We're assuming that you enjoy having a glass of wine, can of beer, or a craft cocktail from time to time because you're on this page. We like that about you! So, knowing that you like to drink, we're here to tell you that it is true that in addition to being on top of how much you're drinking, it is also essential to know the type of alcohol you are drinking.
Yes, wine is more healthy when compared to beer, which is carb-heavy. And red wine, such as syrah, is more beneficial than white wine or sparkling wine. But even so, not all red wines are created equal. Different cultivators of grapes contain different nutrients, and wines are prepared and produced in various ways. This, therefore, leads to some wines having more sugar than others.
Confused? Good! Because we're diving headfirst into the world of wine and sharing the nitty-gritty details, you need to know about some of the best low-carb wines!
Is Wine Healthy?
While a bottle of wine can be part of a balanced diet, it still contains calories, namely, sugar and alcohol. The problem is, while most wine labels are beautiful and eye-catching, they don't share any information about the number of calories present in the bottle or the sugar intake and additives in the wine.
The FDA has stated that alcoholic beverages are not considered healthy and, therefore, are not labeled. However, can someone please tell the FDA that people who consume alcohol daily have a much lower heart attack and stroke rate? Thanks!
If you are trying to be healthy, it is crucial to know how much you are drinking and making sure you aren't over-indulging daily. According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than two glasses of wine per day, and women should limit wine consumption to one glass of wine per day. One drink typically consists of five ounces of wine, which equates to 129 calories in a five-ounce pour.
Although you are not going to really find a sugar-free wine, you can look for wines with less sugar and a lower alcohol by volume (ABV). If you look around and see the different wines from sauvignon blanc to merlot, you will find a type that fits into a keto diet or any healthy lifestyle.
How Much Sugar Is In Wine?
Wine inherently has sugar because wine is made out of grapes that are packed with sugar. The good news is that the majority of wine's sugar comes from the grape's natural sugar.
The amount of sugar in wine depends on the fermentation process. A winemaker can change the length of the process depending on the type of vino he or she hopes to create. If a winemaker intends to make a sweet wine, they stop the fermentation before the yeast completely eats all of the sugar. By stopping the fermentation process at this point, it will have to be sweeter wine. Some sweet wince can have between 21-130 grams of sugar per five ounces!
On the other hand, if a winemaker allows the yeast to eat the sugar altogether, they will create an extra dry wine. This will leave a wine that has 0 to six grams of sugar per five ounces.
How Does Sugar Get in Wine?
All alcohol is derived from sugar, and therefore, sugar is kind of a big deal in alcohol. During the alcohol fermentation process, regardless of its wine, beer, or spirits, naturally occurring sugars convert into carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol. What determines the sugar content of each alcoholic drink is the source of the sugar in those drinks. While beer gets its sugar from cereal grains, rum gets it from sugar cane.
Which Wine Has the Least Amount of Sugar?
Drier wines have the least amount of sugar because all of the sugar is eaten by the yeast during the fermentation process.
Can Diabetics Drink Wine?
Most people with diabetes can drink wine, including wine. However, although we spend a ton of time researching any symptoms we have on WebMD, we are not doctors. So if you have any questions on whether or not you should drink wine, you should speak to your doctor!
Which Wines Are the Healthiest?
While it isn't true that white wine, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, has more added sugar than red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, red wine indeed has slightly more health benefits. White wines are made from white grapes or sometimes even black grapes. The grape juice is then separated from the grape's seeds, and skin and only the juice is used to make the wine.
In contrast, red wine is created from both red and black grapes instead of white grapes. Plus, the grapes' seeds and skins are not removed as they are in white wine. Instead, they are kept inside with the juice during fermentation. It is the skin and seeds that create the color and richer flavor in red wines.
Research suggests that resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes, may be the secret behind the heart-health benefits of red wine. In particular, resveratrol has been shown to reduce harmful cholesterol levels and prevent clots from forming in blood vessels.
Dry Reds
While red wine is the healthiest wine you can drink, Pinot Noir sneaks in as the number one wine with the most health benefits. Pinot Noir has the highest resveratrol concentration of any other red wine. Besides having the highest resveratrol levels, Pinot Noir also has lower sugar and calories than other wines. Although nearly all red wines contain no residual sugar, Pinot Noir has even less because it has a lower initial sugar level before fermentation. Therefore, Pinot Noir has fewer calories and lower alcohol content and acidity than other red wines.
Orange Wines
Orange wines are becoming exceedingly more popular in recent years. A type of white wine, Orange wine is produced like red wine that it ferments with grape seeds and skins for a long enough time to create its orange coloring. This process enriches wine with polyphenols, which are compounds that have been linked to benefits, such as slowing mental decline and reducing your risk of heart disease.
Rosé
While rosé wine is made with red grapes, it is made differently than other red wines. Therefore, it has fewer antioxidants because the juice isn't with the grape skins for an extended period. However, you will still reap health benefits.
Dry Whites Wines
Yes, red wine has the upper hand on health benefits, but white wine also has some sleeve tricks. Calories in dry white wine is a predominant reason why they can be considered healthy. Plus, in a few studies, researchers have found that drinking white wine can prevent the heart's aging and maybe even some cancers.
Sweet Whites
Sweet wines have two not-so-great things going for them: they're loaded with sugar, and therefore carbohydrates and do not have the antioxidants that red wines have. Consequently, it's best to avoid sweet wines, like white Moscato or Rieslings, or save the sweet wines and dessert wines for special occasions!
Now you know what to look for when searching through the wine section. Whether your bottle is from California or France, you can now pick out which wines can fit your healthy lifestyles.
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