Calories in spirits ?

Are calories in strong liquor (vodka, for example), "empty" calories ?
There are no carbohydrates in vodka, yet they say there are +-500cal
per cup of vodka, because of alcohol.
I know beer contributes to weight gain because of carbs present in
beer, but there are none of carbs in spirits.
Does the alcohol (vodka) contribute to weight gain, and how ?

Phas wrote:

Are calories in strong liquor (vodka, for example), "empty" calories ?

The body metabolizes alcohol first, carbs second, fat third,
protein forth under most circumstances. Whether you want
to view alcohol calories as beneficial fuel calories is a matter
of personal opinion, but I count them against my daily total
because I think they are empty calories. I don't want to
skip calories from hard sugar candies for the same reason.
In fact, even though alcohol isn't a carb, since it is burned
ahead of carbs I count those calories against my daily carbs
for the same reason.

There are no carbohydrates in vodka, yet they say there are +-500cal
per cup of vodka, because of alcohol.

A cup is a LOT of vodka to drink in one day.

I know beer contributes to weight gain because of carbs present in
beer, but there are none of carbs in spirits.
Does the alcohol (vodka) contribute to weight gain, and how ?

It prevents lose during the time it's being burned up. That's not the
same as contributing to gain, but close enough for me.

"Doug Freyburger" wrote in message
...
Phas wrote:

Are calories in strong liquor (vodka, for example), "empty" calories ?

The body metabolizes alcohol first, carbs second, fat third,
protein forth under most circumstances. Whether you want
to view alcohol calories as beneficial fuel calories is a matter
of personal opinion, but I count them against my daily total
because I think they are empty calories. I don't want to
skip calories from hard sugar candies for the same reason.
In fact, even though alcohol isn't a carb, since it is burned
ahead of carbs I count those calories against my daily carbs
for the same reason.

There are no carbohydrates in vodka, yet they say there are +-500cal
per cup of vodka, because of alcohol.

A cup is a LOT of vodka to drink in one day.

I know beer contributes to weight gain because of carbs present in
beer, but there are none of carbs in spirits.
Does the alcohol (vodka) contribute to weight gain, and how ?

It prevents lose during the time it's being burned up. That's not the
same as contributing to gain, but close enough for me.

I believe alcohol is 7 calories per gram. A cup is 250 grams of vodka or
100 grams of alcohol, if 80 proof. That would be 700 calories.

http://www.rochester.edu/uhs/healtht...ricvalues.html
Caloric Values of Alcoholic Beverages
We have all seen it attached to the front of our once thin and athletic
friend - the infamous "beer belly". Commonly misattributed to excess
alcohol calories being stored as fat, the "beer belly" is actually a
result of alcohol's more complex effects on the body's metabolic system.
Simply put, alcohol reduces the amount of fat the body burns for energy.
This occurs for the following reason:
1.. A small portion of the alcohol consumed is converted into fat.
2.. The liver then converts the rest (ie: majority) of the alcohol
into acetate.
3.. The acetate is then released into the bloodstream, and replaces
fat as a source of fuel.
Coupled with the high caloric value of alcohol, the resulting effect is
that body is forced to store an excessive amount of unburned fat
calories, often in the form of a 'beer belly".
-------------------------
On the other hand,

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Alc...AndWeight.html

Alcohol, Calories & Weight
Drinking alcohol does not contribute to weight gain, according to
scientific medical research.

The Data
Alcohol contains calories, but drinking alcohol doesn't lead to weight
gain, according to extensive medical research, and many studies report a
small reduction in weight for women who drink. 1

The reason that alcohol doesn't increase weight is unclear, but
research suggests that alcohol energy is not efficiently used. 2 Alcohol
also appears to increase metabolic rate significantly, thus causing more
calories to be burned rather than stored in the body as fat. 3 Other
research has found consumption of sugar to decrease as consumption of
alcohol increases. 4

Whatever the reasons, the consumption of alcohol is not associated with
weight gain and is often associated with weight loss in women. The
medical evidence of this is based on a large number of studies of
thousands of people around the world. 5 Some of these studies are very
large; one involved nearly 80,000 and another included 140,000 subjects.



Or,
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag... 1c0a964958260

"Phas" wrote in message
...
Are calories in strong liquor (vodka, for example), "empty" calories ?
There are no carbohydrates in vodka, yet they say there are +-500cal
per cup of vodka, because of alcohol.
I know beer contributes to weight gain because of carbs present in
beer, but there are none of carbs in spirits.
Does the alcohol (vodka) contribute to weight gain, and how ?

