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Weight Loss & Wine

The water bottle is a workout staple and certainly a good drink for those who are trying to maintain a slender figure.

But according to new research, women may gain less weight over time if they turn that water into wine.

Dr. Lu Wang, Brigham and Women's Hospital says "Women who consume light to moderate amount of alcohol actually experienced a smaller weight gain."

Dr. Lu Wang from Brigham & Women's hospital in Boston followed nearly 20-thousand healthy, middle aged and older women.

Some weight gain was typical over the 13-year study period.

But women who started with a normal weight were less likely to gain extra pounds if they drank light to moderate amounts of alcohol.

That means no more than 2 to 3 servings of beer or wine each day. The link was strongest for red wine.

While it's true these women had healthy lifestyles overall -- there seems to be something about the alcohol itself. women who didn't drink any gained the most weight.

And rather than break bread with their wine, moderate drinkers also tended to eat smaller portions, cutting out carbs in particular.

The bottom line? For healthy women who already have a glass or two with dinner.

Dr. Lu Wang says "They could keep their drinking habit without gaining more weight."

And if exercise is also a habit, a little tipple could help tip the scales in your favor.

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Despite their findings, Dr. Lu Wang cautioned against recommendations for drinking alcohol as a weight control measure.

He said you have to take into account the potential medical and psychosocial problems related to drinking alcohol, he went on to say any recommendation on alcohol use should be made after carefully evaluating both adverse and beneficial effects for the individual.

And it's so important to remember that moderation is key.