Latest news with #mindfuldrinking
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nutritionists Are Sharing Alcohol 'Rules' You Should Really Be Following, Including Women Having No More Than One Drink Per Day
Alcohol is known to be a health risk. Research shows that it's linked to certain cancers, can damage your liver, is tied to dementia risk and can just make you feel lousy. So, with all of these findings, it's only natural to think more about your relationship with alcohol. As the sobriety awareness of Dry January comes to a close, you may feel a pull to go back to your old drinking habits. But it could be worth thinking about your use of alcohol and making a change that lasts beyond January. (And, no, this does not have to mean cutting it out altogether.) Terms like 'mindful drinking' and 'sober curious' are showing up in the news and on social media, indicating that folks are taking these research findings seriously. What mindful drinking means for one person might not be the same as for another, but in essence it's bringing awareness to your alcohol consumption and choosing to drink when you actually want to, not just as a reflex while watching the game or as a crutch to deal with stress. Although some people who follow this lifestyle do still drink, others don't, making the definition fluid and customizable to what's right for you. In the end, your decision to drink or not to drink is up to you. But for those who decide to imbibe, nutritionists say there are some things to keep in mind. Below, they share the alcohol guidelines you should follow if you do choose to drink. 1. The CDC guidelines say women should have no more than one drink per day and men should have no more than two. Related: People Are Sharing The Telltale Signs In Someone's Kitchen That Make Them Scared To Eat There The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines define moderate drinking as no more than one drink for women and two drinks for men each day, said Christine Byrne, a registered dietitian and the owner of Ruby Oak Nutrition in Raleigh, North Carolina. 'I think that is a pretty good guideline,' she added. 'Those specific guidelines also point out that it doesn't mean seven drinks in a week for women, it means one drink a day — so not drinking for five days and then drinking six drinks on the sixth day is not the same thing.' 'Alcohol is a lot for your body to process,' which is why you can't just bank all of those drinks for day six, Byrne said. 'Overloading [your body] with alcohol on one day and not drinking for seven days or more can be more harmful than just drinking one drink for women or two drinks for men on a single day ... our bodies are able to process that amount of alcohol.' Not be a buzzkill, but one alcoholic drink does not mean a Long Island iced tea (a cocktail that combines gin, vodka, rum, tequila and triple sec). Instead, the CDC says one drink is equivalent to a 12-ounce beer that is 5% alcohol by volume (ABV), 5 ounces of wine that's 12% ABV, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor or 8 ounces of malt liquor that is 7% ABV. But know that alcohol is not beneficial to your health. ″[It's] really important to know that recently, I think as of last year, the World Health Organization actually came out and said that no amount of alcohol is safe,' said Sumner Brooks, a registered dietitian and author of 'How to Raise an Intuitive Eater.' 'We know that alcohol is associated with cancer, it's a Group 1 carcinogen, which puts it in the same group level as tobacco,' Brooks said. Beyond being a carcinogen, alcohol is a toxin, according to Byrne, who added that 'our body prioritizes metabolizing the alcohol because it's a toxin, so it wants to get rid of it.' The WHO guidelines say that even one drink per day for women and two per day for men is still associated with these health risks, Brooks noted. So for people who do choose to drink, 'it's just important [to know] that we've moved past the point of that general consensus that drinking offers health benefits,' she added. Suffice to say that just because the guidelines say you can have a certain amount of alcohol each day doesn't mean you should. 2. If you do imbibe, drink water after each alcoholic beverage. Related: 19 Very, Very Unfortunate Food Fails That Belong In A Museum Of Culinary Crimes It's not an official guideline, but the notion of following up an alcoholic drink with a glass of water is a good practice to follow, Byrne said. 'Not only does it hydrate you, it also slows you down, and that can be helpful,' she added. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more often and can dehydrate you. If you decide to drink more than what the CDC guidelines consider 'moderate drinking,' following each drink with water is helpful, noted Byrne. 3. Don't drink on an empty stomach. You probably have at least one memory (albeit, a fuzzy one) of drinking on an empty stomach. For more reasons than one, Byrne said, drinking on an empty stomach is not a good idea. 'I do not recommend drinking on an empty stomach. The alcohol can hit you faster that way, and that can be a problem,' she said. Specifically, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, your body absorbs alcohol faster when you don't have food in your stomach. 'Drinking while eating can help you not get so drunk, which is a good thing,' Byrne said. 'It also could help you drink less because you're not just drinking, you're also eating — there's something else to do. And drinking less is a good thing.' So if you end up at a happy hour with friends, order a few bites to eat, too. 4. Don't replace meals with alcohol. According to Brooks, while alcohol does provide your body with calories, it does not provide it with necessary nutrition, like protein, fiber or fat. 'People tend to equate dietary quality with calories, which is really harmful, especially when it comes to alcohol. Because if they're just thinking about how many calories they're taking in, then they will replace food calories with alcohol calories and think that's enough or that's a healthy replacement,' Brooks said. 