People starting out on Atkins should avoid beer

Anyone who is interested in staying healthy should also avoid heavy drinking altogether. Drinking too much puts free radicals into the bloodstream, which can lead to cancer. Though a little wine every day is actually beneficial, drinking should be kept to one glass per day.

• It's that time of year again -- barbecue season!
• A lot of us will crave a can of beer with our barbecue fare or a glass of wine with our light summer meals.
• But is alcohol consumption compatible with the Atkins lifestyle?
• Yes, if you have moved to Ongoing Weight Loss or beyond.
• A number of studies have shown the beneficial aspects of moderate alcohol consumption on both heart disease and cancer, but there is no question that excessive drinking can affect your body in a number of serious ways.
• They include liver damage; depletion of many nutrients, particularly zinc and magnesium; and an increase in the production of free radicals, which are known to be the fertile ground from which cancer springs.
• Of course, it you are pregnant, your doctor may advise to refrain from consuming alcohol (excessive consumption can result in a baby with a low birth weight and a lower IQ).
• Likewise, if you are diabetic and have trouble controlling how much you drink, you should abstain.
• However, a number of recent studies have shown that drinking one glass of alcohol, particularly wine with a meal, diminishes the impact of the carbohydrate on blood sugar.
• During the Induction phase, you should not consume any alcohol.
• The reason is that your body will burn alcohol before it turns to burning fat for energy, slowing weight loss and interfering with the process of kick-starting weight loss for which Induction was designed.
• A 3 1/2-ounce glass of dry white wine contains less than I gram of Net Carbs, a glass of red wine is closer to 2 grams of Net Carbs.
• Seltzer, diet tonic and non-aspartame diet soda mixers are permitted.