It is easy to gain weight from drinking too much alcohol and obesity also increases your risk of getting cancer
From nutritional point of view, alcoholic drinks represent ’empty calories’- they are high in calories but low in nutritional value; alcohol itself has a comparatively high energy content. Alcohol provides extra calories and slows fat and carbohydrate oxidation.
Many of us are simply not aware of the calorific content of alcohol. For example, did you know that one bottle of wine has 510 calories? This is one around third of the recommended daily calorific intake for women, and one fifth of the recommended intake for men.
Calorific Content of Selected Drinks
Gin or vodka and tonic =126
Dark rum and coke =142
Medium glass of white wine (175ml) =130
Medium glass of red wine (175ml) =120
Bottle of wine (white) =555
Bottle of wine (red) =510
5% Lager (pint) =240-50
Cider (pint) =180-250
Stout (pint) =210
Bitter/Ale =180-230
Liqueur (50ml) =100 -170
Brandy (50ml) =110
Whiskey (25ml) =55
Mixed drink (Ready to drink) (275ml bottle) =160-228
Source: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/calories-in-alcohol
Alcohol as well as being direct cause of several cancer, might also contribute indirectly to those cancers associated with excess body fat. There is convincing evidence that obesity increases the risk of cancers in several areas of the body, such as the:
-oesophagus
-pancreas
-bowel
-breast
-endometrium
-kidney
Further information and links on alcohol and calories intake:
Gatineau M, Mathrani S. Obesity and alcohol: an overview. Oxford: National Obesity Observatory, 2012
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