The Healthiest Ways to Drink Alcohol

Trying to maintain a healthy, balanced diet while going out for drinks is tough, especially considering the many common are packed with calories, carbs, and sugars. Those craft beers you got a lunch are packed with carbs. Those vodka Red Bulls you got when you went out last night are packed with sugar. The list goes on and on. But you shouldn’t have to throw in the towel when it comes to drinking and staying fit. Alcohol isn’t inherently healthy in any way, but it’s fun and by being smart about what you drink, you can keep the flat stomach and avoid packing on the pounds.

Liquor

I get it, straight or neat liquor is certainly not the tastiest, but it is by far the healthiest. Once you begin pouring in mixers packed with sugar, you’ll start pushing the limits for calories. Straight or neat liquor, including vodka, gin, whiskey, and scotch are all game, but the clear liquors are much easier on your body. However, whiskey and scotch are still in the same range as vodka and gin, plus they have a lot more flavor, and 1.5 ounces of liquor contains only 60-90 calories. If you must have a mixer, try adding some club soda and a lemon wedge, which sports 0 calories and gives your drink that extra pop. Either way, you’ll definitely look cool sipping your drink like the badass you are.

Wine

Ah, the nectar of the gods. Wine is perfect for, well, any occasion, and is still a fairly healthy option. A 5-ounce serving clocks in at 100-150 calories, a little bit more than liquor, but the trade-off comes from the many health benefits it gives you. Wine has high concentrations of antioxidants, which have been shown to lower cholesterol and even reduce the risk for certain types of cancer. Red or white is fine, but if you choose white, try to stick to dryer wines like a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc to avoid any extra sugars.

Beer

Okay, it really isn’t fair that beer is the highest in carbs and calories. It’s twice as unfair that we live in the premiere craft beer city in the world due to this. Most beers will be around 130 calories, with some pushing 200 calories. It’s pretty tough to find one that is under 5 grams too. Light beer is always an option, but then the question becomes: are you really on going to drink one? I’ll answer that question for us all: no. If you want to indulge in a quality beer that doesn’t taste like water, stouts are a good option. They are made with whole grains and come packed with all sorts of vitamins and antioxidants that have been shown to reduce blood clots and mitigate heart-related issues.

No matter how you choose to imbibe, be sure to drink plenty of water and have something to eat! These two simple things can reduce the severity of any hangover you might have, and keep your body hydrated and help you avoid the classic drunk-induced choice of pursuing fatty foods. And as always, drink responsibly!