'But really, nutrition is about getting what we need: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals and water, and when we're cutting those things out to maintain calorie balance, then there's a nutrition risk,' she said. Your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs if you're replacing a meal with a filling beer. 5. Be aware of what constitutes binge drinking. Byrne said it's important to know the official definition of binge drinking. The CDC says having five drinks or more on an occasion for men and four drinks or more for women is considered binge drinking. 'I think it's less than a lot of people think,' Byrne noted. Think about it: If you've ever been to a wedding where there's cocktail hour, dinner, dancing and often an after-party, you know how easy it is to have four or five drinks during the celebration. 'What you do with alcohol is completely up to you, and just because you drink more than what's considered binge drinking on a single occasion doesn't necessarily mean you have an alcohol addiction or an alcohol problem,' Byrne said. 'I want to make that clear, too, but technically speaking, that is the definition of binge drinking.' 6. Pay close attention to you're drinking. For those who do choose to drink, Brooks said it's important to pay attention to three things: The frequency and quantity of your drinking: Use the CDC's guidelines to assess how much and how often you're drinking. Why you're drinking: 'Ask yourself, what is it that I think this drink will do for me?' Brooks said, adding that if you're using alcohol to de-stress, let loose or be more social, know that you can do this without drinking. Is there something else you can do or drink instead of alcohol? 'Because there are actually so many ways that we can achieve those benefits that people think they're getting from drinking, we can get all of those things without drinking,' Brooks said. 'If you are saying, 'Well, I just need this drink because I just need to relax' ... that alcohol itself isn't actually what helps you relax. [What can give you that effect can] be the sitting, taking a break from what you're doing or going to happy hour and talking to people, connecting to people, getting a change of scenery,' Brooks explained. You can still relax without a glass of wine. You could take up coloring or take a bath with a seltzer by your side instead of a glass of wine, or you could go out for a walk for an after-work change of scenery, she added. 'If somebody believes that having that drink at the end of the day is their way to relax, then just by default they're not thinking about other ways that they actually could decompress,' Brooks said. Beyond thinking about your intention with alcohol, it's important to look at any red flags, too. 'If you think your drinking might be problematic, ask yourself why you're doing it,' Byrne said, 'and if you're doing it to avoid certain feelings or numb certain feelings, then that's something to question and probably a reason to reassess your relationship with alcohol.' In this case, it's also a good idea to reach out to a therapist who's trained in substance use treatment who can support you, Byrne added. The Psychology Today website can help you find a local mental health provider. Additionally, Brooks noted that changing your drinking habits is not an easy feat. If you are trying to do this, it's a good idea to lean on loved ones who have a similar article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Food: 25 Peculiar Family Food Traditions People Thought Were Totally Normal Growing Up That Range From "Weird" To "Disgusting" To Actually Really Cute Also in Food: "They Kept Looking At Us Like We Were Sugar-Addicted Americans": 22 Comfort Foods From All Around The US That Probably Seem A Little Weird If You Didn't Grow Up Here Also in Food: Only True Culinary Geniuses Can Identify These 15 Recipes From Emojis Alone
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Mid-strength drinks are having a moment. Here are 10 of the best lower-ABV beverages
These days, there are plenty of brilliant low- and no-alcohol options for when you want to stay off the sauce. But what if you're wanting to enjoy a 'real' drink – just minus the negative effects? Step up to the stage, mid-strength drinks. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For the uninitiated, mid-strength beers, wines and spirits occupy the space between the (very) low and no sector – which covers 0-1.2% alcohol by volume (ABV) drinks, whatever the beverage – and your standard alcoholic options. Expect to see beers and ciders around the 2-3% mark, wines at 6-9% and spirits at 15-20%, but there are variations on this, particularly with wine. So why have mid-strength beverages become a thing? Laura Willoughby, founder of the mindful drinking organisation Club Soda, says: 'Ultimately, moderation does not have to be a binary choice between drinking and not drinking. The goal is to encourage a more intentional drinking culture – not just when we choose to abstain from alcohol, but also when we choose to enjoy it.' The past decade has seen the trend for mindful drinking gathering pace, with people turning to 'zebra striping' (alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) and 'coasting' (drinking lower ABV drinks for longer) as they become more conscious of their health and wellness. More recently, a report by KAM Insights (paid for) showed that all age groups under 55 are drinking alcohol less frequently, and 70% of 25- to 34-year-olds are actively looking for ways to lower their alcohol consumption. And there are positives to be had by switching to mid-strength drinks, besides the avoidance of the fuzzy head the morning after. Tim Lawton, drinks expert at Dry Drinker, says: 'Many cite reduced-calorie counts as a key draw. Others use mid-strength wines as a step between full-strength and non-alcoholic options – it's