You’ve had a mind-blowing workout, the fourth of the week. Your nutrition has been on point and you’ve even been drinking more water. But now it’s Friday night. The boy’s are about to hit the town and you don’t want to miss out. You know that you’re going to drink too much alcohol – and probably eat a bit of junk in the process. But, with all of your hard work, you can afford to let loose with a Friday night booze up – can’t you?
Alcohol Alert
Alcohol is otherwise known as ethanol. It provides 7 calories per gram. Most of us are well aware of the serious risks associated with alcohol. It is one of the most abused drugs worldwide and is responsible for 1 in 20 deaths in the United States. While a minimum amount of alcohol can actually combat cardiovascular disease due to the presence of such nutrients as polyphenols, the benefits quickly disappear when the amount consumed increases.
Alcohol and Working Out
Historically, some athletes thought alcohol improved their exercise performance. It is now recognized, however, that alcohol can severely reduce the quality and intensity of the performance. Alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant. It affects the central nervous system, including the brain. As a result, movement, coordination, concentration, balance and reaction time are all impaired.
Fitness Disclaimer *
This website offers health, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis treatment. This website does not promise any specific results, as each individual responds differently to training. The author of this article is not a medical professional. We have volunteers in our organization from different aspects of health, nutrition, and fitness. Not just modern medicine doctors and physicians, but yoga teachers, spiritual teachers, martial arts teachers, and energy healers and we use all those resources to be able to provide the best and most proper advice to people around all walks of life. We do not have a defined goal, we only have a mission to help as many people as we can.