top of page
Search

Alcohol: Noone's Ally


Even though some studies suggest that alcohol consumption can provide positive effects; Heavy Alcohol Use (including binge drinking) has no health benefits and could develop into Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder if left untreated. 


Read further on how drinking can impact your health, wellness, and fitness plus the guidelines to go by!



Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) refers to someone who is addicted to alcohol and consistently and uncontrollably engages in problem drinking. Also known as alcoholism.



Problem Drinking refers to patterns of alcohol consumption that negatively impact the individual and their relationships, or leads to consequences such as arrests for DUIs. Problem drinking is also known as “alcohol abuse” or “alcohol misuse and can be recognized by Heavy Drinking or Binge Drinking.



Heavy Drinking can be defined as

  • Women consuming 7 drinks a week (or more than 3 drinks on a single day)

  • Men consuming 14 drinks in a week (or more than 4 drinks on a single day)



Binge Drinking is characterized by 

  • Women consuming 4 or more drinks within a 2-hour window 

  • Men consuming 5 or more drinks within a 2-hour window


Risk Reduction

2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

  • Choose not to drink.

  • Women should limit intake to 1 drink or less per day.

  • Men should limit intake to 2 drinks or less per day.



CDC Dietary Guidelines suggest that “1 drink” is equivalent to:

  • 12 ounces of beer

  • 5 ounces of wine

  • 1.5 ounces (~1 shot) of 80-proof distilled spirits/ liquor



The risk of harm increases with the amount of alcohol consumed 

Some conditions, like some cancers, have an increased risk even at very low levels of alcohol consumption. Short-term and long-term health risks of alcohol consumption and/or misuse can include motor vehicle crashes, violence, sexual risk behaviors, high blood pressure, and various cancers (e.g breast cancer).



Some risks of excessive drinking includes

  • Heart muscle damage

  • High blood pressure

  • Certain cancers

  • Liver disease

  • Pancreatitis

  • Stroke

  • Alcohol addiction and other mental health issues.



Alcohol's Negative Effects on Fitness

  • Slows protein synthesis (muscle recovery)

  • Decreases the use of glucose and amino acids (muscular function)

  • Decreases testosterone production (vital for both males and females)

  • Slows the metabolism (impairs the body's ability to create energy & burn fat)

  • Altered cellular function can impair muscular contraction (strength and/or endurance)

  • Altered sleep cycles (disrupts sleep cycles leading to poor rest, recovery, and immune function)



Alcoholics Anonymous "AA" Resources

https://www.aa.org/pages/en_us/find-local-aa - “Find Local A.A Meetings Near You”. As stated in the website link; the AA.org site does not contain a “meeting finder”. However, you can contact an A.A. resource in your area/ state who can help direct you to a meeting list near your location and in surrounding areas.

Comentários

bottom of page