Does alcohol make you fat or not? Should I avoid alcohol to prevent obesity? This is a big problem for wine lovers. Sake journalist Kaori Haishi spoke with Navitas Clinic Director Eiji Kusumi, who is familiar with the latest research on the relationship between alcohol and obesity.
If possible, I'd like to believe the theory that it's hard to gain weight from alcohol-derived calories...Have you ever heard of this?
Believing this, some heavy drinkers continue to drink without snacks, boasting, "I won't get fat if I only drink alcohol," but my stomach is full.
Empty calorie means zero calories. I've covered it in the past in this series (see "Is it true that 'I get fat with alcohol'? False?").
The pure alcohol (ethanol) contained in sake has 7.1 kcal of energy per gram. However, it is known that about 70% of this is consumed by metabolism. Therefore, the "empty calorie theory" is that the weight gain effect may be less than when the same calorie is taken from fat or carbohydrates.
I use a smartphone app to manage my diet and weight. Enter what you ate and what you drank, and it will calculate your total calories for the day. But if the "empty calorie theory" is true, why don't you have to enter it into the app when you drink?.
Actually, I sometimes decide not to input, saying, "Today is a sugar-free highball, so I don't have to count it." Perhaps because of that, I lost 8kg from my life's maximum weight since I started managing it with the app, but I haven't been able to lose weight since then. What's more, the triglycerides have become slightly higher here, and it seems that the stomach area has become sticky.
Now that many people are drinking more alcohol due to the corona crisis, it is time to clarify the truth of the ``empty calorie theory'' that is often seen on the Internet and ``whether drinking alcohol makes you fat''. We interviewed Mr. Eiji Kusumi, chairman of the Navitas Clinic, who is familiar with this issue.
Professor, among alcohol lovers, there is a belief that "alcohol does not gain weight because it has empty calories", but what is the truth?
"Alcohol is not an empty calorie. Of course, it makes you fat. The ethanol contained in alcohol is a proper source of energy. When you drink alcohol, it's the same as eating a rice ball. , it is wiser to drink thinking that you will gain weight." (Mr. Kusumi)
Just like eating rice balls...! ?
"According to the Food Composition Database of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, one can of beer (355mL) contains 14g of alcohol, 11-12g of sugar, and around 150kcal of energy. Similarly, a small glass (118 mL) of wine contains 90-100kcal, and sake per cup. is nearly 200kcal.Onigiri sold at convenience stores is about 170-180kcal per piece, which is about the same as a can of beer, a glass of sake, and two glasses of wine. (Mr. Kusumi)
I was prepared to be told that "alcohol is not an empty calorie", but I had to think about it in the same arena as onigiri, which is a lump of sugar (tears).
Professor, isn't it true that sugar-free highballs and authentic shochu don't need to be counted as calories?
"Unfortunately, there is no such thing. Distilled liquors such as shochu and whiskey have no sugar, but there are calories derived from alcohol. If you don't worry about drinking too much alcohol because it's zero sugar, you're going to lose your weight." (Mr. Kusumi)