How Does Alcohol Affect Exercise?
Author: Jim O'Neill
It's finally Friday and you just got off work. Now you're
thinking about going out later and having a few drinks with
your friends and relaxing. After all, you worked hard all week
and you certainly deserve a little enjoyment and fun now that
the weekend's here so there's nothing wrong with going out and
having a few drinks with your friends, right?
Anyway, like always, tomorrow is a workout day and since you
exercise regularly and take care of yourself a little alcohol
won't hurt anything along the way, right? Well, before you head
out to the local pub, here are a few things to consider in
making your choice of just how much you really want to drink.
Studies have shown that small amounts of alcohol increase
muscular endurance and strength output, but, these benefits are
very short lived. After around twenty or so minutes, the
problems start. All the negative side affects of alcohol fully
outweigh any possible benefits it can have to anyone. Alcohol
is a toxin (poison) and so a whole host of physical
abnormalities can arise.
These can reduce your strength, endurance, recovery
capabilities, aerobic capacity, ability to metabolize fat and
muscle growth. Alcohol can also affect your nervous system and
brain. Long term use can cause severe deterioration of your
central nervous system. With short term use, nerve-muscle
interaction can be reduced resulting in a loss of strength.
When alcohol reaches the muscle cells, it can cause damage to
them. Inflammation of the muscle cells is common among alcohol
users. Over the long term, some of these damaged cells can die
resulting in less functional muscle contractions. Alcohol will
also leave you with more muscle soreness after exercise making
recuperation periods longer.
Alcohol has many affects on your heart and circulatory system
as well. You may see a reduction in your endurance capacities
when you drink alcohol. When drinking alcohol, your heat loss
increases, because alcohol stimulates your blood vessels to
dilate. This heat loss can cause your muscles to get cold thus
becoming slower and weaker during contractions.
Alcohol can cause digestive and nutritional problems as well.
Alcohol causes a release of insulin that will increase the
metabolism of glycogen, thereby sparing fat making fat loss
more difficult. Because alcohol also can interfere with the
absorption of many nutrients, you can become anemic and
deficient in the B vitamins. Since your liver is the organ that
detoxifies alcohol, the more you drink, the harder you liver has
to work and the extra stress can damage and even destroy some
liver cells.
Alcohol is also diuretic so large amounts can put a lot of
extra stress on your kidneys. During diuretic action, ant
diuretic hormones are secreted. This can result in heightened
water retention and no one who exercises wants that to happen.
Alcohol, although having no nutritional value, also has seven
calories per gram so excess consumption can lead to weight gain
as well.
If you must consume alcohol, do so in moderation and never
consume alcohol right before exercise as this will impair your
balance, coordination and judgment. Remember this, if you've
taken the time to make the effort to improve your physical
conditioning and your overall health, why take major steps
backwards and impede you improvements by excess consumption of
alcohol?
About The Author: Jim O'Neill gives you tons of valuable
information on the subjects of weight loss, fitness, and
nutrition to make it easy for you to live a healthy lifestyle.
Sign up now for his free 7 part mini e-course at:
http://www.mrgymfitness.com/minicourse.php
thinking about going out later and having a few drinks with
your friends and relaxing. After all, you worked hard all week
and you certainly deserve a little enjoyment and fun now that
the weekend's here so there's nothing wrong with going out and
having a few drinks with your friends, right?
Anyway, like always, tomorrow is a workout day and since you
exercise regularly and take care of yourself a little alcohol
won't hurt anything along the way, right? Well, before you head
out to the local pub, here are a few things to consider in
making your choice of just how much you really want to drink.
Studies have shown that small amounts of alcohol increase
muscular endurance and strength output, but, these benefits are
very short lived. After around twenty or so minutes, the
problems start. All the negative side affects of alcohol fully
outweigh any possible benefits it can have to anyone. Alcohol
is a toxin (poison) and so a whole host of physical
abnormalities can arise.
These can reduce your strength, endurance, recovery
capabilities, aerobic capacity, ability to metabolize fat and
muscle growth. Alcohol can also affect your nervous system and
brain. Long term use can cause severe deterioration of your
central nervous system. With short term use, nerve-muscle
interaction can be reduced resulting in a loss of strength.
When alcohol reaches the muscle cells, it can cause damage to
them. Inflammation of the muscle cells is common among alcohol
users. Over the long term, some of these damaged cells can die
resulting in less functional muscle contractions. Alcohol will
also leave you with more muscle soreness after exercise making
recuperation periods longer.
Alcohol has many affects on your heart and circulatory system
as well. You may see a reduction in your endurance capacities
when you drink alcohol. When drinking alcohol, your heat loss
increases, because alcohol stimulates your blood vessels to
dilate. This heat loss can cause your muscles to get cold thus
becoming slower and weaker during contractions.
Alcohol can cause digestive and nutritional problems as well.
Alcohol causes a release of insulin that will increase the
metabolism of glycogen, thereby sparing fat making fat loss
more difficult. Because alcohol also can interfere with the
absorption of many nutrients, you can become anemic and
deficient in the B vitamins. Since your liver is the organ that
detoxifies alcohol, the more you drink, the harder you liver has
to work and the extra stress can damage and even destroy some
liver cells.
Alcohol is also diuretic so large amounts can put a lot of
extra stress on your kidneys. During diuretic action, ant
diuretic hormones are secreted. This can result in heightened
water retention and no one who exercises wants that to happen.
Alcohol, although having no nutritional value, also has seven
calories per gram so excess consumption can lead to weight gain
as well.
If you must consume alcohol, do so in moderation and never
consume alcohol right before exercise as this will impair your
balance, coordination and judgment. Remember this, if you've
taken the time to make the effort to improve your physical
conditioning and your overall health, why take major steps
backwards and impede you improvements by excess consumption of
alcohol?
About The Author: Jim O'Neill gives you tons of valuable
information on the subjects of weight loss, fitness, and
nutrition to make it easy for you to live a healthy lifestyle.
Sign up now for his free 7 part mini e-course at:
http://www.mrgymfitness.com/minicourse.php
