If you're dieting, remember that alcohol has calories too

Alcoholic beverages could throw a wrench into your 2013 diet plan.  The National Center for Health Statistics reported late last year that American adults drink in an average of 100 calories daily from beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages, and almost 20 percent of men and 6 percent of women consume more than 300 calories daily from alcohol.

Men ages 20 to 39 consume the most alcohol, taking in about 175 calories per day on average, while women in the same age group consume about 60 calories daily per person.

"It is certainly not a good health strategy to have alcohol calories constituting a significant percentage of total calorie consumption," health advisers Dian and Tom Griesel say on Newswise, a research-reporting service. "This is especially true for women and those dieting who would be better off avoiding all alcoholic beverages until their weight goals are met or at most limiting alcohol to one drink no more than two days a week."

Griesel also said that current dietary guidelines recommend to consume alcohol in moderation, which means no more than one daily drink for women and two for men.  So, as you reach for the apple instead of candy, remember that there are empty calories in your drink of choice too. (Read more)