Q: I am trying hard this year to not gain weight during the holidays. Do I really have to give up the celebratory champagne or rum-laced eggnog? -- Susi C., Largo, Florida
A: Your instincts are right-on: Alcohol can make it hard to avoid weight gain -- all those empty calories. But right off the bat, we'd like to say creamy, eggy, super-sweet, rum-y eggnog is a much more risky choice than one small glass of champagne. A cup of eggnog spiked with rum dishes up a diet-bomb of around 530 calories, 34 grams of fat and 36 grams of sugar. A glass of champagne has around 95 calories, and a 2013 lab study from the U.K.'s Reading University found that one to three glasses of the bubbly a week delivers enough anti-inflammatory polyphenols to improve spatial memory and help prevent dementia. That said, alcohol is an often-overlooked culprit when folks have trouble maintain or achieving a healthy weight -- any time of the year. First, it makes it harder to resist high-calorie, sweet, fatty foods. Studies show that it increases impulsivity (gimme that cookie!) and appetite. The alcohol itself also works against your weight-control efforts. Since it's high in carbs and sugars, your body burns it first for fuel and stores other calories you take in as fat -- especially belly fat. Excess alcohol also strains the liver and can upset your digestion and metabolism, encouraging weight gain. In addition, it lowers testosterone levels (women have some, too), making it harder to have strong muscles. That increases fat storage as well.
There are festive, nonalcoholic drinks that won't sabotage your efforts to maintain a healthful diet. Dr. Mike's Grape Escape and When Way Golden Milk recipes in the "What to Eat When Cookbook" are a great place to start. And "mocktails," like a virgin Bloody Mary or something made with nonalcoholic ginger beer, will keep you feeling festive -- and help you reach your goal. * * *
Q: I am having a hard time with balance -- something that never happened to me before. I am 56, in pretty good health, and cannot figure out why I am so tippy and unstable feeling. I don't even know what kind of doctor to go see. Any ideas? -- Katherine F., Iowa City, Iowa
A: Having good balance is important. It protects you from falls, muscle aches and joint problems. Good balance also allows you to remain physically active and helps prevent depression associated with decreasing mobility. Some astounding facts about falls from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury, and they send 800,000 people in the U.S. to the hospital annually. Globally, falls are the second-leading cause of death from unintentional injury.
As for what may be causing your balance problems and increasing your risk of falling, you need a clinical exam to determine the cause. Some possible triggers are an ear infection or inner ear problems (that can make the room spin or give you vertigo), a head injury, poor blood circulation, certain medications, low or high blood pressure, neurological conditions, arthritis or some kind of chemical imbalance in your brain. Sometimes it is related to a vitamin D deficiency! It can even come from anxiety that triggers rapid breathing. Start with your primary care doc to see if you can eliminate any of the potential causes and focus in on what might be causing your instability. Review your medications first. Then get checked for blood pressure and circulatory issues and arthritis. Discuss whether you should be examined by a neurologist. You may also want to get a prescription for physical therapy -- balance training and learning-how-to-fall training can be effective, especially if you need to strengthen your legs and core.
You're smart to take action quickly to find a solution -- you do not want to risk a fall or overlook some treatable disorder. Good luck!
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Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer Emeritus at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen at [email protected].
(c)2021 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.