Cheryl Forberg, RD. Biggest Loser Nutritionist

There are a few people behind the scenes at The Biggest Loser that you don't see on camera. Our Medical Expert Team has a very important role with the show and I'll be sharing some of the things we do in upcoming blogs. One of the key members of our team is Dr. Michael Dansinger.

Dr. D is an internationally recognized authority on dietary and lifestyle counseling for weight loss and prevention of obesity-related medical problems. He is an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston as well as a scientist with the USDA Nutrition Research Center. I had the pleasure of working with Dr D when we wrote the eating plan for the show's first book, The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health and Life. We also have the opportunity to share insights and secrets about our work with The Biggest Loser for speaking engagements. We called one of our presentations "The Biggest Loser Show Unplugged: The Science Behind The Camera. I look forward to sharing some of those secrets with you too.

Today, I 've asked Dr. Dansinger to comment on a really popular question: can I drink alcohol while I'm trying to lose weight? Here is his response:

"Many people aiming to reduce body fat would like to enjoy alcoholic beverages on occasion. Unfortunately, alcohol is not favorable for weight loss, and should therefore be considered to be an occasional treat or avoided altogether. There is a general concensus that alcohol in moderation, especially red wine, has favorable effects on heart disease risk, however I recommend minimizing alcohol consumption when fat loss is the primary goal. Alcoholic beverages contain calories, stimulate appetite, and reduce inhibitions and will power.

Low carb beers are more favorable than regular beers. Low carb beers are comparable to regular beer diluted with water. A similar effect can be achieved with mixed drinks diluted with a calorie-free or low-calorie beverage.

For people aiming to lose only a little weight, the light or low carb beers, small glasses of wine, and diluted low calorie alcoholic drinks are the most favorable options. For lean people who want the health benefits of alcohol, I agree with the official government recommendations: 2 ounces of alcohol per day for men, and 1 ounce per day for women.

As always, please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive. Do not drink if you're pregnant."

I agree with Dr. Dansinger. Though I did include libations in some of my menus in Positively Ageless

I chose red wine because of its favorable effects on heart disease risk, but only for people who are close to their weight loss goals.