We all know that alcohol makes you fat. Alcohol itself contains calories, not to mention all the sugars that make our favorite drinks so tasty. In most weight loss diets, alcoholic beverages are the first to go. We all know the age-old debate about the various health benefits of beer and wine, especially when it comes to the calorie content of the two drinks. But which drink actually makes you fatter, and how do the calories in wine and beer add up?
Our article on oneHOWTO reveals which drink is more fattening, beer or wine.
Beer
Beer is one of the oldest and most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world and the third most popular beverage of all, after water and tea. It is made by brewing and fermenting starch obtained mainly from cereal grains – most commonly malted barley, but wheat, corn, rice, and oats are also used.
It's true that beer contains more carbohydrates than wine, with about 3 grams of carbohydrates per 100 milliliters (this ratio may vary depending on the type of beer you drink). But it is also true that beer contains less alcohol than wine: there are only 3 grams of alcohol per 100 ml. Keep in mind that one gram of alcohol contains 7 calories, approximately.
So, on average, a 100-milliliter glass of beer contains between 40 and 45 calories, depending on the type of beer you drink.
If you have ever wondered if you can still drink those old beer bottles or cans, do not miss this other article where we tell you if beer goes bad.
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage usually made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat. Different grape varieties and yeast strains are the main factors behind the different wine styles.
Wine has fewer carbohydrates than beer. In addition, wine is an alcoholic beverage rich in polyphenols, an antioxidant and a protector of the cardiovascular system. This is the reason some people say that a daily glass of wine is good for health.
Although it contains fewer carbohydrates than beer, red wine has a higher alcohol content and per 100 milliliters of red wine you consume a total of 70 kcal.
In the case of white wine, it should be noted that the alcohol content is lower than in red wine, but also higher than in beer: per 100 ml of white wine we consume 65 kcal.
Wine is a very sensitive product and any drastic change in weather or a simple change of barrel can cause unpleasant changes and damage the wine. Read this other article to learn how you can tell if the wine has gone bad.
Conclusions
Since alcohol is fermented sugar, there is a correlation between the amount of alcohol and the number of calories. So if you drink something with a lower alcohol content, you usually consume fewer calories.
If we evaluate the number of calories we consume per 100-milliliter glass, the answer is that wine makes you fatter than beer, simply because it has a higher alcohol content.
If you want to shed a few pounds without giving up alcohol altogether, a good choice is a shot of spirits such as vodka, gin, tequila, or a glass of champagne, which are also relatively low in calories.
You can read this other article to find out what are the healthiest alcoholic drinks you can order at the bar in moderation if you're trying to lose a little weight or improve your fitness.
If you want to read similar articles to Wine vs Beer: Which Is More Fattening?, we recommend you visit our Food & drink category.