By Molly Goddard
2:22pm PST, Jan 14, 2025
"Obviously, drinking fewer calories from alcohol will aid
weight loss, but I think that most people don't know that on a calories per gram basis, alcohol is very high," she explained to the outlet.
Smith claimed alcohol has seven calories per gram and doesn't have any benefit to your health. In comparison, protein and carbohydrates have four calories per gram.
"Alcohol is almost as high in
calories as fat; just by definition, drinking it is going to hinder weight loss," the expert noted.
Smith also pointed out how loss of control when drinking contributes to putting unhealthy food in your body. "I think many people end up eating a second dinner when they're having a night out drinking," she said.
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"Essentially, after going out or at the end of their night, they're having two slices of
pizza," the health guru stated.
Without the temptation of staying at the bars all night long, Smith said people are more inclined to wake up early and get a workout in. "If you're drinking a margarita at dinner, you might lean toward the french fries over the salad," she continued.
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"The next morning, you're going to lean toward greasy or sugary foods to heal your hangover," she explained. "Following a night of drinking, you're less likely to
exercise, and if you do manage to make it to the gym, you're less likely to perform at the level you would if you had stayed sober."
While Smith is a proponent of Dry January and taking a step back from the booze, other experts have linked alcohol consumption to a higher risk of cancer.
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"Certainly, a reduction of drinking, even if for a short period, can improve overall bodily function, especially in regard to liver
function," clinical psychologist at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr.
Aimee Chiligiris, told CBS.
"Taking a break from alcohol or substances in general and resetting to focus on yourself can give you a blank slate of, 'What am I going to do to be social? To take care of my body today?'" she said.
