If the alcohol calories come with labels?

I'm a big fan of British television. One thing I've noticed over the years is the number of characters enjoy their liquor. Watch Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey, head of MI5 section Harry Pearce D, and the country vicar of Grantchester Sidney Chambers, it is clear that the best way to end a day supervising the mansion, bypassing a terrorist plot, or comforting troubled souls poured two fingers of a good whiskey.  

And men are not the only drinkers. Regular tippling forced Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect DCI early retirement Scotland Yard. 

These fictitious British reflect the UK population. In the UK, the average annual pure alcohol consumption is 10 liters per person. That's the equivalent of about 500 glasses of wine or 533 shots of whiskey. (Note that this "average" for all men, women and children, many of whom do not drink applies.) In a survey, two thirds of men and over half of women in the UK they reported drinking of alcohol at least once during the last week.

The UK, like most Western countries, is also struggling with an obesity epidemic. Nearly two-thirds of adults - 67% of men and 57% of women - are overweight or obese.

In an editorial in this week's edition of the journal BMJ, Dr Fiona Sim, President of the Royal Society for Public Health, the link between alcohol consumption and obesity. She cites a recent study shows that 80% of adults in the UK do not know the calorie content of their drinks. Most were unaware that alcohol contributed to the total calories consumed. To remedy this situation, called Sim to label all alcoholic beverages with calories.

What's on this side of the Atlantic?  

Americans drink a little less than the UK (an average of 8.5 liters per person per year), but are slightly heavier: 71% of American men and 62% of women are overweight or obese. Alcohol consumption plays a role in weight gain, too. A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Diseases indicated that on average, Americans get 100 calories per day from alcohol. (This average is based in nondrinkers as well as drinkers.) People who regularly drink alcoholic beverages get up to 16% of their calories from alcohol every day, according to the CDC. 

That's too high, said Stacey Nelson, clinical nutrition manager at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Alcohol falls into the category of "empty calories" he explains, with saturated fats and added sugars. The proposed new federal dietary guidelines limit the empty calories to 20% of the daily total. "If you're budgeting calories, your choice should be:" Do you want that I drink or dessert? '"He said.

How we treat alcohol

Nutrition-wise, alcohol is similar to dietary fat. As fat, alcohol is metabolized primarily in the liver. At seven calories per gram, the alcohol content of energy is also close to that of the grease, which has nine calories per gram, than carbohydrates or proteins, each of which contains four calories per gram.In addition to adding calories directly, alcohol can affect the calorie intake by other means. 

Nelson cites evidence that a drink with food may increase the amount of food consumed. Although researchers do not know exactly why that is, they believe that alcohol decreases inhibition or make changes in brain chemistry that increase the reward you get from food. These same effects will be invited to ask for another cup too.

People can drink more sparingly if they knew how many calories you consume, Nelson thinks. Like Sim, it promotes the containers of spirits tagged with the amount of calories in addition to the alcohol content. "Why should we not label the amount of calories in alcoholic beverages when we labeling each another drink? I am in favor of providing this information so that people can make an informed decision." 

This information will soon be available for some people in the restaurant. From December 2015, the Food and Drug Administration will require chain restaurants with 20 or more outlets to provide information on calories from food and some alcoholic beverages. the number of calories can be a warning shot for drinkers who are used to thinking of a drink contains on average between 100 and 150 calories.  

This figure may be true for the shooting level 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, 12 oz bottle of beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine, but the "generous pour" in many bars and restaurants often double the amount . Furthermore, concoctions containing syrups, liqueurs, fruit juices, cream and other ingredients can send calories soaring "A landslide may have more than 500 calories. - more than a Big Mac," Nelson said. See figure for a certain amount of calories in various alcoholic beverages.

Counting calories cocktail now

It may take years before most of the alcohol containers or bar drinks come with calories. However, if you want to keep your happy time become a considerable time, there are some things you can do:

     1. When you pour a drink at home, measure so that you know how much you drink.
     2. When you order a cocktail in a bar or restaurant, ask the server or bartender how many ounces of alcohol present, and the amount of calories it contains. You may not know, but worth asking.

Calories aside, limit alcohol consumption to one drink a day if you are a woman and two if you're a man is always a good idea. When this limit is exceeded, your health risks begin to increase. 
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