As a major beer lover, I was crushed when I had to give up my go-to drink after being diagnosed with celiac disease earlier this year. Who knew beer had gluten in it? Luckily, spiked seltzer is naturally gluten-free, so I could still kick back with an alcoholic beverage at the end of a long day.
Not only is spiked seltzer gluten-free, it’s also generally a healthier option than many other canned or premixed drinks. And it’s pretty darn tasty to boot, IMHO.
Why spiked seltzer is a “healthier” alcohol choice
The reason spiked seltzers are healthier than other drinks is because they “are typically only made out of carbonated water, alcohol from fermented cane sugar, and fruit flavorings,” explains Paige Valentik, RD, registered dietitian for Sodexo. “This makes the beverage lower in calories and extra ingredients.”
Yep, spiked seltzers are typically lower in calories when compared to heavy beers, wine, or mixed drinks made with high-calorie mixers, says Valentik.
“The calorie content of spiked seltzers are comparable to light beer as well as liquor mixed with no-calorie beverages,” she shares.
There is a caveat, though: Spiked seltzers are only healthier if you practice moderation, of course.
“It’s easy to ‘overdrink’ on spiked seltzers versus other alcoholic beverages, [and then] you’re no longer consuming less calories,” says Valentik.
How to choose the healthiest spiked seltzer
When looking for the healthiest spiked seltzer, Valentik suggests focusing on calories rather than trying to limit specific ingredients. That’s because all alcohol is processed by your body in the same way.
“No matter what form of alcohol a person consumes, it’s going to be digested the same,” she says. “So, focusing on calories from alcoholic beverages is the best way to go versus going crazy with trying to limit carbohydrates/sugars and other ingredients.”
This spiked seltzer brand ranks top on our list because a can clocks in at only 90 calories, with 2 grams of carbs and 0 grams of sugar. The ingredient list is simple: All that’s in Bon & Viv’s spiked seltzers are purified water, champagne yeast, and natural fruit flavors. Plus, the low calorie seltzer flavors are sophisticated, ranging from clementine hibiscus to coconut pineapple to pear elderflower.
This is my go-to brand of spiked seltzer. Each can is 100 calories, with 2 grams of carbs and 1 gram of sugar. Truly’s spiked seltzers come in fun, fruity flavors like wild berry, blueberry and acai, and lime (my personal fave). I like that the flavors are refreshing without being overly sweet.
This super-popular spiked seltzer brand definitely deserves a spot on this list. That’s because White Claw has pretty much mastered the art of fizzy, low-cal drinks. Each can is 100 calories with 2 grams of carbs and 2 grams of sugar. Flavors include watermelon, tangerine, and mango.
High Noon’s spiked seltzers combine vodka, real juice, and sparkling water in a 100-calorie drink. Each low calorie seltzer can has between 2-3 grams of carbs and 2-3 grams of sugar. Choose from flavors like pineapple, peach, black cherry, and more.
Not only do Viva Tequila Seltzers contain 0 grams of sugar and carbs, but they also have one of the lowest calorie counts of any alcoholic drinks we've seen. Each can has only 88 calories. The drinks come in four flavors, Elderberry, Huckleberry, Watermelon, and Grapefruit.
Not only do Viva Tequila Seltzers contain 0 grams of sugar and carbs, but they also have one of the lowest calorie counts of any alcoholic drinks we've seen. Each can has only 88 calories. The drinks come in four flavors, Elderberry, Huckleberry, Watermelon, and Grapefruit.
But despite their lower calorie count, hard seltzers — like any alcohol — are a source of empty calories and can stall your weight loss if you consume too much.
While hard seltzer is low in calories and carbs, most dietitians wouldn't call it healthy. It's easy to drink, and it doesn't make you feel full like beer can. So it's easy to have too many. The calories can add up.
If you want to lose weight, your best options are spirits. Try drinking your choice of vodka, gin, tequila, rum, or whiskey with a low-calorie mixer like a tonic, soda, or straight. Low-calorie beers are also a great choice as more delicious options come to market.
Hard seltzer, like other alcohol, is not a good source of nutrients and has empty calories. Alcohol — even in small amounts — can increase your risk of certain cancers and other health problems. But if you're looking for a low-calorie and low-sugar alcoholic drink, hard seltzer may be a better choice.
“Hard seltzers can be great in moderation. They cut down on the calories and sugar you would get from a typical fruity co*cktail. But be careful not to overdo it—some [have an ABV] as high as 9 percent. Treat them as you would any other alcoholic beverage and try to limit to zero or one drink per day on average.”
Smirnoff - Zero Sugar Hard Seltzer Variety Pack (12 pack 12oz cans) Enjoy four crisp, refreshing tasting flavors in one pack: Raspberry Rosé, Berry Lemonade, Cranberry Lime and Piña Colada. Only 90 calories, ZERO sugar, and one carb… but it's a fun carb!
With 0 sugar and carbs, only 85 calories and 4.2% ABV, San Juan Seltzer is the only Seltzer on the market that explodes with natural fresh fruit flavor that is clean.
They both also have 2 grams of carbohydrates, meaning either brand is an excellent beverage choice for carb counters. When it comes to overall sugar content, however, Truly takes a slight lead. Each can boasts a measly 1 gram of sugar, compared with White Claw, which boasts 2 grams of sugar per can.
