Many experts recommend a moderate amount of alcohol in any healthy diet in order to get the benefits, but does alcohol play any part in a diet when you’re trying to lose weight? Well actually...yes, it does.

If it comes down to strict calorie intake, then alcohol can use up a significant portion of your calorific intake with nothing in return except empty calories and a potential weight gain if you go all-out. However, one small glass of wine won’t make much difference as long as you account for it in your intake for the day. For example, the 100 calories it "costs" for a small glass of red wine can be paid for by the amount of exercise you do during that day. Cycling for 10 minutes, or jogging for eight can both burn about 100 calories, so that would be your alcohol "paid for". But don’t ever be tempted to skip meals for it as this completely undermines everything you’re trying to achieve.

The key, as in everything, is moderation. You’d be surprised how many calories some alcoholic drinks contain, from the moderate 100 calories for a small glass of wine, to 200 for a neat whiskey and a massive 400 calories for a Long Island iced tea!

The best way is to have a small glass of wine or half a can of beer (these are both equal to about one unit) every few days, or even leave it all week and have two small glasses or one can every week (equivalent to about two units) in order for you to have both your cake (well, your alcohol anyway) and eat it too!