Can you drink alcohol on a low-carb diet? This is the first question that avid drinkers ask when they are cutting out carbs from their diet. Fortunately for you, the answer is yes! There are some alcoholic beverages low in carbohydrates that you can consume without compromising your diet.
Before you get too excited, let us tell you how alcohol works in the body. While alcohol is a source of energy, it has no nutritious value whatsoever.
The body stores these as empty calories. Therefore, no matter how low-carb the alcoholic beverage is, it still has about 100 calories! If you consume these drinks in moderation, you can easily maintain or even lose weight.
Low-carb alcoholic drinks will not disrupt your diet. Heavy drinking is never good, but if you enjoy a low-carb cocktail occasionally, you have nothing to worry about. You would be delighted to see that some of these drinks are completely carb-free!
Neat Whiskey
If you’re a whiskey lover, here is some good news for you. If you like your whiskey neat, on the rocks, you have nothing to worry about. Whiskey does not have any carbs, and if you’re not even using a mixer, then there’s nothing better than that. One 5 oz shot of whiskey has no carbs, no fats, and approximately 108 calories.
Wine
There is nothing like a dinner with fine wine! If you’re adhering to a strict low-carb diet, you can enjoy a glass of wine with it. One glass of wine has approximately 5 ounces. The exact calories will depend on the kind of wine you’re having. Some of our recommendations are:
- Sauvignon blanc: 3 grams of carbs
- Pinot Noir: 3.4 grams of carbs
Bloody Mary
If you are trying to lose weight, you can make a light Bloody Mary right at home. If you use vodka with a small amount of tomato juice and just a dash of tobacco, you can expect to get just 5 grams of carbs with every 3-ounce drink. That’s a meager amount that allows you to enjoy this drink without worrying about your weight.
Tequila With Fresh Lime
If you are craving a mojito but can’t have it due to its high sugar content, you can simply try tequila with fresh lime. You can make your drink with 2 oz of silver tequila and 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice. The lime will significantly improve the taste of your drink. There are zero carbs in a single shot of tequila!
Drinks To Avoid
There are some high-carb alcoholic beverages that are loaded with carbs, and you should try to avoid them:
- Sangria
- Margarita
- Regular Beer
- Mojito
- Pina Colada
Final Thoughts
Too much of anything is bad and the same goes for alcohol. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a cocktail or an alcoholic drink here and there.
There are many low-carb alcoholic beverages that you can enjoy even when you’re on a diet. You should steer clear of certain alcoholic beverages that are loaded with sugars and fats and will quickly make you put on a few pounds. Know what you can and cannot drink, and you’re good to go!