The holidays can be very stressful. Between traveling, buying gifts, inevitable family drama (thankfully, a mental health expert tells us how to stay stress-free), and a full social calendar filled with unhealthy foods, it can be easy to forget about dieting. Most of the stereotypical Christmas foods, like Christmas ham, mashed potatoes, and are notoriously full of saturated fats and ruin your metabolism. But what people fail to realize is that holiday drinks can be just as unhealthy are the foods. Some festive cocktails and Christmas drinks have a much higher sugar and dairy content and should be avoided if you are trying to lose weight. However, there’s one specific holiday beverage that health experts agree you should avoid as much as possible to lose weight: mulled wine.
To learn more, we spoke with Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet about mulled wine. She told us that the high levels of sugar in this holiday beverage can lead to gut issues, weight gain, and more. Read more below!
Mulled wine
If you're trying to lose weight, you'll want to avoid mulled wine. This warm, spiced wine is often made with loads of sugar and artificial sweeteners, which can add extra unnecessary calories to your drink. It is made by heating red wine with sugar and spices, which can make it high in calories and sugar. Yikes!
"Mulled wine can be made healthier with just a few small tweaks. Red wine contains antioxidants called polyphenols, which may have health benefits when consumed in moderation," Richards says. "Instead of using sugar or honey to sweeten your mulled wine, try using a low-calorie sweetener like stevia or monk fruit extract. This can help to reduce the overall calorie content of the drink." And, the alcohol in wine has been know to lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Read about three other drinks that lead to weight gain.
Richards continues, "Instead of using pre-mixed mulling spices, use whole spices like cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and sliced ginger. This can add more flavor to your mulled wine without adding any extra calories or sugar. Adding fruit like sliced oranges or apples can add natural sweetness and flavor to your mulled wine without the need for added sweeteners." Perfect!
Bottom line
Of course, at the end of the day, indulging every now and then is totally okay—especially on a special day like a holiday. However, if you want to enjoy the season as much as possible without having to worry about weight gain, you're going to want to avoid mulled wine or try some of Richards's recommended health tweaks. But no matter what route you choose to go, the important thing is that you stay away from added sugars. You may be surprised what a difference it can make in your overall health when you cut them out!
