Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Body Weight

Ethanol serves as a source of energy with a relatively high energy value, as one gram of ethanol contains approximately 7.1 kilocalories. Certain alcoholic beverages contain not only water and ethanol, but also small amounts of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, mineral ingredients, and vitamins. These primarily include red wine and dark unpasteurized beer. There are significant differences in the energy content of standard portions of alcoholic drinks. A shot glass of 40% vodka with a capacity of 40 milliliters provides 92.4 calories, a 125-milliliter glass of wine provides between 75 and 120 calories, and a half-liter bottle of beer provides between 245 and over 330 calories. Whisky contains the highest amount of calories per 100 grams of product (250 kcal), vodka with 40% alcohol content contains slightly fewer calories (233.1 kcal), while the least amount of calories is found in 100 grams of dry red wine (68 kcal) and dry white wine (66 kcal) as well as beer (43.3 kcal). It is also worth mentioning that colorful cocktails, in which various types of alcohol are mixed, but also caloric additives such as syrups, sugar, egg yolks, carbonated drinks, and energy drinks are used, significantly increase the energy content of the drink. From a dietary standpoint, consuming alcohol (especially in larger quantities) in its pure form or in the form of cocktails can significantly hinder the achievement of the desired goal, namely weight loss, and can also lead to damage to many organs and impairment of the function of many systems. Negative effects are most commonly observed in the liver, pancreas, digestive tract, circulatory system, immune system, and developing fetus.