ALCOHOL’S EFFECT ON WEIGHT LOSS – THE REST OF THE STORY

We’ve been through far too many fads regarding alcohol and weight loss. First it was light beer over regular beer to reduce the calories. Then carbs were the ones to blame. So, we all started drinking liquor and diet soda. All the calories were still there, but no carbs. Then, we heard grains were bad for us, so now we have to choose liquor made from plants and not grains. This pretty much leaves us with tequila, and some people will also claim dry wine falls into the Paleo category. Well, no matter what theory you buy into or which drink you choose, they all have one thing in common – alcohol! It is the one reason we drink these beverages and drive ourselves crazy trying to find the perfect concoction that will allow us to lose weight and stay fit. What none of these fads or diets reveal is the effect of alcohol on weight loss.
This article lays it all out there for you. It outlines the effects of alcohol on metabolism, appetite, testosterone, your body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

Alcohol and Metabolism:
Recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that fat metabolism can be reduced by as much as 73% after only two drinks of vodka and lemonade in a one hour time period. What this tells us is that the primary effect of alcohol on the body is not so much how most of it gets stored as fat, but how it shuts down the body’s ability to access your fat stores for energy.
Alcohol in the body is converted into a substance called acetate. In the previous mentioned study, blood levels of acetate were 2.5 times higher than normal after only two drinks. And it appears that this sharp rise in blood acetate puts the brakes on fat burning.
Unlike a car that uses primarily one source of fuel, the body is able to draw from a number of different sources (carbohydrates, fats and proteins). To a certain extent, the source of fuel your body uses is dictated by its availability. Consequently, when your blood acetate levels rise, your body simply uses more acetate instead of fat.
Your liver can’t metabolize alcohol and fat at the same time. It will always get rid of the toxic substance (alcohol) first. That means that as long as there’s alcohol in your system you won’t be burning any body fat. If you have one or two drinks, you might stall your fat loss for a few hours. If you have quite a few drinks, it might be as long as four days before you’re metabolizing fat again.

Alcohol and Appetite:
One fairly well-known fact is that alcohol also increases appetite. So the combination of alcohol and a high-calorie meal or snacking is especially fattening. In fact, studies show that the more you drink the more you tend to eat. Now combine this fact with the information presented above on alcohol’s effect on metabolism. Consuming just two drinks in an hour will leave your liver struggling to convert the alcohol into acetate, which means that other foods are more easily converted into fat.

Alcohol and Testosterone Levels:
Not only does alcohol put the brakes on fat burning, it’s also one of the most effective ways to slash your testosterone levels. Just a single bout of heavy drinking raises levels of the muscle-wasting hormone cortisol and increases the breakdown of testosterone for up to 24 hours. The damaging effects of alcohol on testosterone are made even worse when you exercise before drinking. Now, think of how many times you have rewarded yourself for a solid workout with a few drinks, or how often the gang has gone out for wings and beer after a good workout.
Alcohol and Nutrient Deficiency
As previously mentioned, too much alcohol prevents fat burning and reduces your testosterone levels, but it also can affect the body’s ability to break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats. So, even if the food you are consuming while drinking is nutrient rich, or “Paleo”, the alcohol prevents your body from breaking it down and absorbing it effectively. Too much alcohol in the blood can also lead to a deficiency in Vitamins B1, B2 & B3, as well as magnesium and zinc. These nutrient deficiencies can eventually cause weakening of the heart muscles, poor skin, arthritis and prostate gland disorder.

The Bottom Line:
While an occasional drink or two every now and then is not going to affect the body negatively, daily consumption, or excessive drinking bouts will not only put the brakes on your fat loss efforts, it will also prevent you from building muscle tissue. The bottom line is that alcohol and a leaner, stronger body just doesn’t mix. Get over the hype that mixing tequila, soda water and agave nectar somehow negates the effects of alcohol. It doesn’t! An alcoholic drink is an alcoholic drink no matter what form of alcohol it is or what you use as a mixer. If you want to lose fat, build muscle, and become the most fit person you can become, get rid of the alcohol and all of its myths.