Excess alcohol can trigger weight gain
Q: I am trying hard this year to not gain weight during the holidays. Do I really have to give up the celebratory champagne or rum-laced eggnog? — Susi C., Largo, Florida
A: Your instincts are right-on: Alcohol can make it hard to avoid weight gain — all those empty calories. But right off the bat, we’d like to say creamy, eggy, super-sweet, rum-y eggnog is a much more risky choice than one small glass of champagne.
That said, alcohol is an often-overlooked culprit when folks have trouble maintain or achieving a healthy weight — any time of the year. First, it makes it harder to resist high-calorie, sweet, fatty foods. Studies show that it increases impulsivity (gimme that cookie!) and appetite.
The alcohol itself also works against your weight-control efforts.
Since it’s high in carbs and sugars, your body burns it first for fuel and stores other calories you take in as fat — especially belly fat. Excess alcohol also strains the liver and can upset your digestion and metabolism, encouraging weight gain.
There are festive, nonalcoholic drinks that won’t sabotage your efforts to maintain a healthful diet.
Dr. Mike’s Grape Escape and When Way Golden
Milk recipes in the “What to Eat When Cookbook” are a great place to start.
Q: I am having a hard time with balance — something that never happened to me before. I am 56, in pretty good health, and cannot figure out why I am so tippy and unstable feeling. Any ideas? — Katherine F., Iowa City, Iowa
A: Having good balance is important. It protects you from falls, muscle aches and joint problems. Good balance also allows you to remain physically active and helps prevent depression associated with decreasing mobility.
As for what may be causing your balance problems and increasing your risk of falling, you need a clinical exam to determine the cause. Some possible triggers are an ear infection or inner ear problems (that can make the room spin or give you vertigo), a head injury, poor blood circulation, certain medications, low or high blood pressure, neurological conditions, arthritis or some kind of chemical imbalance in your brain.
Start with your primary care doc to see if you can eliminate any of the potential causes and focus in on what might be causing your instability. Review your medications first. Then get checked for blood pressure and circulatory issues and arthritis.
Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.