Does Wine Make You Gain Weight?

Wine is one of the most well-loved drinks around the world. It’s a mainstay in many celebrations or a  beloved partner in many meals. An occasional drink with loved ones can help you relax and enjoy.

What if you drink more? Does wine make you gain weight? This article reveals the calories in popular wines. It also discusses if this beverage can cause weight gain.

How Can Wine Cause Weight Gain?

Before we go deeper into this article, let’s address the million-dollar question: Can wine make you gain weight? The answer is it depends. Wine doesn’t have carbs and fat, but its calorie content can lead to added pounds.

Alcohol can mislead your brain into making questionable health decisions. Many factors can influence your weight gain. The following are features in wine that can contribute to added pounds in your body.

It’s high in calories

Generally, alcoholic beverages have high calories. Alcohol has seven calories per gram, while carbs have four calories. So, compared to some food, wine packs in more calories.

When you take in too many calories, more than your body needs,  you’ll experience a caloric surplus. This excess will make you gain weight if you’re not able to burn them.

It prevents fat burning

When you drink wine, your body will recognize its alcohol content as a toxin. So, it will work doubly hard to get rid of it. Your body will even prevent access to other nutrients like proteins and carbohydrates.

This process eventually shuts down your metabolism. When your body isn’t burning fat while you’re drinking, weight gain can follow.

It hinders quality sleep

Sometimes, people drink wine to relax and fall asleep quickly. However, consuming too many glasses can do the opposite. It can lower your sleep quality and shorten its duration.

You can gain weight when alcohol disrupts your healthy sleep patterns. A 2016 study revealed that sleep deprivation could lead to more food consumption and cravings.

It’s digested differently

The digestive system processes alcohol differently than it does with food. It digests alcohol first before processing sugar, carbs, or fat.

So, if you consume too much wine, your gut will be too busy digesting the alcohol. The fattening nutrients like carbs and sugar will remain in your body longer than they should, leading to weight gain.

It makes you hungry

You may have noticed that you feel hungrier than usual after you’ve had a few drinks. There’s also a big chance you’d give in to your cravings without a second thought. Alcohol causes your blood sugar to drop.

It can trigger hunger pangs and carb cravings. Research also shows that alcohol influences the appetite-control center of your brain. So, when you’ve had too much to drink, you may want to ravish your favorite food.

How Many Calories Does Wine Have?

Wine bottle labels don’t usually reveal the number of calories the drink has. However, the US Department of Agriculture provides a guide for consumers’ reference. Usually, a 5-ounce dry table wine with 11-14% ABV has 120-130 calories.

Does a glass of wine have many calories?

In general, a glass of wine has around 150 to 200 calories.   However, the actual caloric content of wine will depend on its carbonation, alcohol content, and sweetness.

Here is a list of typical wines and the amount of calories it has per glass. One glass contains 118 ml of wine.

Wine	Type	Calories
Cabernet Sauvignon	Red	91 cal
Cava	Sparkling	90 cal
Champagne	Sparkling	90 cal
Chardonnay	White	100 cal
Chenin Blanc	White	94 cal
Gamay	Red	92 cal
Malbec	Red	97 cal
Marsala	Red	118 cal
Merlot	Red	118 cal
Moscato	White	90 cal
Pinot Gris	White	98 cal
Pinot Noir	White	89 cal
Port wine	Red	189 cal
Prosecco	Sparkling	84 cal
Riesling	White	84 cal
Rose wine	Sparkling	84 cal
Sauvignon Blanc	White	96 cal
Shiraz	Red	84 cal
Zinfandel	Red	104 cal

Does a bottle of wine contain many calories?

A bottle of wine is equivalent to five standard glasses. So if, for example, a glass of wine contains 120 calories, a bottle would register at 600 calories.

Here is a list of typical wines and how many calories a 750-ml bottle contains.

Wine	ABV	Calories
Sangiovese	12.5%-13.5%	550 kcal
Pinot Noir	13.5%-14.5%	565-595 kcal
Malbec	13.5%-14.5%	590-610 kcal
Syrah	13.5%-14.5%	610-615 kcal
Cabernet Sauvignon	13.5%-14.5%	610-625 kcal
Merlot	13.5%-14.5%	610-625 kcal
Zinfandel	14.5% and up	610-655 kcal

What wines can cause more weight gain?

