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Writer's pictureDr. Zachary Laboube

Questions About Alcohol and Your HCG Diet

Here are a few key factors to help you decide whether you should pop a cork:

  1. Alcohol is a toxin to the liver.

  2. Alcohol is a drug, which means it’s addictive.

  3. If losing weight is your goal, remember that your liver can’t help you with fat burning if it’s busy detoxifying alcohol.

I’m a bit of a beer snob myself, so either drink less of your heavier beer favorites or try something lite, like Bud Select or Ultra.


I certainly  like to partake every now and again, but lets be honest… Can you really maintain a high level of health if you drink alcohol frequently and/or in large quantities. The pleasant buzz that alcohol provides also places stress on your liver, creates a strong insulin response, and dehydrates your cells. Enjoy, but in moderation. Or not 🙂


The night life ain’t no good life, but it’s my life…


That’s from a Willie Nelson song and I never get sick of saying it. I get a lot of HCG diet questions relating to alcohol consumption on the HCG diet and whether HCG 2.0 is different in comparison. I wish I had better news, but alcohol is one of the worst things you can consume that will adversely effect your weight loss. Not only is alcohol extremely high in calories containing 7 calories per gram compared to protein or carbs, which contain only 4 calories per gram, but over-consumption can be taxing on the liver. If your liver is busy oxidizing alcohol, it’s not oxidizing fats which then accumulate both in the liver (fatty liver disease) and systemically in your belly, arms and thighs. Beer and wine is the highest in calories followed by straight liquors. Definitely avoid sugary mixers that can double and even triple the caloric intake. Mix your liquor with water or diet soda – in moderation. As is life.


With all said, I still have plenty of dieters that lose weight successfully while on HCG 2.0, yet still partake now and again.


HCG diet questions on alcohol

The key to successfully imbibing alcohol while on the low calorie phase of your HCG diet is choosing the right adult beverages and consuming them in a responsible, intentional way.


Steer clear of grain-based drinks that can also include gluten, such as the following:

  1. Beer

  2. Bourbon

  3. Gin (some brands are processed with grain-based alcohol)

  4. Grain-based vodka

  5. Whiskey

To celebrate on special occasions, feel free to choose one of these:

  1. Potato vodka

  2. Rum

  3. Tequila

  4. Red wine (higher in carbs and calories, but also rich in Resvertrol)

There’s an appropriate time to enjoy a moderate amount of alcohol to unwind or to celebrate. Aside from the positive aspects of socializing, some types of alcohol are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and they may also reduce the risk of infection with the bacteria that causes ulcers.

Red wine is an example as it is high in the antioxidant Resveritrol. Before you pour yourself a glass of something intoxicating, consider your health goals and overall eating habits, and then make smart choices about which type of alcohol you drink. To manage your body’s insulin response to the sugars found in alcohol, mix spirits, like tequila or vodka, with soda water, ice, and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Avoid fruit juices, which are liquid sugar; and avoid tonic water, which is also high in sugar.

Wine and beers should absolutely be avoided during the low calorie phase of your HCG diet. When you re-introduce these during the maintenance phase of HCG, keep the following in mind… When uncorking wine, choose the driest (least sweet) wines possible. The driest reds include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot; the driest whites are Chardonay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

After all, St. Louis is home to Anheuser Busch. That’s sort of what we do here. You might have heard the slogan… “St. Louis – A drinking town with baseball problem.” There’s an unfortunate amount of truth to that.



Dr. Zach of InsideOut Wellness

Dr. Zach


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