The Choice is Clear
Cocktails come in many shapes and sizes, but try to stick to “clear” drinks instead of milky and creamy blends. That also goes for Irish Cream, which is a popular coffee additive come winter that can contain 120 calories per 1.3 ounces, according to Caloriecount.com.
The same can go for drinks like a Pina Colada, which is loaded with extra calories due to coconut cream and pineapple juice. According to Health.com this drink contains up to 245 calories per 5 ounces. Even 12 ounces of beer has about 100 less calories than that!

Alternate Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Regardless of what you’re drinking, alcohol can cause you to urinate up to four times the volume of what each drink contains, says WebMD. That’s because of the diuretic effect of alcohol that can leave you dangerously dehydrated.
Drinking a non-alcoholic beverage (or just plain water) between cocktails will help your body metabolize the alcohol properly, while also helping you better “handle” the liquor you’re pouring down your throat. Not only that, your morning self may thank you because staying hydrated will reduce the effects of a hangover.

Go Dry in January
Too much red wine and spiked eggnog over the holiday? You might decide to go dry (abstain from alcohol in January), which a study in New Scientist magazine claims has serious health benefits. The study asked 10 participants to quit drinking for 30-days (4 participants continued to imbibe as usual).
Findings from the study were recorded questionnaire and blood work that showed the sober study participants witnessed a 20-percent decrease in liver fat (which leads to liver damage), a 16-percent decrease in blood glucose levels (which can cause metabolic syndrome and diabetes) compared to those who continued to drink.

Julie Ching, MS, RDN, CDE
Julie Ching is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator in Los Angeles. She decided to become a Dietitian after traveling through Europe, South America, and Asia and discovered a passion for food. She now works with people of all ages and varying disease states to improve their health. She is passionate about teaching people about nutrition so they can live their best life while still considering their cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.