Do you love a glass of red wine to relax at night? Wine seems to have become a go-to for many women after a busy day of parenting and working or as a stress relief from daily struggles, but does that mean it is a healthy choice for the body? There seems to be a perceived idea that red wine is good for health due to the antioxidants, but there is more to a glass (or two) of vino, especially when it comes to body composition and health.
Can Red Wine Make You Gain Weight?
Red wine is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks and is seen as a staple for everyday consumption in many households. It might seem normal to reach for a bottle of wine with friends, over dinner or to unwind after a long day. However, aside from the enjoyment and ritual of a glass of red wine, it is a good idea to pause for a moment and question if this is serving the body or harming it.
If you are thinking you’re eating right, exercising, and doing all the right things to be healthy, yet that extra belly fat doesn’t seem to budge and you do have a few glasses of wine regularly, then it is important to understand how many calories are in wine. You might see that the extra calories from wine are adding a lot more calories to your intake per day on top of all the food you eat.
Calories in Wine
Wine isn’t particularly high in calories, yet it is easy to consume it in excess. How often do you find it easy to drink more than a large glass of red wine in one sitting? This is where the calories add up when that one small glass of red wine turns into two or three large glasses, maybe even the whole bottle.
The calories will vary depending on the type of wine, however, you can expect a single glass (147ml) will be between 110 to 130 calories. Bear in mind this is a standard small glass you would get in a restaurant, how often do you pour a larger glass at home? It is easy to almost fill the whole wine glass at home, so the calories per glass will almost double, and that’s just that one glass of wine. Drinking multiple glasses filled close to the top will dramatically add up in calories.
Calories from alcohol are typically considered empty calories as they do not provide decent amounts of nutrition. It might be easy to get caught up in the news of red wine being good for the body because it is made from fermented grape juice and it provides antioxidants. Yet you have to decide if the antioxidants from this source are worth the extra pounds it could be adding to your waistline. If antioxidants are your goal, it would be better to eat a nutrient-dense source of antioxidants like dark chocolate or berries.
Is It Ok to Drink Wine Everyday?
Drinking red wine in moderation might be ok for you. It isn’t a healthy staple yet a little every now and then can be good for the soul. Creating balance with alcohol such as red wine is the best approach if you want to drink wine rather than needing to rely on it everyday to wind down. A small glass of red wine on occasion with a delicious meal, celebratory event or with friends can add to a healthy mindset with what you eat and drink, which gives a more well-rounded approach to healthy living instead of being too restrictive.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states moderate drinking as:
- For women: 1 standard drink a day
- For men: 2 standard drinks a day
A standard drink is a drink that has 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol in it. For wine that is 5 fluid ounces of wine, not the full glass.
Heavy alcohol use is considered:
- For women: 4+ standard drinks a day
- For men: 5+ standard drinks a day
Balance is key to healthy living. If you need a vice for relaxing at the end of day try these tips instead:
- Listen to relaxing music
- Read a book
- Diffuse essential oils
- Enjoy a hot herbal tea
- Make a healthy hot chocolate drink
Rebecca is a personal trainer and health & wellness coach who is passionate about helping women to feel healthy, happy and LOVE life. As a coach with a huge passion for vegan nutrition, holistic health, enjoying exercise and self care, Rebecca is on a mission to help women thrive!
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