Alcohol has been implicated as a factor that may hurt your efforts to lose body fat. Whether alcohol is "fattening" has been a very controversial subject because technically speaking, alcohol is NOT stored as fat; it is oxidized ahead of other fuels.
Whether moderate drinking is healthy has also been a subject of controversy. Many studies show that cardiovascular health benefits are associated with moderate beer or wine drinking (which has been of particular interest lately with reservatrol in the news so much), while other studies show improved insulin sensitivity. Some experts however, say that alcohol has no place in a fitness lifestyle.
A recent study published in the journal Obesity adds new findings to our knowledge about alcohol, insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. Analysis of the results as compared to other studies also gives us some insights into why some people seem to drink and get fat while others seem to drink and get thin!
One of the most common questions that professional bodybuilders are asked from newbie bodybuilders everywhere is....
"Is it true that alcohol can impact my bodybuilding diet goals and muscle-building?"
The answer is yes; alcohol will destroy the best body building diet goals and will ultimately have an effect on your bodybuilding outcomes. Alcohol is a drug, and it causes more harm than you can imagine; therefore, it will definitely affect your progress.
If you have big body building diet goals and wait for big muscle gains, you need to know the 5 ways in which drinking will impact your performance and your outcomes. This is not an anti-drug speech, but it is important for you to know the 5 ways that alcohol impacts bodybuilding diet goals and muscle gain....
1) It damages protein synthesis.
To create complete proteins,amino acids have to come together in a course known as protein synthesis. Your muscles are made up of protein, so you must keep the protein coming, but drinking to excess decreases protein synthesis by a whopping 20%.
2) It increases estrogen levels and reduces testosterone. levels.
Testosterone is the major hormone necessary to produce muscles. In fact, your muscular evolution is mainly based on how much testosterone you have revolving.
3) Your body will get dehydrated.
Your kidneys have to do a lot of exertion and use a lot of water to break down the alcohol, the end result being dehydration. Water is critical for the process of muscle building. The water amount in your muscles is as high as 70%.
4) Your body is depleted of vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins A, C, and the Bs as well as zinc, calcium, and phosphorus are all quickly depleted from the body when you drink alcohol. Your body depends on vitamins and minerals to keep every part of your body working properly; most of these processes aid your muscle growth and maintenance.
5) Your body will store more fat.
Look at it this way: alcohol has an incredible 7 empty calories per gram, and that is a lot of extra fat you will be storing. Alcohol also considerably disrupts the Kreb's Cycle, which plays a key role in fat burning.
You need to have fun in life, but that fun should not come at the expense of your good health. Being mindful of your alcohol intake can make a huge difference in achieving your goals with muscle growth and your bodybuilding diet plans.
Having a drink here and there should not hurt, but if you drink every weekend, you may as well kiss your bodybuilding diet plans and muscle building goals goodbye!
Consume plenty of water, eat a protein rich meal before you even think about partying, and nourish yourself with vitamins and minerals.
Be sure to go out and have a good time once in a while; just bear in mind the muscle building goals you are trying to achieve. Keep drinking nights down to once a month and take the steps to decrease the after effects by taking necessary precautions.
If you control what you are doing to your body, it is still totally possible to have a great physique and an enjoyable social life.

