Are Calories In Red Wine Worth It?

With everything we unapologetically give to our body, moderation is key. The same goes for delicious, red wine. Here is a breakdown of calories in red wine, and why a glass of red isn’t the worst thing to treat yourself with:

First of all, let’s talk about the bad.

How many calories are in red wine?

One glass of red wine has between 100 and 150 calories. The sweeter the wine, the closer it gets to having 150 calories. So stick with dry red wines if you want to keep the calorie count low.

A 750ml bottle of red wine has between 400-600 calories.

Alcohol has a high calorie content (158.8 calories per ounce) and since red wine is part alcohol… well you know where I am going with this.

This detail alone isn’t so bad. In a 1200 calorie per day diet, saving 200 for a glass of red would be doable (I would do it!). However, it’s not the worst part.

Nature Communications published a study showing what happens to mice with ethanol in their system. The mice were given large amounts of red wine over two days and experienced an increase in appetite, as well as a decrease in energy levels and metabolism.

Other studies have also concluded that binge drinking (four glasses of wine in two hours for women and five for men) leads to binge eating, hence why the bar crowd rushes towards pizza at the end of a night out!

Before you swear off the calories in red wine, hear us out. There are a few things you can do to keep your favorite vino in your diet AND stay fit, we promise!

So, first things first…

 Moderate Your Wine Intake.

Those studies suggest that binge eating is more to do with an above 0.08% blood alcohol level.

The lesson: Don’t have an entire bottle of wine after work. Stick to a glass (or two!)

Adjust Your Diet for Calories in Red Wine

As we mentioned above, you can save a little room in your daily calorie consumption for that unwinding glass of red wine. Wine is composed of fruit, sugar, and alcohol, hence why you need to keep track of the calorie count.

The good news? Red wine is also a lower carb alcoholic beverage option. A dry red or white wine only contains 5 grams of carbs. So if you put the bread and pasta aside for the sake of your low carb life, this is good news!

Trick Your Cravings

Be one step ahead of your wine. Know those binge eating feelings may come your way, and take the first step to curbing them. One small high protein snack before you start drinking a glass of wine will go a long way to keeping that hunger feeling at bay. Pick up some mixed nuts, or sprinkle fresh ground pepper on an avocado. A hard-boiled egg works, too —snack up before you drink up!

Combat the Calories in Red Wine

So, you want to have a glass or two of Cabernet Sauvignon after work?

Earn it!

Hit the treadmill, do some cycling, go for a jog, anything to burn the extra red wine calories you want to intake. Calories you burn exercising don’t count in your daily intake. Meaning you, and only you, are in charge of fitting all the wine in you desire.

Prepare the RIGHT Snacks

If you know multiple glasses (bottles) are going to be consumed on your night girl’s night in, make sure the snacks you have on hand are not going to fill you with regret the next morning.

A charcuterie board with some nice cheese, meats, raw veggies, and fruit is a great choice.

It will leave you and your guests satisfied without that awful “OMG I ate 4 slices of pizza” regret in the morning!

These pointers will help you keep your intake in check, and hopefully make your relationship with red wine —and all its calories— a healthy one.

The Real Problem with Calories in Red Wine

It’s super easy to forget about liquid calories. Sure, if there is a mountain of cake in front you, you’re likely to say ‘no thanks’, but a bottle of red wine can have the same effect on your calorie limits. Don’t ignore the liquid. That’s the single biggest tip we can offer!

Being conscious of what goes into your body and when, you will likely start to see your weaknesses and figure out how to fix them. Drinking red wine, or any wine for that matter, is no different. Pay attention to how much you’re consuming, and more importantly, how you plan to work it off.

If you have the willpower to cut alcohol, and therefore calories in red wine, completely from your diet, good on you. We support you and to be honest, we are in awe of you.

But, if you’re like many of us who crave the sultry taste of a glass of red, these tips and tricks should make it possible for you to enjoy your favorite, and live with the added calories too.

When Calories in Red Wine Don’t Matter

Since we’re all humans, trying our best to adult, there are certain situations that call for us to let loose and forget the three digit calorie number associate with our drink.

Celebrations are a completely appropriate time to throw caution to the wine and drink up. Bonus glasses of wine if your Bestie landed her dream job, or is getting married. Extra if it’s your own cause for celebration —Cheers!

When you lose your job, you are allowed to have countless feel better drinks. Sure the next day won’t look pretty, but there will be nowhere to go but up!

Forget counting calories in red wine during a breakup, because tears mean you can consume whatever you want!

Perhaps the most obvious time for not counting those calories in red wine is during a wine tasting. You are there to sniff, sip, and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor. Calorie worry here would be a crying shame.

The bottom line is, you CAN fit red wine into your life, while maintaining a healthy, active body. It’s all about treating yourself properly, and being aware of your intake.

This article is from IloveWine, an organization that aspires to share insight and experiences with wine lovers of all kinds.

Categories: General