Gone are the days when the most popular drinks contain heavy, sugary syrups and mixers. The average consumer is increasingly more conscious of what ingredients they are putting in their body. One ingredient in particular is being targeted for elimination: sugar.
So, how do you avoid it? It is common knowledge that foods like breakfast cereals, sweet baked goods and frozen treats are heavy in added sugars, but some of the biggest culprits of added sugar are beverages. Just because it is in liquid form, doesn’t mean the calories don’t count.
When it comes to alcoholic beverages, the problem liquid is usually the mixer. Choosing the wrong cocktail mixer can double your intake of calories and sugar, so it’s important to read the labels. If you’re paying more attention to your sugar intake, stay away from juices, sour mixes, cranberry cocktail or premade cocktail mixers in general. Adding soda water with a squeeze of citrus fruit will always be your best bet.
When choosing your spirit, keep in mind that ABV (alcohol by volume) will directly translate into sugar levels. The higher the ABV, the more sugar that is in your spirit. The same goes for wine (or really any alcoholic beverage). When you’re shopping for a wine to enjoy that has less sugar in it, read the label. Look for a wine that has a lower ABV than 13.5%. Most zinfandels have a higher ABV, usually around 14-17%, so you’ll want to avoid those.
Also, stay away from “sweet” wines. While this is more of a rule-of-thumb than a golden rule, you will want to avoid wines that have the following words on their labels: dessert, dolce, port, ice, spatlese, moscato and demi Sec.
Here’s the good news if you’re a wine drinker: a typical glass of wine is around five ounces. If you fill up a glass with four ounces of dry wine, then you are already cutting back on your sugar intake. You may not miss that last ounce once it is poured.
If you just want the “easy button” for what to drink when you’re drinking but trying to avoid too much sugar, we’ve outlined some suggestions to sip on..
Sugar in alcoholic drinks All alcoholic drinks contain some sugar, but some have more than others – fortified wines, sherries, liqueurs, cider and pre-mixed drinks like alcopops have particularly high levels. The alcoholic drink with the highest sugar content has more than 15 teaspoons of sugar in its 700ml pack.
21SEEDS Cucumber Jalapeño Tequila
21SEEDS Tequila was born out of founder Kat Hantas’ desire for a different kind of drinking experience that just wasn’t on the market. Her daily glass of wine left her feeling fatigued and out of touch with her body, so her doctor recommended switching to distilled spirits. In search of a simple, tasty way to enjoy tequila, Hantas began infusing the spirit herself with grapefruit, jalapeño, orange and other flavor combinations. 21SEEDS is a refreshing, all-natural way to enjoy your low sugar cocktails.
VIDE Vodka Soda Cocktail Variety Pack
For all the fans of a classic vodka soda, VIDE canned cocktails are crisp and refreshing with a light, non-sweet flavor profile. They contain zero sugar, zero carbs and only 99 calories and come in four deliciously fruity flavors – cranberry, watermelon, peach and mango. Crack one open for a pleasantly light ready-to-sip cocktail.
What Does Alcohol Do to Your Blood Sugar?
FAQ
Is alcohol a lot of sugar?
What alcohol has the least amount of sugar?
Does alcohol count as sugar?
Does alcohol turn to sugar in your body?
What is a sugar alcohol?
Sugar alcohols may have the most misleading name, as they are neither sugar nor alcohol, according to Dr. Hu. “They are a type of carbohydrate derived from fruits and vegetables, although most commercial sugar alcohols are synthetically produced.” You can usually spot many sugar alcohols on ingredient lists by “-ol” at the ends of their names.
Are sugar alcohols healthy?
Sugar alcohols are usually safe to be included in any diet. Although, the recommended intake of sugar alcohol is 10 to 15 grams per day. So, they must be consumed in moderation. Higher doses have been associated with side effects like bloating or diarrhea.
Are sugar alcohols a carbohydrate?
“Sugar alcohols are a type of carbohydrate and have a chemical structure that’s similar to sugar,” Bissell says. Though they occur naturally in some foods, most sugar alcohols found in packaged foods are manmade and manufactured. Food manufacturers use these sugar alcohols to sweeten their products while reducing calories.
Are sugar alcohols better than sugar?
Sugar alcohols have some benefits over regular sugar, including: Fewer calories: Unlike sugar, which has about 4 calories per gram, sugar alcohols have just over 2. “They taste almost as sweet as sugar with about half the calories,” says Bissell.