Here's the straight dope on alcohol.

When you're lowcarbing, especially Atkins, Protein Power and other very lowcarb programs ... you want to be in ketosis. Ok, ketones are made in your liver ... from the products resulting from the breakdown of fat. Ketones can also be made from alcohol. In fact, the process to make ketones from alcohol is much easier than from fat ... so your liver will use alcohol in preference. What this means is ... you'll stop burning fat, and you'll stop making ketones from fat .. as long as there's alcohol in your system. Period. If you're testing with the ketone strips, you'll see a positive result, but it's false security .. you are not burning fat. Your body will use the alcohol FIRST.

As for the carb content, use a good carb counter, such as you'll find on our Low Carb Tools page, from the menu bar at the top. Distilled spirits are zero carbs, meaning they won't raise blood sugar .. but it will stop ketosis. Bone dry wines, both white and red as far as I recall .. are extremely low carb. Miller light beer is supposed to be only 3 or 4 carbs per can.

So, if you like a drink now and then, assess your lowcarb program, and your personal progress .. and drink accordingly. Just remember that the more you drink, chances are your judgement might go out the window too .. and next day you have the regrets of a hangover AND a jumbo pizza with double order of garlic bread.



Doreen