An article about the health impacts of alcohol seems apropos at this time of year.
Alcohol is often a part of many holiday celebrations.
However, we know it can also be dangerous in many ways as well.
For one, it can drastically affect our physical health, particularly targeting the cardiovascular system, and causing decreased blood circulation.
This can affect our efforts to get healthy in the New Year - such as working out and exercising - and cause all our 'resolutions' to backfire on us.
The article below is excerpted from Men's Health, U.K. While directed to men in particular, the advice readily applies to both men and women:
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No escape
"You may think you can sling back the pints in your local pub on a Friday night and blast through your workout the next day with no problems at all. But you'd be wrong...
Cortisol increase
Your body notices when there's alcohol coursing through your system – even if you don't. An increase in cortisol upsets hormone balance in both men and women.
'Alcohol negatively affects the body's ability to train and, in particular, to recover from exercise,' says Iain Fletcher, senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at the University of Bedfordshire and accredited strength and conditioning coach with the British Olympic Association.
'With alcohol consumption the body will increase cortisol production causing a shift in the cortisol balance towards muscle breakdown rather then muscle building.'
If your training goal is to build muscle then, no matter how fine you feel, boozing the night before severely compromises your ability to make decent gains.
Fear the beer
Explains Ray Klerck, Men's Health's fitness adviser, 'If you suck back litres of booze – especially beers – you're imbibing lots of calories, which will make losing the lard a lot tougher,' he says.
This is offset by training to some degree – but if you gain fat easily then drinking is going to hurt your physique.
Naturally skinnier people might get off a little lighter after having a few ales, but no one is spared.
'If you're really serious about looking your best then cut the booze because you simply won't be as fit and strong,' says Klerck."
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I heartily agree. It's best to just 'cut the booze' altogether - for SO many reasons:
God bless, and Good health. :)
Alcohol is often a part of many holiday celebrations.
However, we know it can also be dangerous in many ways as well.
For one, it can drastically affect our physical health, particularly targeting the cardiovascular system, and causing decreased blood circulation.
This can affect our efforts to get healthy in the New Year - such as working out and exercising - and cause all our 'resolutions' to backfire on us.
The article below is excerpted from Men's Health, U.K. While directed to men in particular, the advice readily applies to both men and women:
**************
No escape
"You may think you can sling back the pints in your local pub on a Friday night and blast through your workout the next day with no problems at all. But you'd be wrong...
Cortisol increase
Your body notices when there's alcohol coursing through your system – even if you don't. An increase in cortisol upsets hormone balance in both men and women.
'Alcohol negatively affects the body's ability to train and, in particular, to recover from exercise,' says Iain Fletcher, senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at the University of Bedfordshire and accredited strength and conditioning coach with the British Olympic Association.
'With alcohol consumption the body will increase cortisol production causing a shift in the cortisol balance towards muscle breakdown rather then muscle building.'
If your training goal is to build muscle then, no matter how fine you feel, boozing the night before severely compromises your ability to make decent gains.
Fear the beer
Explains Ray Klerck, Men's Health's fitness adviser, 'If you suck back litres of booze – especially beers – you're imbibing lots of calories, which will make losing the lard a lot tougher,' he says.
This is offset by training to some degree – but if you gain fat easily then drinking is going to hurt your physique.
Naturally skinnier people might get off a little lighter after having a few ales, but no one is spared.
'If you're really serious about looking your best then cut the booze because you simply won't be as fit and strong,' says Klerck."
*************
I heartily agree. It's best to just 'cut the booze' altogether - for SO many reasons:
- Alcohol affects performance.
- Alcohol dehydrates the body.
- Alcohol impairs coordination.
- Alcohol impairs judgment.
- Alcohol creates inflammation.
- Alcohol slows the heart rate.
- Alcohol affects circulation & breathing.
- Alcohol causes you to gain excess weight.
God bless, and Good health. :)
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