One Friday evening after work you decide to go out for a few drinks with some friends to chill and relax.
Though it seems like a good idea, there's some thing you might want to consider first. Like your obligation to stay in shape and rid yourself of anything that may deter you from that.Or the effects of alcohol on the body.
You think because you've been exercising regularly that a few drinks won't do any harm, right? Well not so fast...there's a few things that you may want to consider first!Research has proven alcohol consumption can increase short stints of increased muscular endurance, followed by negative side effects after a window of 20 minutes or so. Trust me the negative side effects far outweigh any possible benefits when it comes to the short term effects of alcohol. So think about whats most important and put that drink down...now! But on a serious note, alcohol can really do you bodily harm if your not careful. Intoxicants can reduce your muscle strength, endurance, aerobic capability, recovery time, ability to metabolize fat, and even alter your muscles ability to grow.
This is bad news for anyone focused on getting in shape. Now you see why this should raise some concerns.These are some serious health risk that we're talking about here! Worst case scenario, your nervous system along with parts of your brain become damaged. Severe deterioration can also take place as a result of long term abuse.While also causing short term damage, such as nerve and muscle interaction that effects muscle strength. I know what your thinking...more bad news, right? Well unfortunately, these are the facts!
If your going to drink you should be aware of the negative effects of alcohol and the potential harm it can cause. Because once it reaches your blood cells,it can and probably will damage them. Leading to a list of ailments such as inflammation of muscle cells and soreness.Which prolongs the time it takes for your body to recover from exercising just in case you were wondering.Which really sucks if your trying to those guns ready for the beach this summer. Not to mention the different effects that alcohol has on your heart and circulatory system. Like shortness of breath along with mild chest pains, and loss of body heatfrom the dilation of blood vessels. This loss of heat can cause your muscles to become slow, weak, and cold.
Effecting the way your muscles normally contract. The exact opposite of how you want your muscles to perform.
I mean really, isn't the whole point of exercising to get stronger and live a long healthy life? It was the last time I checked. And how are you supposed to do that with digestive and nutritional problems from alcohol use? Oh, you had no idea? Well alcohol causes a release of insulin that increases the metabolism of glycogen, which spares fat loss making it harder to lose weight. Due to alcoholic drinks interfering with the absorption of several important nutrients, you can also become anemic and vitamin B deficient. Liver damage is also a common side effect of alcoholism. Since your liver is the organ that detoxifies your body,it has to work overtime each time you drink.
Subsequently, alcohol is diuretic. Which in large amounts puts a lot of stress on your kidneys. During this time hormones are secreted leading to an unwanted increase in water retention. Making you feel heavy and bloated. Which I'm sure you don't want to experience if your trying to lose weight. So if you must drink alcohol, do so in moderation. But never before you exercise or operate a motor vehicle of course. As we all know this will impair your balance, coordination, and judgement. Think about your health and what you want to accomplish by exercising-and I'm sure you'll see things from a different perspective.
