The Effects of long term alcohol use.
lets face it, we all love a drink at the weekend or after a hard day at the office, but when training, alcohol can have a number of negative side effects on teh body & mind.
Studies do suggest that, one pint of beer a day is good for heart function, and drinking in the RDA will not have too much of a damaging effect on the body, although when we drink to access or binge on the weekend, we are doing untold damage, that is unchecked can lead to liver & kidney problems, dependency and not to forget, an ever-expanding waist line.
Muscle Effects of alcohol.
Drinking alcohol may also lead to muscle weakness, due in part to the inflammatory and dehydration effects of alcohol consumption.
On average a pint of beer contains 180 calories, these calories are also known as empty calories as they contain little to no nutritional value and the body will convert to body fat.
Alcohol reduces blood flow to the muscles, causing weakness and deterioration, but also causes imbalances to hormones that can lead to a reduction in testosterone and increase estrogen levels in the blood (Pal Ale is especially bad for this)
Digestive System & Liver damage.
excessive alcohol consumption can cause abnormalities of the digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas. Buildup of these enzymes can lead to inflammation known as pancreatitis, another serious side effect of alcohol on the digestive system is inflamed Gallbladder (Cholecystitis) then the gallbladder ceases to function correctly, the liver goes into overdrive and rapidly expands to deal with the demand of alcohol consumption.
Long-term alcohol use interferes with the normal running functions of the liver It also increases your risk for chronic liver inflammation and liver disease. The scarring caused by this inflammation is known as cirrhosis.
Liver disease is life-threatening if untreated and leads to toxins and waste buildup in your body, putting straight on other vital organs.
Further reading:
Case study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257708/
