As the weekend has come and gone, Premier Strength would like to remind you to think before you drink. Alcohol has an extremely negative effect on the training gains that you can make at the gym. Long-term alcohol effects can permanently diminish protein synthesis and even short-term alcohol use can impede muscle growth by reducing testosterone production. Research has found that even two drinks per day can lower your output of testosterone, a key ingredient in muscle and strength growth. Alcohol also dehydrates your body, which can slow down the body’s capabilities to heal from training stress. Your body cannot utilize alcohol and therefore must break it down first before any other macronutrients such as carbohydrates, fat and protein. Muscle recovery is also impaired from alcohol. Your body secretes natural HGH or human growth hormone, that works to build muscle and repair damaged tissue. Studies have found that alcohol can decrease HGH by as much as 70%! That means the muscle fibres you damaged during training are going to take longer to recover post workout. Once alcohol is absorbed through your bloodstream, it can disrupt the water balance within your cells, which impedes the body’s ability to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main source of energy for all bodily functions. Alcohol constricts your aerobic metabolism, which can have a negative effect on aerobic endurance. Alcoholic beverages have very little nutritional value that help to fuel an athlete as well as inhibits the absorption of vital nutrients such as vitamin b12, an important nutrient that provides energy.
So make sure you think before you drink next weekend!