Alcohol – friend or foe?!

Socializing brings people together and allows us to enjoy and celebrate life. However, socializing is often associated with alcohol. Whether at a cozy dinner, an unforgettable festival, or a wild night of partying, alcohol is often involved.

Especially now that we've launched our app and our customers can track their food, alcohol is becoming a recurring topic. Many people are noticing that alcohol contains a surprising amount of calories, and that a beer or two can quickly replace a full meal. But what effect does this have on our bodies?

Let’s take a look behind the scenes!

The influences on metabolism

Alcohol slows our metabolism sevenfold. As soon as alcohol enters our bodies, our only concern is breaking it down. Alcohol acts like poison to our bodies, so it wants to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Everything else is put on the back burner during this time. Alcohol also stimulates our appetite. If you reach for something salty like chips or nuts, you'll immediately feel thirsty again. A vicious cycle that's anything but healthy ;)

A brief overview:

1dl red wine 85 kcal

1 dl Prosecco 75 kcal

2dl Gin Tonic 140 kcal

3dl beer 130 kcal

3dl Caipirinha 320 kcal

2dl Rum and Cola 170 kcal

Alcohol has an extremely high calorie density, increases hunger, and can inhibit fat loss. More than enough reasons to only consume it in moderation. Furthermore, (calories aside), alcohol is unhealthy anyway and can lead to various ailments and illnesses.

If you still have to have a glass, I would recommend a high-quality, dry red or white wine. Stay away from cocktails and mixed drinks as much as possible to avoid falling into the alcohol-calorie trap.

And no one should feel pressured to drink alcohol, peer pressure notwithstanding. People usually get used to it very quickly if you don't drink with them every time.

Tip: it helps if you replace every second alcoholic drink with a glass of water.