Nancy Dell: beer vs. wine; diet soda and weight gain

1. My wife says I should switch to wine instead of beer because it is healthier. Is it?
Bob, Northampton

Both beer and wine have health benefits. First, they do contain antioxidants, a component of food that helps protect are cells from damage.

Beer has more antioxidants than white wine but fewer antioxidants than red wine. Beer actually contains as much fiber as some vegetables. One liter has between 1.3 grams and 3.8 grams of fiber depending on the type of beer.

All alcohol including beer and wine as well as hard liquor can increase your good cholesterol, lower your bad cholesterol, and reduce blood clots. Altogether, these properties can reduce the risk of heart disease 40 percent and reduce your risk of diabetes and dementia.

So you can drink red wine or beer to get some health benefits but more is NOT better. If you over do it, the health risks out weigh the benefits.

How much is "over doing it”? Women should limit alcohol to 1 drink a day and men can have 2 per day. A drink is a 12 oz beer or 5 oz wine, or 1 1/2 oz of hard liquor.

2. I drink diet soda and my friend says it causes weight gain. How can that be?
Meghan, Internet

A 2011 study found that diet soda drinkers had a 178 percent increase in waist circumference over 10 years compared to non soda drinkers.

Researchers say that artificial sweeteners raise your insulin levels and lower blood sugar which can stimulate appetite and cause fat storage.

So try to drink flavored seltzers and unsweetened iced tea and if you do have a diet soda or any diet drink, only have it with a meal to cushion the effect on insulin and blood sugar.