The Caribbean Premier League (CPL), dubbed the ‘Biggest Party in Sport,’ has returned to Guyana with much pomp and fanfare.
It is safe to say that Guyana is a cricket crazy nation, we love our cricket team, the Amazon Warriors and also our award-winning alcoholic beverages. Scores of fans have therefore witnessed the euphoria at the National Stadium with an alcoholic beverage in hand. The occasional social drink is okay, but it’s easy to drink a little too much a little too often and perhaps sabotage your fitness goals.
So, how much is enough and how much is too much and would inhibit your fitness goals?
Health experts advise that women only have only one alcoholic drink per day and for men, no more than two. Simply enjoying a drink as a reward and cheat option for completing a goal or solid workout may very well turn into consuming more than two.
Not everything is bad with regard to alcohol consumption. Analysis has also revealed some positive health advantages associated with consuming alcohol moderately, like increasing the good cholesterol levels (HDL), reducing stress, and insulin resistance. However, overall, it has been proven that the negatives of alcohol consumption exceed the positives.
It boils down to making the best-informed choice about alcohol consumption and your fitness goals, taking into account alcohol’s effects on muscles. Analysis of alcohol and muscle recovery revealed that too much alcohol consumption can cause significant setbacks in gaining muscle and accomplishing fitness goals. Studies have shown that alcohol consumption reduces muscle protein synthesis (MPS), which lowers the possibility of gaining muscle.
It has also been revealed that alcohol negatively modifies hormone levels and decreases the body’s metabolism, meaning the capability to decrease body fat becomes delayed. There’s also the problem with some who just can’t drink alcohol in moderation.
Implementing the standard suggested guidelines of consuming no more than one alcoholic beverage for women and two for men should not affect fitness levels and muscle growth. Drinking too much, though, is extremely unhealthy and dangerous.
Getting into shape and growing muscle do not imply completely eliminating alcohol; it only means you should continuously make healthy choices. As alcohol affects your muscles, this makes burning fat and building lean mass more challenging, and superior nutrient intake is crucial. In addition, since we know that alcohol has zero nutrient value, consuming a drink or two occasionally and moderately would be the only way to do so sensibly.
You might not overwhelm yourself with optimal fitness gains, but restricting your alcohol consumption intake is crucial to avoiding alcoholism and living a healthy, happy life. We can still enjoy ‘The Biggest Party in Sports’ while drinking moderately. Go Warriors!
