Is Wine Full of Sugar?
When sitting back to relax for the evening, it is common for us to reach for a glass of wine. Even doctors agree that wine can be very beneficial in the right proportions. It is a drink that has been around for centuries, depicted in several important historical moments. The last thing on your mind is likely going to be the sugar content in a glass of your favorite wine. It is normal to drink more than one glass, so this sugar that you are consuming can easily multiply without you even realizing it. When it comes to any alcoholic beverage, moderation is important. So before you drink the whole bottle, think about how much natural sugar grapes contain. You may also consider consulting with experts at one of the best wine stores in Pensacola, Wine Folder, to get the most benefits out of your next glass!
How Much Sugar Does a Glass of Wine Have?
The New York Times has written that the average glass of wine contains about 7 grams of sugar (read full article). Putting this into perspective, your daily sugar intake should not exceed more than 50 grams. The American Heart Association actually limits this even further, suggesting that you should only consume around 25 grams if you are trying to be healthy. Knowing the figures, you can see how easily that a couple of glasses of wine can make up for your entire day’s worth of sugar.
While some wines contain sugar that comes from the natural fruit, there are others that actually contain added sugar. This is meant to enhance the flavor of the wine. You might unknowingly be consuming a lot more sugar than you think because of this common practice. Wineries believe that adding sugar to wine that is “dry” can bring out the smoothness when you drink it.
If you would like to get an accurate number behind how much sugar is in a particular wine, it is best to contact the source directly. The winery will be able to tell you if any sugar has been added.
Is There Wine With Less Sugar?
The Washington Post reveals that drinking dry wine is smart for those who are trying to cut back on all of the sugar (read full article). Of course, you must keep in mind that a dry wine is going to taste different than a sweeter rose or dessert wine. It is a sacrifice that you must make when you are watching your sugar intake. In terms of containing residual sugars, dry wines tend to have less of them. The wineries filter this out during the fermenting process.
Among the top of the line when it comes to dry wines, you can try drinking an Italian pinot grigio or a cabernet sauvignon. These are often called “bone-dry” when being described by wine-drinkers. Any residual sugar in these two wines often makes up for less than 1 gram. You can see how this will greatly impact your sugar intake.
Chardonnay can also be a great option for something that is on the more dry side. While it has a higher residual sugar amount than the above mentioned wines, it is still considered to be on the dry side.
When you are selecting your bottle of wine, it would help to do some research beforehand. Finding out about which wines are considered dry can save you time when you actually get to the store. Don’t be afraid to ask around, too! It is likely that someone in your life knows a great deal about wine. You will probably be able to get some great recommendations from those who drink wine on a regular basis.
How Does Sugar Impact Your Body?
Live Science explains that sugar is detrimental to your health because it contains calories (read full article). It also increases your actual blood sugar, which can lead to heart problems. Because sugar is so calorie-dense, you can consume a lot of it without even realizing what you are doing.
A great example of this comes from consuming a bottle of soda. If you take a look at how many grams of sugar are in each serving, you might be surprised at how easy it is for you to consume large amounts of it. Sugar can do two things — it adds calories to your diet and displaces nutritious foods that you eat. Instead of getting the benefits of consuming something healthy, like a fruit and veggie smoothie, any added sugar is going to be absorbed by your body first.
Not only is this unhealthy for your heart and blood sugar levels, but it also puts you at risk of weight gain. Because of how easy it can be to consume sugar, think about all of the calories you are putting back in such a short amount of time. If you have 3 glasses of wine, this can easily get you up to 600 calories. That is about the same amount of calories that can be found in your average dinner.
When you are adding so much extra sugar into your diet, you are also slowly impacting your entire body. Your teeth will begin to decay, inflammation can start to occur, and your blood pressure could rise. Given all of these risks, it is important that you make sure that you are aware of how much sugar is in each glass of wine that you drink. While it can feel nice in the moment, sugar does have the ability to create some long-lasting impacts.
