Effects of Alcohol on the body

So, I was going to do a post about the worst side dishes you can come across, but then my eyes landed on an article posted by Women's Health explaining the side effects of alcohol on the body. I am a frequent reader of Women's Health and subscriber, it's a great magazine and provides quick and simple work outs that are fat blasting and fun, not just monotonous. anyway.


Very interesting.

Effect's of alcohol:

1. Slower Recovery :(
Hard workouts definitely drain glycogen, or carbs stored in your liver and muscles, leaving them in repair mode. Drinking after a workout slows the recovery of your body; snack on a peanut butter on whole wheat crackers to get some carbs that repair your muscles in your body before hand.

2. Alcohol and fat: your body ends up having to focus on processing the alcohol. Alcohol also breaks down the amino acids and ends up storing them as fat. Then your body doesn't focus on burning those carbs and fat.

3. Sleep deprivation: (to put it lightly)
More so than in men, women's sleep is disrupted, especially in the second half of the night, according to WomensHealth.com. Women are more likely to wake up and get 30 minutes less sleep than if they didn't consume alcohol. It can stunt the human growth hormone output, which builds muscle up to as much as 70 percent.

4. Depletion of H2O and nutrients: 
ahh yes, stomach lining is irritated by alcohol. Your hangovers signal that your are severely dehydrated. That lining thats annoyed, it decreases the absorption of nutrients. not good. That's why your stomach hurts after you drink too much, plus it makes you use the bathroom, good bye nutrients.

Energy drinks and alcohol

(Media Credit: Sean Nakamura, Kapi'o Photographer)

Those of you out there who like to mix your alcohol and energy drinks (i.e. Red Bull and if youʻre an athlete), it may be best if you think twice...


CNN reported in an article that athletes who mixed alcohol and energy drinks consumed more than those who drank alcohol by itself. Information from a survey done by Oklahoma State and University of Missouri stated that those including energy drinks in their alcohol increases risk-taking.

The caffeine in the energy drinks mixed with alcohol makes the consumer get more intoxicated. Also, the researchers included that drinking a stimulant and or depressant confuses body signals and it doesn't know what to do.

The study also reports that when too much of these cocktails are drunk, it can cause health problems. It can affect motivation, concentration, mood and or mental problems.

I would think that anything creating health problems regarding the brain is pretty intense and should create some sort of impact on those mixing drinks.

The brain is also still developing under 25 years old. By exposing the body to this mixture, it leads way to anxiety and depression problems in the not to far future.