The Effects Of Alcohol
Although small amounts of alcohol have been shown to increase muscular endurance and strength output, these benefits are very short-lived. After approximately twenty minutes, problems begin to occur.
The numerous negative side effects of alcohol undoubtedly outweigh its possible benefits to anyone. Since alcohol is a toxin (poison), a host of physical abnormalities can arise. These abnormalities 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. With long-term alcohol use, a severe deterioration of your central nervous system is possible. With short-term use, nerve-muscle interaction can be reduced, resulting in a loss of strength.
Other dangerous effects include reduced eye-hand coordination and balance, longer periods required for recovery, and less efficient healing of injuries. Alcohol has been responsible for a number of sexual dysfunctions including loss of libido, reduced sperm formation, menstrual irregularities, and shrinkage of sexual organs.
When alcohol reaches the muscle cells, it can cause damage to them. An inflammation of the muscle cells is common among alcohol users. When alcohol consumption is practiced for a long time, some of these damaged cells can die, resulting in less functional muscle contractions. In any event, the alcohol will leave you with more muscle soreness following training, thereby requiring additional time for recuperation.
Alcohol???s effects on the heart and circulatory systems are numerous. You can experience a reduction in your endurance capacities when you drink alcohol, especially in large quantities. When consuming alcoholic beverages your heat loss increases, because alcohol stimulates your blood vessels to dilate. This heat loss can cause your muscles to get cold and, as a result, become slower and weaker during contractions.
In addition, alcohol can cause several gastric, digestive and nutritional irregularities. This drug causes a release of insulin that will in turn increase the metabolism of glycogen, thereby sparing fat, resulting in more difficult fat loss. Since alcohol consumption can interfere with the absorption of many nutrients, it is possible to become anemic, and deficient in the B vitamins.
Because your liver is the organ that detoxifies alcohol, the more alcohol you consume, the harder your liver has to work. This additional stress on your liver can damage and even destroy some liver cells.
Since alcohol acts as a diuretic, large amounts of alcohol can place undue stress on your kidneys. With a diuretic action, large amounts of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) are secreted. This can result in elevated water retention, something no athlete can afford to have happen.
Alcohol is not advisable for athletes. Its effects on strength, reaction time, skill and heart function are less than desirable. In fact, alcohol is not a nutritional source of energy, even though it contains seven calories per gram. Alcohol???s potential for causing mental deterioration is great, with numerous physiological abnormalities very possible.
Although small amounts of alcohol have been shown to increase muscular endurance and strength output, these benefits are very short-lived. After approximately twenty minutes, problems begin to occur.
The numerous negative side effects of alcohol undoubtedly outweigh its possible benefits to anyone. Since alcohol is a toxin (poison), a host of physical abnormalities can arise. These abnormalities 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. With long-term alcohol use, a severe deterioration of your central nervous system is possible. With short-term use, nerve-muscle interaction can be reduced, resulting in a loss of strength.
Other dangerous effects include reduced eye-hand coordination and balance, longer periods required for recovery, and less efficient healing of injuries. Alcohol has been responsible for a number of sexual dysfunctions including loss of libido, reduced sperm formation, menstrual irregularities, and shrinkage of sexual organs.
When alcohol reaches the muscle cells, it can cause damage to them. An inflammation of the muscle cells is common among alcohol users. When alcohol consumption is practiced for a long time, some of these damaged cells can die, resulting in less functional muscle contractions. In any event, the alcohol will leave you with more muscle soreness following training, thereby requiring additional time for recuperation.
Alcohol???s effects on the heart and circulatory systems are numerous. You can experience a reduction in your endurance capacities when you drink alcohol, especially in large quantities. When consuming alcoholic beverages your heat loss increases, because alcohol stimulates your blood vessels to dilate. This heat loss can cause your muscles to get cold and, as a result, become slower and weaker during contractions.
In addition, alcohol can cause several gastric, digestive and nutritional irregularities. This drug causes a release of insulin that will in turn increase the metabolism of glycogen, thereby sparing fat, resulting in more difficult fat loss. Since alcohol consumption can interfere with the absorption of many nutrients, it is possible to become anemic, and deficient in the B vitamins.
Because your liver is the organ that detoxifies alcohol, the more alcohol you consume, the harder your liver has to work. This additional stress on your liver can damage and even destroy some liver cells.
Since alcohol acts as a diuretic, large amounts of alcohol can place undue stress on your kidneys. With a diuretic action, large amounts of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) are secreted. This can result in elevated water retention, something no athlete can afford to have happen.
Alcohol is not advisable for athletes. Its effects on strength, reaction time, skill and heart function are less than desirable. In fact, alcohol is not a nutritional source of energy, even though it contains seven calories per gram. Alcohol???s potential for causing mental deterioration is great, with numerous physiological abnormalities very possible.
