Red wine and Keto

alcohol
(vicky) #1

Hi guys, Keto newbie here. Into my second week and loving it. My question is: and hold your tongues if you want to tell me off, but how detrimental would half a glass of red wine per night be to my progress.
My partner and I both work from home and our way of switching over from work mode to relax mode every evening has always been a glass (or bottle) of red each night.
We have found that we are having trouble breaking that little ritual and we are both struggling to make the switch in the evenings. Its amazing what a difference that glass of red makes!
Now I know that drinking is a big NO-NO on this diet but would just a half a glass each night make a huge difference?

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #2

Have a read of this website and enjoy a glass of red while you do it, lol.

It’s not a huge NONO, but it does interrupt the process as your body has to stop to metabolize the alcohol.

I have one no carb beer per evening and I have still lost 12 pounds since April 30.

(LeeAnn Brooks) #3

The issue with alcohol is that your body stops producing ketones or burning fat until the alcohol burns off. So while it’s not a lot you’re drinking, it interrupts the process every night. I’m not sure I’m describing that correctly. The point is, your body puts the Keto process on hold until the alcohol is out of your system.

My best advice is to wait until you are fat adapted and then add the wine back in. You will be better able to handle it. Otherwise it will probably slow down the time it takes you to become fat adapted (which is typically 6-8 weeks). I would abstain for that period and then enjoy in moderation.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #4

Oh yeah, wait until you’re fat adapted and you’ll get p*ssed off one glass, lol. Now THAT’S a benefit.

(vicky) #5

Good on you!! 12 pounds in just over 3 weeks is great! Thanks for the link - that is extremely helpful and informative. May I ask which brand of beer you drink?

(vicky) #6

Great advice thanks Anniegirl9. If this is going to be a long term thing we would certainly like to find a way to incorporate a little bit of our red wine into our lifestyle as we both enjoy it so much - especially at the end of our work days.
Abstinence for the first few weeks will be the best thing by the sounds of it.

(Troy Anthony) #7

Absolutely! Alcohol will stop the process of ketones being created and slow fat burning as stated above, but a half glass does not take extremely long for your liver to process. I have tested myself with wine a couple of times and found that I could drink a couple glasses without getting knocked out of ketosis. I tested about 3 times a day all week and didn’t get a dip. To be safe I ate fat with the wine haha, like a spoonful of coconut oil before each glass. Maybe weird but it was worth it and ultimately worked for me. Just to add everyone is different and I have found that I could handle more then an avg amount of sugar and stay in ketosis, so testing your limits is advisable and fun.

(vicky) #8

Uniprod - What an experiment! Can I ask how you know so certainly that you were not out of ketosis? Do you have one of those testing kits?

(Troy Anthony) #9

Yes I have the keto mojo blood testing kit. Sounds intimidating but it’s really easy. Just to clarify I didn’t drink the two glasses all week, but I tested all week. The drinking was one night. I felt it important to clarify because the drop in ketones in the blood won’t be instant if it happens. The idea being when your body switches to using glucose for energy, you will stop creating ketones but that could take some time to be seen in the blood. I tested all week so I’m sure It wasn’t enough to knock me out. I wouldn’t recommend going that big though unless you are testing just to experiment. I really enjoy testing to get to know my body so if you decide to start testing have fun with it!

(vicky) #10

Oh haha, I don’t know why I read that as you drinking a glass of wine three times a day and then testing for a dip! That sounded fun!!!

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #11

I drink an Australian brand called Burleigh Big Head Co. It’s a no carb beer.

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#12

There are various views on this forum - and often an American vs. European cultural aspect, that’s for sure.

After your first couple weeks when you’re 80% or more fat adapted, a bit of red wine can be lovely and quite harmonious imho. In fact, the early LCHF/keto physicians Dr. Mary Dan Eades and Dr. Michael Eades in their classic book Protein Power, allow for a small glass of wine with complimentary fat-heavy cuisine. :wink: I’ve maintained steady body recomposition with a few small glasses of wine per week. It can also be argued that there are unique rejuvenating benefits of wine…

Pre-keto, I was a longtime fan of traditional Irish black stout - however I’ve not ventured to open a little bottle that’s been in the fridge since I went keto over 9 months ago, lol. I was skeered I’d sabotage myself and induce potato accompaniment cravings… so I abstained, as stout is traditionally eaten with plenty of extra carbs. However - since I’ve recently learned proper steak cooking w/ a bit of wine, I’ve realized that on certain OMAD days I can make stouty/beery steak, and sip the rest with dinner, maybe with some mashed cauliflower n’ cheese on the side… YEAH!

There are a number of threads here in the forum on wine, health, and SRIT 1 that can be found using the search bar. Bon Appetit, and Salud! :grapes:

(vicky) #13

ava_ad0re STOP IT!!! You just absolutely made my day! Big head is one of my fav’s - Gold Coast local right here… Absolutely stoked!

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #14

Awww another Australian! Gday @vickya!
Glad to see someone else on here, I don’t run into many!
Im in Brisbane!

(LeeAnn Brooks) #15

Besides, my husband got me a really nice wine fridge for Christmas, and it would be just plain rude not to put good use to this gift.:wink::wine_glass: