Welcome back to Tyler Talks!
This week’s question is one I’m sure has been contemplated time and again by many people: Is all alcohol bad for you?
So many diets these days state that alcohol absolutely must be avoided. We hear about the effects of excessive consumption on our mental state and physical bodies — everything from liver damage to losing brain cells — and naturally, it frightens the bejesus out of us! But when it comes to our health and lifestyle goals, we often misjudge the inclusion of alcohol in our diet for a myriad of reasons.
Many people think that just because they go to the gym or go for a run, and “sweat it out”, that it’s therefore okay to consume excessive alcohol. Others think that if they consume only a low-calorie mixer, such as vodka and soda water, that it won’t be as bad for them as say, sugar-laden cocktails or beers. But here’s the thing. Not all alcohols are created equal. While it’s best to limit or exclude alcohol in your diet, there are a few things to consider if you do decide to have a drink (although hopefully this doesn’t become a daily habit)!
Companies selling beer and wine labelled as organic often lure health-conscious consumers into a sale. Now, organic alcohol is a good thing, however what you should really be looking out for are labels declaring the beverage preservative-free. Most alcohols on the market contain preservatives to prolong the shelf life of the drink, but these preservatives are unnatural, and in fact toxic for our bodies.
In terms of choosing a healthier alcoholic beverage, despite spirits such as vodka being lower in calories per standard drink than most other alcohols, it’s always best to choose an alcohol that has been fermented, rather than distilled. Luckily for most people, this means wine and beer — the two most preferred drinks around the world.
On this week’s episode of Tyler Talks, I’ll go into more detail about alcohol consumption in a health-conscious lifestyle. I will also let you know which country produces, by way of law, healthier beers than most others around the world, and also alert you to a new trend hitting the market, that apparently allows you to eliminate nasty preservatives from alcohol!