Enjoy Fewer Calories During the Holidays

How many readers can answer this question: What kills more North Americans than anything else? I’d bet many would answer heart disease or cancer. 

Authorities claim heart disease is the No. 1 killer. But I’m convinced that calories are the main culprit killing millions of overweight North Americans. 

Today, let’s see if the following clues help you name a recent low-carb product that will help combat the high-calorie diet. The answer may surprise you.

The first clue: This product contains no hidden sugar, a huge benefit for our sweet-loving society. Today, it’s easy to consume sugar without knowing it. For instance, how many realize the amount of sugar in packaged foods or are aware that a 10-ounce cola drink contains 8 teaspoons of sugar?

Excess calories of all kinds are triggering the epidemic of obesity and diabetes in North America. Tragically, the World Health Organization reports that every 30 seconds, a new case of diabetes is diagnosed in North America. Can you imagine the hue and cry if every 30 seconds a new case of meningitis, polio, or measles developed in Canada or the United States?

This product contains important minerals such as magnesium, which helps to regulate the normal beat of the heart. Potassium and magnesium help fight high blood pressure by relaxing arteries. This product also contains calcium, which helps keep bones strong.

In case you lack vitamins, the product contains a number of essential vitamins such as folic acid, niacin, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, and vitamin B6.

Another clue: This product is 93 percent water. Over the centuries, contaminated water has killed more people than anything else. 

So what is it? It’s a bottle of low-calorie beer. In fact, one brand contains only 60 calories.

This column is not intended to suggest that drinking low-calorie beer is the ideal way to lose weight. Nor should non-drinkers start consuming alcohol. 

The obvious and well-tested way is to decrease the number of daily calories along with regular exercise. But for those who already enjoy drinking beer and who do so moderately, this product contains fewer calories—a big step toward better health. 

The longer I practice medicine, the more I’m convinced that, taken in moderation, alcohol is one of the best therapies ever created. If used temperately, it is not associated with the many complications associated with prescription drugs. 

Moreover, 20 world studies show that those who use alcohol moderately live longer than teetotalers and those who abuse alcohol. There are scientific reasons for this.

Alcohol increases the good cholesterol and removes bad cholesterol from the blood. It also helps to lubricate blood circulation, decreasing the risk of coronary attack. And never forget the relaxing effects of alcohol.

The consumption of fewer calories, whether by low-calorie beer or with other low-calorie products, will help to decrease the devastating complications associated with obesity, our No. 1 killer in my book.

Aristotle was right. Generations ago, he praised the virtues of moderation. Today, the best way to promote health and save our health care system is for people to act moderately when drinking and eating. As Pogo remarked, “We have met the enemy and he is us!”

I always enjoy passing along good news about the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption—particularly during this season, when one of the pleasures is sitting with family and friends and enjoying whatever drink is preferred.

My best wishes for a safe, healthy, and temperate holiday.

Dr. Gifford-Jones is a medical journalist with a private medical practice in Toronto. His website is DocGiff.com. He may be contacted at Info@docgiff.com.