Depending on your taste for wine this may or may not disappoint you: Wine is not nearly as healthy for you as vodka. Find out the unhealthy reasons that may be a deal-breaker and what a better alcoholic choice is.
What’s the deal?
“But, I thought wine was good for my heart.” Have you heard that? Yes, wine does contain certain phytochemicals (naturally occurring plant-derived compounds) that research has shown to be heart-healthful. Once you drink more than a “healthful” share (one 5-ounce drink for a woman or two for a man), however, you lose those health benefits — and gain a few negative effects. Hold up! Stop for a moment and try to remember the last time you had just five stinkin’ ounces of wine!
Why wine is not so healthy
In addition to those plant compounds, wine has a good amount of sugar and yeast. Sugar is evil, and together with yeast, it can wreak havoc on your precious body and cause you to age faster than you’d like to!
The bad-for-your-health sugar and yeast components in wine are present in so many other libations, too… such as champagne, beer, cosmos, mojitos and that delish margarita on the rocks.
Why vodka could be a more healthful option
Vodka, on the other hand, is sugar- and yeast-free (unless it has added sugar). Vodka typically is distilled dozens of times (if not hundreds) per batch. Fortunately for us, the 19th-century invention that enabled multiple distillations in a single cylinder also allows distillers to achieve unprecedented levels of purity. Sure, vodka is 40 percent alcohol, but the other 60 percent is water.
This libation is one of the cleanest out there because when a grain, fruit or vegetable is distilled, all sugars are left behind, making the resulting substance quite pure. In fact it’s so pure that, if consumed in moderation — meaning one or two cocktails, one to two nights per week — it will leave you feeling perfectly fine in the morning.
When you mix vodka with seltzer water (not cranberry juice, not ginger ale) it remains clean because seltzer water contains zero added sugar. Add a couple of lime or lemon wedges (or even try watermelon slices!) and, voila, you have a refreshing, sugarless cocktail.
I used to drink wine, prosecco and champagne as my drink of choice regularly. A vodka cosmo martini was always my go to when I went out. When I became more conscious of my nutritional intake, I decided to switch to a “vodka soda” which I had once thought was boring. Maybe it is but if I’m going out and know I’m going to be eating and drinking, I can feel better about my intake. Now, that’s not to say, splurging on a good bottle of wine paired with a good meal is something I love. It’s all about moderation.
Shopping Tip: I think potato vodkas are the best, mainly because the other two common bases are wheat and soy, which are common allergens. There are a handful of great ones now made in the US. These days, even some fantastic organic vodkas are out there! Give ’em a try!
Are you obsessed with wine? Could you make healthier choices when you are indulging on a high caloric meal?
