Imagine sitting in one of these sunny Italian cafes. With every cool breeze, this refreshing drink is in your hands. A bright orange Aperol Spritz, bubbles sparkling in sunbeams, refreshing, light, a perfect companion on a warm day. As you sip it, you cannot help but wonder, "Does it do me any good?"
Aperol is a global explosion, partly for the popular Aperol Spritz. But with this swell in health and wellness awareness, most of us will begin to question precisely what's in this beloved drink. Is Aperol healthy? What do its nutritional facts look like? We're breaking it all down for you.
What is Aperol?
Aperol is one of the world's most popular aperitifs. Its bright orange color and lightly bitter taste mean that it enjoys cocktails with Aperol Spritz, and many keep asking how it relates to a healthy diet today because more and more people are getting concerned about their health. In this blog, we'll research nutrition facts about Aperol to be able to decide whether the popular drink can be used in a healthy lifestyle.
History and Popularity of Aperol
Aperol was discovered in 1919 by the brothers Barbieri from Padua, Italy. It has been on the market for well over a hundred years but only in the last decades became highly popular, not least due to the extremely successful Aperol Spritz. The drink consists of Aperol, prosecco, and soda water. For outdoors bars and cafes, it proves to be especially good because it's served fresh and bubbly for warm days.
Aperol Signature Ingredients
Aperol is a special blend of ingredients that take their unique flavor profile from. These ingredients include bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, and several herbs. The ingredients of Aperol make this drink a rich source of bittersweet taste, while bright and refreshing finish complements it. However, as we will see later in this report, sugar is also a high ingredient, and sugar greatly influences the nutritional content of Aperol. Having known what Aperol is, we would now dig deeper into its nutritional content.
Aperol Nutrition Facts: The Basics
Calories in Aperol. Aperol is fairly low in alcohol content if one compares it to other spirits. It has an 11% by volume alcohol content. Standard serving size-about 1 oz or 28 grams-packs around 62 calories. Calories will be less compared to strong liquors like gin or whiskey. However, calories mount up rapidly if you are drinking Aperol cocktails.
Carbohydrates and sugars. On sugar, Aperol has 7 grams of sugar per ounce. That is fairly high relative to some other aperitifs and liqueurs. The sugar will no doubt speak to the sweetness of Aperol, but for any member of a low-sugar diet crowd, there is something to be noted. Other drinks like Campari similarly have sugars at pretty much equivalent ranges, but Aperol's sugar content does bear noting when eyeing your daily intake.
Other Nutritional Contents. Aperol contains virtually no relation to fat and protein. Its nutritional contents are just because of alcohol and sugar. The drink also has nearly no sodium. If its low ABV is taken into account, Aperol can definitely be a great choice to toast with safely. However, tons of sugar can be bad for some.
Is Aperol Healthy? The Pros and Cons
Health Benefits of Aperol. Although Aperol is sugar content, it also carries herbal ingredients such as gentian and rhubarb, which have been in use for a long time due to their effectiveness in aiding digestion. In fact, these herbs may be even better if taken way before the meal aids digestion. Furthermore, Aperol carries less alcohol than most drinks and, therefore, would be an excellent choice for people who would still like to have a drink but not go overboard with alcohol consumption. Go check it out now!
Concerns and Considerations. Aperol is high in sugar that one does not want in his/her system. Many diseases have been attributed to excessive consumption of sugars, which include overweightness or obesity, among other conditions, besides causing sudden rise in blood sugar. For people who may have certain restrictions on the diet, such as people who are diabetic or those who are following low-carb diets, the amount of sugar one would take from Aperol would be fatal. Also noteworthy is the fact that like any other alcoholic beverage, there should be consideration of body implications associated with consumption, including the status of the liver and general health.
Aperol and Dietary Preferences
Aperol on a Low Sugar Diet. If you're on a very low-sugar diet, you might think Aperol doesn't even make the cut for your cocktail list, but it can be done with a few mixing strategies that still allow you to enjoy Aperol but don't have to be drenched in sugar. For example, you might mix Aperol with soda water or use fresh citrus juice, and then overall reduce the sugar in your drink with less sugary mixer usage.
For a lighter take on the Aperol Spritz, try this recipe:
Low Sugar Aperol Spritz
- 1 oz Aperol
- 3 oz prosecco
- 2 oz soda water
- Fresh orange slice for garnish
This version reduces sugar while still offering the refreshing taste of the classic Aperol Spritz.
Aperol for Gluten-Free and Vegan Diets. And you know what? Dieters have some good news: Aperol is gluten-free and vegan. As Aperol is composed of plant-based ingredients only, no animal product is processed in its production at all. Therefore, Aperol is a great choice for people who are gluten sensitive or who maintain a strict vegan diet.
Healthier Aperol Cocktail Options
If you like Aperol but prefer cocktails with a little less sugar, don't worry; there's quite a lot to choose from, without too much sugar and full of flavor. Here are a few ideas.
Aperol & Fresh Citrus Soda. This is a refreshing drink. Cutting on added sugars, it finds all its flavor from the citrus fruits' natural sweetness.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Aperol
- Half a grapefruit; juice, freshly squeezed
- Soda water
- Lemon twist for garnish
The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice gives the drink flavor without sugar and is a good alternative to high-calorie drinks.
Herbal Infusions Aperol Spritz. Mint or basil are all you need to make your Aperol cocktail sugar-free.
Here's the recipe:
- 1 oz Aperol
- soda water
- fresh mint leaves
- freshly squeezed lemon juice
The herbs round out the flavors refreshing, with lemon juice giving it just a bit of tartness without even a speck of sugar.
Alternative Low Sugar Substitutions for Aperol for Health Conscious Drinkers
If you would like to have other aperitifs with fewer sugar calories or fewer calories in general, there are some other contenders worth a try.
How to Find Other Low Sugar Aperitif Drinks? Or you might choose one of the lower-sugar aperitifs - Cocchi Americano or Lillet Blanc will also yield those flavors in less sugar added. They are great for your refreshing drink, not too sweet.
Making Herbal Aperitifs from Scratch. If you are the experimenter, feel free to make your aperitif with your fresh herbs and natural flavors. You may even use dry vermouth or gin as the base, then add rosemary or thyme herbs. That is how you will obtain a low sugar intake while preparing a drink according to your preference.
Tips on Having Aperol in a Balanced Diet
Moderation and Mindful Drinking. The secret to enjoy Aperol-like with anything-is to drink in moderation. Enjoy one or two servings and avoid paired cocktails with sugar mixers. If you are careful about how much you drink, you can really definitely enjoy your Aperol in moderation as part of your balanced diet.
Balancing Aperol with Nutritious Foods. Pair it with low sugar, nutrient-rich food to counterbalance the sweetness. Let's snack on some olives, almonds, and grilled vegetables. Everything would feast with Aperol's sweet bitterness, no unwanted sugar additions here.
So, is Aperol a healthy drink?
Once more, everything is relative; it depends on how you love it. Herbal ingredients in Aperol make digestion better, and since it has a low alcoholic percentage, it also causes a lesser impact on the stomach. The content of sugar is something you should take note of if you have a diet strictly pertaining to sugar. You can indulge in Aperol by being moderate and by choosing low-sugar cocktail alternatives.
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In this blog, we dig into what's in Aperol and what that might mean for health impacts. Of course, even though Aperol still boasts 7 grams of sugar per ounce, it can still be enjoyed in moderation. We also included some tips for low-sugar cocktails using Aperol as well as alternatives to have a lighter aperitif. With careful drinking habits, Aperol actually can fit into a balanced diet.
