So much information on weight loss has been put out there over the years. New diets here and a new gadget over there. There has not been a lot of information give to us on the effects of alcohol when you're trying to lose weight. That is what we will look at here today.

Alcohol like most everything else contains calories, however, there are a few major differences. The first problem is that all the calories from alcohol are worthless, this means is that not one single calorie from alcohol has any nutritional value, they are empty calories.

As with other calories, those from alcohol are converted in the liver in the body. Alcohol calories are kind of like bullies, as they must be burned first, all other calories are patiently stored. And we all know what stored calories are, they are fat.

When drinking alcohol, you will consume twice as many calories of carbohydrates and proteins that come from food. What this means is alcohol provides seven calories per gram as opposed to carbohydrates, which contain four calories per gram. Simply put, when you gulp four 12-ounce beers then you might have consumed about 600 calories! It is easy to see how prolonged use of alcohol could pack on the pounds.

One last note about the caloric effects of alcohol are the mixers. Many popular alcoholic drinks are actually a mix of different substances. These additives can add to the calorie count in a hurry. For example, one long island ice tea has an astounding 740 calories. In one drink, you could get half of the day's recommended daily allowance!

An important factor in losing weight is speeding up your metabolism. A definition of metabolism is the cumulative energy resulting from cellular electrical, physical, and biochemical activites and interactions. Or more simply put the rate at which your body processes calories into energy. It has been proven by a study from the New England Journal of Medicine that alcohol slows down the body's metabolism. It states that a person on a 1250 calorie diet, who has ingested 250 calories from alcohol could have reduced their metabolic process by as much as 36%. This indicates your body is handling calories almost forty percent less effectively.

Many who drink alcohol on a regular basis report that initially they feel much better. However, alcohol is a depressant and as such can lead to actual depression. It is definitely harder to diet when you are depressed, in fact most will eat more in an effort to comfort themselves. A vicious cycle if you stop and think about it. This depression can affect motivation as well making you less likely to continue on any kind of exercise program.

For basic health water is essential but it is also needed to build muscle. Muscles need adequate hydration levels in order to work properly; lacking it, they may grow weaker and less efficient. Your body becomes dehydrated when drinking alcohol because of the massive amounts of water used in the kidneys required to remove the toxin from your body.

Too much drinking causes damage to various organs, but one drink a day is actually good for most people's health. Besides the issues it may cause for weight reduction, there are also medical concerns to keep in mind. If you are over weight, and are trying to drop it, you will loose more weight if you do not drink alcohol. Until you get control of your weight, red wine is the best choice if you must drink.