Some wines can cause a person to pack a few more pounds than others. In general, dry varieties have fewer calories than sweet ones. However, sparkling wines have the lowest caloric content. White and rose wines also pack fewer calories than red wines.

What is a Wine Belly?

Perhaps you have heard of beer belly at some point. But have you heard of wine belly? Wine belly is a notion that drinking wine will lead to a big stomach.

How does wine belly happen?

Wine belly refers to weight gain that’s concentrated on the abdomen. Drinking alcoholic beverages triggers a hormone release. It tricks our body into thinking it wants to store fat. Insulin levels also shoot up due to the wine’s sugar content. This process forces the body to store fat.

The body considers alcohol to be a toxic substance. So, as a natural response to stress, the adrenal glands trigger a cortisol release. When this happens all the time, the unsightly belly pouch emerges. This kind of weight gain is hard to lose.

Is wine belly the same as beer belly?

Wine belly and beer belly are the same. Wine and beer, per se, can’t cause a ballooning waistline. As mentioned earlier, certain bodily functions triggered by alcohol cause weight gain. These drinks contain calories that, when consumed excessively, can lead to weight gain.

The food we eat during drinking sessions can also be a culprit in weight gain. The usual bar chow, like pizza, fries, and nachos, contains a lot of carbs and fat. These can all eventually lead to added pounds.

Can wine cause your stomach to bloat?

Yes, wine can cause your tummy to bloat. The yeast content in wine causes inflammation in your gut. It can also lead your gastrointestinal tract into overdrive. Some people feel their stomach is ballooning even after one glass. In contrast, other people may feel the bloat after several drinks.

How can you lose your wine belly?

Wine belly may be challenging to lose. However, there are methods you can start now to prevent it from getting worse.

1. Avoid food pairings that are high in calories.
2. Choose dry wines over sweet wines.
3. Consume less alcohol and food.
4. Eat food rich in fiber.
5. Start a workout program.

How to Drink Wine and Not Gain Weight

Drinking wine may cause some weight gain. However, it’s not the end of your love affair with Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Fortunately, you can still enjoy your favorite reds and whites if you follow these simple tips.

Check the calories

It’s essential to be aware of your wine’s caloric content. It’s best to choose varieties that have fewer calories. The following variants have the lowest calories per 5-ounce glass.

• Dry Riesling: 115-120 calories
• Prosecco: 90 calories
• Chardonnay: 120 calories
• Sauvignon Blanc: 120 Calories
• Pinot Noir: 120-125 calories
• Brut Champagne: 125 calories
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 120-125 calories
• Pinot Grigio: 120-125 calories

Eat Before Drinking

Drinking wine on an empty stomach will get you drunk real quick. When you’re tipsy, you can lose your sense of judgment.

It makes you more vulnerable to mindless eating and drinking. Alcohol can also stimulate one’s appetite. So, you can prevent stuffing yourself with food if you’re already full.

Choose Healthier Wines

Red, dry wines are great options when you want to keep your weight in check. They have lower calories and contain more antioxidants. The nutrient content can have a positive impact on your health.

Also, choose wines that have an ABV of 13.5% or lower. However, remember to drink in moderation. Anything in excess, no matter how seemingly healthy they are, can’t be good for you.

Drink Lots of Water

An efficient tip coming from seasoned drinkers is to keep yourself hydrated. It’s best to chug a glass of water before consuming any alcohol.

Then, drink another glass before another round of wine. Drinking water can make you feel full, so you’ll consume less alcohol. Being hydrated can also make your body function optimally.

Avoid Late-Night Bingeing

Drinking late in the evening will make your body metabolize alcohol rather than burn fat. It would help if you stopped drinking two to three hours before bed. Consuming meals and drinks late at night can also increase the risk of heart disease and other ailments.

The following tips can help you drink wine and not gain weight.

Conclusion

In today’s social and cultural landscape, drinking wine is inevitable. However, it can be problematic if you’re trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. So, does wine make you gain weight? Not exactly.

There are certain factors, such as its sugar and alcohol content, that you need to consider. Fortunately, there are also ways to enjoy wine without worrying about packing in added pounds.