It tends to have fewer calories and less sugar than mixed drinks, beer, or hard cider. Most hard seltzers have about 100 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates in a 12-ounce can. In contrast, a beer of about the same size has about 150 calories and 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates.
Hard seltzer is healthier than beer as it contains fewer calories on average than beer, with 100 per serving compared to 153. Similarly, there is less sugar in hard seltzer than in beer, making it a healthier option.
Rubinov recommends sticking to no more than one can of seltzer per day, and drinking it alongside a meal and some regular water to keep the acid from sticking to your teeth.
And while White Claw is marketed as a lower-calorie alternative to beer, the difference in calories is actually pretty small. “Take Stella Artois, which contains about 150 calories a bottle — you're only really saving 40 calories,” Faye says.
On the other hand, White Claw (and most other alcoholic beverages) have no nutritional value worth mentioning. Those 100 calories per can are empty calories, which means a White Claw should be considered a guilty pleasure, like dessert (via Everyday Health).
Skinnygirl® Sweet'arita is made with Blue Agave Silver Tequila that makes for the perfect blend of sweet and citrus. It's a slightly sweeter taste in a low-cal margarita you love that will keep glasses rising for more.
The lowest-calorie alcohol is vodka, which only has 100 calories in a 50-millimeter shot. Other alcohols among those with the lowest calories are whisky, gin, and tequila, which all have about 110 calories per shot.
- Caffeinated Energy Drinks: Caffeinated energy drinks are some of the most popular functional drinks on the market. They are packed with caffeine and other stimulants, which can give you a quick buzz.
For instance, pure forms of alcohol like whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, and vodka are all completely free of carbs. You can drink them straight or combine them with low carb mixers for more flavor. Wine and light varieties of beer are also relatively low in carbs — usually containing under 6 grams (g) per serving.
You can drink ginger tea, cinnamon tea, fenugreek water, chamomile tea, or turmeric milk before bed as they may help improve your metabolism. Yes, drinking lemon water before bed may help burn fat at night.
Island Bay hard seltzer is a lightly refreshing alcoholic drink, and comes in three delicious mouth-watering fruit blends of strawberry, watermelon, and mango. These 5%ABV hard seltzers contain 70 calories per can and no carbs, making them a great choice for anyone following a low carb diet.
The best types of alcohol for people with diabetes are those with a low sugar or carb content. That includes light beers, red and white wines, distilled spirits, and low carb co*cktails, as long as you avoid sugary juices or syrups.
Too much of anything can be bad for your health, and the same is true for sparkling water. Though drinking a can or two a day should generally be okay, Dr. Ghouri warns against making sparkling water an outwardly excessive habit — or completely foregoing flat water for fizzy water exclusively.
Drinking too much hard seltzer can also lead to alcohol poisoning and other negative health effects from excess alcohol consumption. “Lighter in calories, and refreshing like a non-alcoholic seltzer, it may be easier to wind up drinking more,” Mills warned.
Low in calories and sugar, a vodka soda is widely recognized as one of the healthier co*cktail options in the bar. Plus, Poon notes that "soda water is hydrating, so it's nice to mix a small amount of clear alcohol with a hydrating beverage.
Barefoot Hard Seltzer is technically the lowest calorie hard seltzer out there, but that is based on the can being 8.4oz total when most other hard seltzers come in 12oz cans. For a 12oz can, you can expect most hard seltzer to be right around 100 calories.
Is hard seltzer bad for your liver? Again, because hard seltzer is alcohol, just like when you consume any other type of boozy drink, “your liver works overtime to rid the toxin from your body, so it puts added work on this organ and regular consumption of any alcohol can lead to liver disease,” Shapiro says.
Its flavor is neutral, but popular brands like Polar, Vintage, Bubly, La Croix, and Hal's typically come in a wide variety of flavors, from lemon-lime to hibiscus. Hard seltzer, meanwhile, is made with an alcoholic base such as fermented cane sugar.
HiBall Energy Seltzer is a low carb seltzer that contains 0 calories, no sugar, and less than 1g of carbs per can. It comes in many flavors including Wild Berry, Lemon Lime, Grapefruit, and Peach.
It tends to have fewer calories and less sugar than mixed drinks, beer, or hard cider. Most hard seltzers have about 100 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates in a 12-ounce can. In contrast, a beer of about the same size has about 150 calories and 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates.
Smirnoff Seltzer Seasonal Variety Pack features Smirnoff Seltzer flavors perfect for Winter, all with no artificial sweeteners, 90 calories, zero sugar and just 1g of carbs.
Some brands of Hard Seltzer contain no carbs at all, and the majority of brands contain less than 2g of carbs per can. This is significantly less than the carbs found on average in beer (13g per can), cider (up to around 45g per can) and most popular co*cktails, such as in a Pina Colada (30g) or a Mojito (25g).
Good news: As long as you're drinking sparkling water with no added sugars, you've made an A+ choice. In many cases, sparkling water is just water — which is, of course, vital to your health.
Sundays Hard Seltzer averages less than 75 calories per bottle while wine typically ranges from 140 to 170 calories per glass depending on the alcohol and sugar content.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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