relatively common for people to opt for lower alcohol consumption if they're not ready to go entirely alcohol-free.' So, whether you're looking for mid-strength drinks for long, lazy summer drinking, are actively trying to reduce your alcohol intake, or are just curious about what's out there, I've rounded up a selection of beverages that have less alcohol but all the flavour of the standard versions. I tested 40 mid-strength drinks – including wines, beers, cocktail cans and various spirits – to bring you this list of genuinely great-tasting tipples to enjoy. To qualify, drinks had to be lower in alcohol than the category norm, and taste as good as the standard version. The competition was stiff, particularly with wines and beers, so it's well worth exploring the category for yourself. £2.25 for 350ml at the Whisky Exchange£13.20 for 6 x 350ml at Majestic With so many fantastic alcohol-free and mid-strength beers around, I found it difficult to pick just one drink. But I kept coming back to this Great Taste award-winning pilsner-style lager, with its crisp, lightly citrus flavour. Brewed in south London at a B-Corp certified brewery, it's a very civilised 2.1% with lower sugars and calories as a result. It's a super-refreshing all-rounder that will keep you well-watered over a long, lazy picnic. £24.99 for 70cl at Amazon Vodka might not be the first thing to come to mind in the mid-strength drinks sphere, but why not? If your go-to tipple is a vodka, soda and lime, or if you like to begin your evening mixing an after-work martini, then a lower-alcohol version could be a great option. Made from UK barley, rye and wheat, Quarter Proof is distilled and blended at 15% for a light and smooth taste that's perfect in all manner of vodka-based cocktails. It also makes a mean vodka martini: up the olive brine or lemon and vermouth, and serve ice-cold. £7.99 for 75cl at Click N Drink This pale pink, partially de-alcoholised rose from South Africa has everything you want in an easy-drinking summer wine. It's bursting with berry flavours, while a hint of zest keeps it fresh and stops it from falling into sweeter rose territory. Bright and well-balanced, it goes brilliantly with salads, picky bits and barbecued foods. The Kamina merlot is also very good. £8 for 75cl at Sainsbury's £8 for 75cl at Amazon French sauvignon not your thing? Then why not consider this lighter take on the classic Australian chardonnay? 19 Crimes' full-flavoured, round, buttery wine has all the expected flavours of the grape, but with only 7% alcohol. It's bold and sunny with pronounced stone fruit, and is begging to be enjoyed well-chilled with a Sunday roast. £12.99 for 75cl at 6Percent 6Percent founders Gabriella and Russell Lamb launched this range having become frustrated by having to limit themselves to just a few glasses of wine, but being disappointed with 0.5% alternatives. Not surprisingly – the clue's in the name – this sauvignon blanc is 6%, and offers the perfect balance of flavour and body. It's lighter than your usual, but not detrimentally so. Dry, elegant and still clearly French sauv blanc, it's perfect for a weeknight glass in the garden and only 53 calories a go. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £7.25 for 75cl at Tesco£7 for 75cl at Amazon Considering so many low- and no-alcohol red wines are known for being terrible, I was surprised to find that the mid-strength reds did pretty well in my tastings. This bottle from McGuigan was certainly a nice surprise: the characteristic peppery, spicy shiraz flavours work well at 7%, while the powerful black fruity flavours provide plenty of interest and roundness to counteract any potential 'thinness' from the de-alcoholisation. Far better than I'd expected, and I'll be buying it regularly. £21.50 for 75cl at Sandridge Barton £25 at Delli For something very different, this delightful low-intervention light red from Devon's Dart valley is fun, fruity and fresh. Its name references the wild horses on Dartmoor, and 25p from every sale goes to the Dartmoor Preservation Association. Made using three grape varieties (pinot noir précoce, madeleine angevine and pinot noir), this is one for natural wine fans who have a taste for the unexpected. Here, crushed cranberries and sour cherries come to the fore, while its hue is a near-transparent raspberry that hints at the lower 9% volume. Drink lightly chilled and with an open mind. £4 for 75cl at Majestic£5.50 for 75cl at Waitrose There were some strong contenders in the mid-strength cider field, but Maison Sassy pipped the competition to the post with its irresistibly crisp and juicy apple- and strawberry-packed Cidre Rose. Made in Normandy using 18 varieties of apples, it's crunchy, tart, juicy, sweet and fresh – it's like diving headfirst into a French orchard, and I love it. It's 3%, but I'd drink it at any volume. £19.50 for 3 x 100ml at Nio Cocktails Nio's range of lower-alcohol cocktails impressed, and arriving in the same clever packaging, are the new Negroni Next, Cosmopolitan Next, Margarita Next and White Lady Next. Using a mix of 0% spirits and standard alcoholic ingredients, you can enjoy all the convenience of a premade cocktail, but with less alcohol. The negroni is a triumph, with 0% Tanqueray blending nicely with great-quality vermouth, Campari and bitters for that tart, aromatic cocktail you'd expect, at just 10.8%. £18 for 6 x 70cl at Good Time In I don't think I've had a Reef since 2005, but it's worth revisiting this noughties tipple if you're looking for a more moderate fruity, boozy drink that comes in at 3.4%, when most fruity boozy drinks are 5%. The tangy, tropical Orange & Passion Fruit tastes just as sweetly exotic as it used to: drink it straight from the fridge on a hot day or mixed into a party punch that won't see everyone falling over too early. Joanne Gould is a food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London's best bars and restaurants, she's also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance
