled faster. Apart from that it is all in your head and in how fast you drink any liquor, what is your sustaining power and if you started on an empty stomach. The bigger problem starts because we burn this alcohol-produced energy before we burn fats thus leading to a build up. Combined with the hard fact that we rarely drink solo ? it is by virtue of hedonism an activity that is best combined with gorging nonsensical amounts of unhealthy but really tasty food articles ? alcohol in any form is a potential threat. As a result our intake far outweighs our needs and the ?reserve? stock shows up in various forms, the worst being snide comments on weighty issues from our partners.
The key word here is potential; mark it because that is where our respite lies. This is where the odds of drinking in a civilised manner and incorporating healthy eating habits help curb such risks. Sticking to the drinking limits (two standard size glasses for women and three for men) not only controls the extra calories but also makes sure we aren?t completely soaked when we get behind the wheel.
But don?t let all this health talk get the better of you. If driving is not on the cards, then please enjoy your alcohol responsibly and in a civil manner. As for the calories, here are some feel good factors. Calories in a portion of orange juice are 231 calories, a burger are about 600+ calories, french fries are 400+ calories, and an aerated beverage (not sugar-free) are 255 calories. Compared to all these, wine fares rather well. In short, you can have some wine everyday and still fit into the same trousers next year.
In the end, remember it isn?t ever about what you consume or how much as long as you find a way to burn it. Make sure you get some exercise and the rest is easy-peasy. Bet this hasn?t been as scary a read as it initially felt. If anything, by showing you the limits I am only asking and encouraging you to have a good time but know when to call it a night.
The writer is a sommelier