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5 Reasons Why Alcohol Will Destroy Your Process In The Gym
Many bodybuilders wonder if consuming alcohol will have negative affects on the muscle growth process. The simple answer is yes, drinking alcohol does in fact have a negative impact on your muscle building results. Alcohol is far more harmful to your physique than most people believe, and it is very important to understand how this substance can affect your progress in the gym. If your serious about creating a truly impressive physique, you should consider the 5 main ways that alcohol consumption is slowing down your muscle gains.
1. Alcohol has negative affects on protein synthesis.
Protein synthesis is the creation of new muscle tissue by joining together amino acids to make complete proteins. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages slows protein synthesis up to %20, meaning less muscle building after long trenuous workouts.
2) Lowers the male hormone, testosterone, and increases the female hormone, estrogen.
Testosterone is one of the main muscle building hormones in the body. One of the limiting factors that determines how much muscle you can build naturally is the level of free testosterone in your blood stream.
3) Alcohol causes severe dehydration.
By consuming large amounts of alcohol, you force your kidneys to filter large amounts of water in order to break down the alcohol, this leads to increased urination and less fluids retained by the body. Water plays a crucial role in the formation and maintance of muscle tissue, keep in mind that water makes up %70 of muscle cells.
4) Alcohol depletes the body of vital minerals and vitamins.
As a result drinking large quantities of alcohol, you force your body to exhaust vital minerals and vitamins such as vitamins A/B/C, calcium, zinc, and phosphorus. These substances maintain cell function and without them, your body will not be able work at optimal levels.
5) Alcohol can make you fat.
Alcohol contains completely empty calories, meaning their is no nutritional value. With 7 calories per gram, it can be quite fattening. Alcohol also interfers with the Kreb Cycle, which breaks down fat by the process of lipolysis to give your body energy.
Life is short so have fun, but keep alcohol consumption moderate. If you are serious about building an outstanding physique abstain from drinking alcohol regularly. Having a couple with the friends every couple weeks is fine, but binge drinking will absolutely ruin your progress in the gym.
If you do decide to go out and drink with friends, make sure to hydrate yourself before hand and do not snack on empty calories.
I don’t recommend never going out and having a good time with friends, but if you do drink occasionally, make sure it does not ruin your prior weeks worth of training.
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