Cheers to a New Year

Just a quick reminder as we ring in the New Year – celebrate responsibly!  Here at Hilton Head Health, we recommend that you drink in moderation or not at all.  Actually, many health experts have said that having one drink a day can help decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.  A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. 

Even though there are healthful benefits of raising your glass, there are a few things to remember:

• Alcohol is basically empty calories.  Some alcoholic beverages have a pretty high calorie count (especially mixed drinks) and hold no real nutritional value.  So, if you are trying to lose weight, you may see how this may stand in the way of reaching your end goal.  A 5 ounce glass of champagne is roughly 100 calories!


• A good party tip is to alternate your drinks with water.  Not only will this help deter you from a second drink, it will also help keep you hydrated.  (Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes water loss and dehydration.)


• Alcohol not only lowers your inhibitions, it also stimulates your appetite.  After a few drinks, you may not be able to make the best decisions, which could result in making poor food choices or overeating.  Another favorite from our Director of Lifestyle Education Bob Wright, “Resolve dissolves in alcohol!”


• Few medical experts, if any, advise nondrinkers to start drinking for health benefits. But if you do drink and you’re healthy, there’s no need to stop as long as you drink responsibly and in moderation.

Finally, if you are going to be drinking, be sure to have a designated driver.  Have a safe and healthy New Year from your friends at Hilton Head Health!

In case you were wondering, see the calories for many of your favorite alcoholic beverages below:

Beverage	Serving Size (ounces)	Calories
Regular Beer	12	150
Light Beer	12	110
Distilled (80 proof) Gin, rum, vodka, whisky, tequila	1.5	100
Distilled (80 proof) Brandy, cognac	1.5	100
Distilled (80 proof) Liquers	1.5	190
Red Wine	5	100
White Wine	5	95
Champagne	5	100
Martini	6	240
Manhattan	6	280
Daiquiri	6	240
Whiskey Sour	6	240
Margarita Cocktail	6	280