Muscle building and alcohol: is alcohol bad for building muscle?

A common problem that many men find themselves pondering while trying to build muscle is whether occasional drinking can be part of this equation.

So what is the answer to this? Can you really have a beer and still have no problem gaining muscle mass or should you avoid alcohol altogether when on a strict weight training program?

Here are some things to consider when evaluating this problem.

Synthesis of alcohol and proteins

One of the biggest problems that occurs when you consume alcohol while trying to build muscle is the effect it has on protein synthesis. Since you must be able to optimally build muscle tissue by rebuilding individual muscle tissues, anything that disrupts protein synthesis will be less than favorable.

Drinking more than a few drinks a day will slow this process by 20% or more, so in theory you can expect your earnings to decrease by 20% or more.

Alcohol and your hormones

There is no doubt that the hormones present in your body play an important role when it comes to how much muscle you can gain.

After drinking alcohol, you will not only see an increase in estrogen, which for men is definitely not ideal, but it will also cause a decrease in free-flowing testosterone levels.

Since testosterone is the main anabolic hormone in the body, when it is hampered, muscle gain is also hampered.

Alcohol and hydration

The third problem with drinking alcohol is the effects it has on your hydration status. Hydration can seriously affect your ability to exercise, as well as making you feel hungrier than you should.

Because alcohol acts as a diuretic in the body, it is essential that it only accelerates dehydration.

This factor can be overcome if you are sure to increase your water amount corresponding to the amount of alcohol you consume, but most of the time this step is not taken.

Also, the more water flows through the body, the better the nutrients will be delivered to the repairing muscle tissues. Since alcohol lowers your total body water content, this means fewer opportunities for your muscles to get the building blocks they need.

Alcohol and body fat levels

Finally, the last problem surrounding alcohol consumption and muscle building is its effects on overall fat mass.

While you need to consume more calories than you need to actively gain muscle tissue, you will accumulate too many calories and fat mass. Because alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, it is quite easy to overdo it in this department as you begin to see fat accumulate around the abdominal region.

So the next time you go out for a night where you plan to consume numerous alcoholic beverages, keep these factors in mind.

If you’re not looking to compete in a professional bodybuilding competition or something like that, an occasional drink shouldn’t be too damaging, but if you’re looking to achieve maximum success from your workouts, it’s best to avoid drinking as much as you do. may.