While losing weight is one of the most popular New Year resolutions, people may not be aware that nearly 10% of the calories drinkers consume come from alcohol.
This is according to a statement issued by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) at the beginning of the year. They further said that most people are not aware of the amount of calories contained in alcohol and therefore they do not include them when assessing their calorie intake.
In terms of calorie value, alcohol, which contains 7kcal/g, is second to fat, which contains 9 kcal/g. A medium strength lager contains 250 calories and would take the average 75kg adult 53 minutes of hurried walking to burn off. In comparison, an orange juice contains 109 calories, and would take 23 minutes of hurried walking to burn off.
WCRF points to a growing body of evidence that shows being overweight increases the risk of a number of cancers including those of the pancreas, bowel, breast, esophagus, kidney, womb and gallbladder.
Kate Mendoza, Head of Health Information at WCRF, says after smoking, being overweight or obese is the biggest risk factor for developing cancer.
Reducing Alcohol Intake
If you drink alcohol, the WCRF recommends that you limit your intake to no more than 2 drinks a day if you are a man and 1 a day if you are a woman.
They offer these tips to help you cut down:
Choose the smallest serving size
Dilute alcoholic drinks with soda water or low-calorie soft drinks,
Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and
Avoid alcohol altogether on a few nights per week.
Reference
Catharine Paddock PhD. (2013, January 4). Cut Down On Alcohol For Healthy Weight. Retrieved from Medical News
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