No doctor would ever recommend alcohol as a means of treatment for the body. The fact that alcohol is bad for us is nothing new, so you may not be surprised to hear it on repeat. However, not all alcoholic drinks are the same.
This article discusses some of the worst alcoholic beverages for our health and explains why some are “healthier” than others. Let’s get to it.
Why Is Alcohol Bad?
Like anything else, too much alcohol can be harmful to the body. As you know, alcohol has zero health benefits and is linked to an array of adverse effects. Some include liver damage, cancer risk, osteoporosis, weight gain, depression, heart disease, pancreatitis, slurred speech, and even infertility. Both low- and high-alcohol spirits, as well as the greatest of wines, can potentially wreak havoc when overindulged.
However, low-calorie beer is better than its craft counterparts that are known calorie bombs. Also, a shot of neat rum isn’t as bad as a cocktail filled with sugars.
Alcohol enthusiasts can’t help but wonder, what is the worst drink to avoid? Dietitians say that mixed drinks are the most problematic. This is mainly due to the higher alcohol level, surpassing the recommended daily intake of alcohol of one drink for women and two for men. Some mixed drinks contain up to five shots.
Revealing the Worst Alcoholic Drinks
Here are the alcoholic drinks you should avoid.
Pina Colada
Pina Colada is full of calories. An average serving has over 650 calories, as compared to Big Mac’s 576. Most recipes of this popular cocktail use rum, coconut cream, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and lemon juice. Most of these ingredients are little sugar bombs, with an average eight-ounce cocktail containing some 40 grams of sugar.
Lobsterita
A study in the British Medical Journal showed that this 24-ounce cocktail has 890 calories and 183 grams of fat. Drinking one cocktail is like eating seven Almond Joy bars. The next time you think of ordering a Lobsterita, consider downgrading to a regular margarita and save yourself 640 calories.
Long Island Iced Tea
A typical Long Island Iced Tea has vodka, rum, tequila, gin, triple sec, sweet and sour mix, simple syrup, lemon juice, and cola. A single serving can contain up to 780 calories. Plus, the combination of alcohol is bound to hit your system hard.
Mudslide
Mudslide is yet another cocktail loaded with sugar. TGI Friday’s Ultimate Mudslide is made with vodka, Kahlua, Baileys, cream, and ice cream. It contains around 740 calories, 86 grams of sugar, and 26 grams of fat, equaling four days’ worth of sugar ration per American Heart Association guidelines.
Frozen Daiquiri
An average daiquiri has 40 grams of sugar. You may as well eat four Krispy Kreme glazed donuts instead.
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey sour is often filled to the brim with sugars and should be avoided. You’re better off with a plain whiskey shot.
Ginger Beer
Ginger beer is a common ingredient used as a mixer in cocktails. If you’re taking your cocktail mixing skills to new heights, make sure not to bring ginger beer along. This drink is packed with sugar, so it would be better to use plain ginger ale instead.
Eggnog
With the holiday season ahead, we know plenty of you look forward to sipping spiked eggnog. However, this drink is one of the worst cocktails for health. Due to the high-calorie milk, egg, and cream ingredient, this cocktail will spike your sugar levels before you know it.
Rethink Your Alcohol Choices
The goal of this article isn’t to stop you from drinking altogether. Instead, it’s meant to raise your awareness about the alcoholic beverages that are most dangerous to your health. You may have noticed that all of the drinks are cocktails.
So, the next time you’re out celebrating, consider a shot or two of your favorite liquor instead of a mixed drink.
