Cheers! One Reason to Switch to Tequila…and Three Reasons Not To
Move over vodka, tequila has taken over as the top drink of choice. Tequila was the fastest-growing spirit in 2022, with the United States being the driving force with over 60% of sales.
What is leading this charge? Consumers are looking for a premium drink that won’t derail their health and fitness goals. Because tequila is made from the agave plant, it purports to be lower in sugar and thus lower in calories.
Add in tequila’s versatile distilling process, which can create many different varieties and flavors—much like whiskey, and there’s the ability to create several flavors and open the door to small-scale artisanal brands that highlight their craftsmanship.
This has created an upsurge in premium tequila and a massive rise in social media branding, including from celebrity brands like 818 by Kendall Jenner, Teramana by Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, and Casamigos, co-founded by George Clooney. You’d be hard-pressed not to see something tequila-ish on Instagram or TikTok.
So why switch to tequila?
Tequila is viewed as the ‘cleaner’ choice, with fewer calories and less sugar than other spirits. For those looking for a way to watch their calorie intake, tequila might be that option. And one shot of tequila is better than sipping on wine all night.
However, I’m of a different mindset when it comes to alcohol. I love to have an occasional margarita for sure, but I can’t help but notice the shift in women moving from the “mommy wine culture” to now raising tequila glasses. One is not necessarily “better” than the other.
Here are 3 reasons NOT to make the switch:
1) It is still alcohol.
No matter how you dress it up, whether it’s good ole’ fashioned Jose Cuervo or one of the many new bougie, artisanal small-batch premium tequilas now on the market, Tequila is still alcohol. While a moderate amount of alcohol may lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, even a little can affect brain pathways, damage the heart and liver, increase the risk of cancer, and lower our immune system.
2) It will put the brakes on your fitness goals.
Alcohol can disturb the protein synthesis necessary for muscle building and repair after a workout. Not only will alcohol block the signals that nudge our bodies to build protein, but it can also promote insulin resistance—which is when the body no longer responds efficiently to insulin and creates excess sugar in the blood. Insulin plays a part in muscle growth by preventing protein breakdown. To make matters worse, alcohol can also slow your metabolism and stop fat-burning, blocking all that work you did in your strength training class.
3) It can negatively impact your sleep.
Alcohol can disrupt your sleep cycle. Instead of following the four stages of sleep, alcohol can cause fragmented sleep. With alcohol, our bodies often skip sleep stages by falling deeply asleep too quickly. Alcohol will also interrupt REM sleep, which helps us sort through what we’ve learned, process memories, and deal with emotional experiences. Without proper REM sleep, we can feel groggy, have trouble concentrating, feel irritable, and feel less able to problem-solve efficiently.
So, what is a girl to do?
Enjoy that occasional cocktail! I encourage you to enjoy and take time from your busy schedule to savor that crafted cocktail—however that looks for you. I also encourage you to be mindful of the draw of our society’s alcohol culture and the pull of social media. At the end of the day, our health should take the top spot in our mindset. You can have your one shot of tequila…and then put it back on the shelf.
Looking to make more changes in 2025 – like lose weight, improve sleep, and decrease stress? Connect with me to learn which of my programs will help you make this year the best yet!
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