Successful weight loss is all about oxidizing or burning, more calories than you eat. The primary problem with all alcohol is that the calories add up so quickly. At seven calories per gram, alcohol is a very calorically dense liquid that does nothing good for our body, no matter what you read in magazines…your risk of heart disease is NOT going to go down if you drink alcohol. I really hate those claims!
When people go on a diet, they often choose the “light” version of their favorite alcoholic beverages in order to save a few calories. However, that is only a small piece of the puzzle. Alcohol has extremely damaging effects that is way more complicated than calorie counting.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition discovered that fat metabolism is reduced by as much as 73% after only two alcoholic beverages in a one hour time period. This scary fact shows that the primary effect of alcohol on the body is not so much how many calories we consume, but how it stops the body’s ability to use your fat stores for energy. Alcohol in the body is converted into a substance called acetate. Studies find that blood levels of acetate are 2.5 times higher than normal after only two drinks and this quick rise in blood acetate puts the brakes on fat burning.
Alcohol also messes with our estrogen and testosterone. To read more, check out my book: Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism. I have a chapter called, "Alcohol, It's Not Just the Calories!"
4 egg yolks
4 TBS Just Like Sugar (or Swerve)
1 pint almond milk
3 ounces bourbon (optional)
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
4 egg whites*
Beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the sweetener and set aside. In a medium saucepan, over high heat, combine the almond milk and nutmeg and bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and gradually temper the hot mixture into the egg and sweetener mixture. Then return everything to the pot and cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from the heat, stir in the bourbon, pour into a medium mixing bowl, and set in the refrigerator to chill.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Whisk the egg whites into the chilled mixture. Makes 4 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Eggnog = 343 calories, 34 carbs, trace fiber
"Healthified" Eggnog = 110 calories, 3 carbs, 2 fiber (*without Bourbon)