I was expecting a post about the supernatural.

On Nov 26, 4:59 pm, "Del Cecchi"
wrote:
"Doug Freyburger" wrote in message

...





Phas wrote:

Are calories in strong liquor (vodka, for example), "empty" calories ?

The body metabolizes alcohol first, carbs second, fat third,
protein forth under most circumstances. Whether you want
to view alcohol calories as beneficial fuel calories is a matter
of personal opinion, but I count them against my daily total
because I think they are empty calories. I don't want to
skip calories from hard sugar candies for the same reason.
In fact, even though alcohol isn't a carb, since it is burned
ahead of carbs I count those calories against my daily carbs
for the same reason.

There are no carbohydrates in vodka, yet they say there are +-500cal
per cup of vodka, because of alcohol.

A cup is a LOT of vodka to drink in one day.

I know beer contributes to weight gain because of carbs present in
beer, but there are none of carbs in spirits.
Does the alcohol (vodka) contribute to weight gain, and how ?

It prevents lose during the time it's being burned up. That's not the
same as contributing to gain, but close enough for me.

I believe alcohol is 7 calories per gram. A cup is 250 grams of vodka or
100 grams of alcohol, if 80 proof. That would be 700 calories.

http://www.rochester.edu/uhs/healtht...ricvalues.html
Caloric Values of Alcoholic Beverages
We have all seen it attached to the front of our once thin and athletic
friend - the infamous "beer belly". Commonly misattributed to excess
alcohol calories being stored as fat, the "beer belly" is actually a
result of alcohol's more complex effects on the body's metabolic system.
Simply put, alcohol reduces the amount of fat the body burns for energy.
This occurs for the following reason:
1.. A small portion of the alcohol consumed is converted into fat.
2.. The liver then converts the rest (ie: majority) of the alcohol
into acetate.
3.. The acetate is then released into the bloodstream, and replaces
fat as a source of fuel.
Coupled with the high caloric value of alcohol, the resulting effect is
that body is forced to store an excessive amount of unburned fat
calories, often in the form of a 'beer belly".
-------------------------
On the other hand,

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Alc...AndWeight.html

Alcohol, Calories & Weight
Drinking alcohol does not contribute to weight gain, according to
scientific medical research.

The Data
Alcohol contains calories, but drinking alcohol doesn't lead to weight
gain, according to extensive medical research, and many studies report a
small reduction in weight for women who drink. 1

The reason that alcohol doesn't increase weight is unclear, but
research suggests that alcohol energy is not efficiently used. 2 Alcohol
also appears to increase metabolic rate significantly, thus causing more
calories to be burned rather than stored in the body as fat. 3 Other
research has found consumption of sugar to decrease as consumption of
alcohol increases. 4

Whatever the reasons, the consumption of alcohol is not associated with
weight gain and is often associated with weight loss in women. The
medical evidence of this is based on a large number of studies of
thousands of people around the world. 5 Some of these studies are very
large; one involved nearly 80,000 and another included 140,000 subjects.

Or,http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...e0ce0d61f3...- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Still, if you drink, you better total the calories from any alcoholic
drinks into your numbers. All calories count. dkw

On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:05:36 -0800 (PST), Doug Freyburger
wrote:

Phas wrote:

Are calories in strong liquor (vodka, for example), "empty" calories ?

The body metabolizes alcohol first, carbs second, fat third,
protein forth under most circumstances. Whether you want
to view alcohol calories as beneficial fuel calories is a matter
of personal opinion, but I count them against my daily total
because I think they are empty calories. I don't want to
skip calories from hard sugar candies for the same reason.
In fact, even though alcohol isn't a carb, since it is burned
ahead of carbs I count those calories against my daily carbs
for the same reason.

There are no carbohydrates in vodka, yet they say there are +-500cal
per cup of vodka, because of alcohol.

A cup is a LOT of vodka to drink in one day.

You gotta be kiddin. Hell, I drink at least a fifth each day.

I know beer contributes to weight gain because of carbs present in
beer, but there are none of carbs in spirits.
Does the alcohol (vodka) contribute to weight gain, and how ?

It prevents lose during the time it's being burned up. That's not the
same as contributing to gain, but close enough for me.

Who cares about carbs and all that crap. Drink and enjoy. Life is
meant to be fun. When it's time to die, then die. If you become much
too fat, pull out a gun and kill yourself because its time to die.
Drink eat and be happy.