Beer is very popular among the stronger half of humanity. Some athletes also love beer, although almost everyone knows that alcohol is not harmless to health, and even more so for athletes. And yet, most bodybuilders practice drinking a glass of beer, especially on Sundays. How bad this is, or maybe it’s good - we need to understand this issue.
Beer and sports
Since beer is an alcoholic drink, its consumption negatively affects the results of sports training. For bodybuilders, this is dangerous because it reduces the rate of muscle gain, reduces strength characteristics, and also slows down the recovery process. Based on research conducted by scientists, we can safely say that:
- drinking beer when you feel slightly intoxicated is equivalent to missing one workout;
- in case of obvious intoxication, a decrease in strength data should be expected, and the recovery process may last a couple of weeks;
- if beer is consumed on a regular basis, at least every other day, this leads to stagnation and a decrease in the growth of muscle tissue by 100%.
The effect of alcohol on the body
During training, there is an intense load on all systems of the athlete’s body, regardless of whether he is male or female. Even 200 ml of beer immediately after training will reduce all efforts to nothing, and in addition to this, it will significantly slow down the muscle recovery process.
According to research, in men, muscle tissue suddenly stops absorbing the hormone testosterone. There is no need to talk about any volumes or beautiful reliefs in this case. The processes of active fat breakdown also slow down, making it almost impossible to get rid of the subcutaneous layer in this mode.
Even a few sips of “life-giving moisture” have no less destructive effects on the female body. The presence of alcohol in the blood disrupts metabolism and other natural recovery processes. The next morning you will feel chronic fatigue, and sometimes there may be pain in the joints and muscles.
Effects of drinking beer on bodybuilding
In bodybuilding, as in any other sport, drinking beer leads to negative effects, for example:
- testosterone levels decrease and this leads to a slowdown in muscle growth, since any alcohol and beer, including, stimulates the secretion of catabolic hormones;
- the level of potency decreases, as the level of testosterone decreases and the level of cartisol increases;
- the level of estrogen increases, since beer contains female sex hormones, and this leads to the deposition of excess fat, decreased potency, increased fatigue, slower muscle growth, decreased strength, the appearance of gynecomastia and other problems;
- excess fat is also deposited due to the high calorie content of beer;
- normal sleep patterns and recovery process are disrupted;
- sperm quality deteriorates.
From the above, it should be concluded that beer in bodybuilding has a negative effect on the training process. As for positive qualities, there are simply none.
Beer and exercise in the gym: the effect of beer on the body
Despite the fierce resistance of fans of the foamy drink, there is nothing good in combining it with sports. During training, the body experiences stress, and beer only makes it worse. Physical activity greatly increases blood pressure, causing the heart to beat faster. At the same time, the lungs pump much larger volumes of air through themselves than at rest.
By and large, all systems of the body begin to work more intensively, and the processes occurring inside, called metabolism, also accelerate. At the same time, beer significantly inhibits liver function. On the other hand, the drink has a strong diuretic effect, which does not have a very good effect on the functioning of the kidneys. As a result, it is not at all strange to get dehydrated if you drink it after a workout.
Beer after a workout: benefits and harms
But everything written above is only part of the truth, which foam lovers so stubbornly refuse to admit. The growth of muscle mass begins not during exercise, but after its completion. Any experienced athlete will tell you this. Beer, in turn, like any other alcoholic drink, slows down this process.
There is a misconception that after a glass of beer the body's strength capabilities increase enormously. There are grains of truth in this, but not as significant as it might seem. The drink simply suppresses the brain centers responsible for fatigue, and in the meantime the body loses much more strength and energy than is required for an effective workout. In addition, the body, which has already lost a lot of fluid during the training process, also spends energy on processing the drink. All this together dehydrates him even more, which can end very sadly. And that’s not all, because beer can cause harm everywhere.
- An emotional outburst and then a decline have a negative impact on a person’s mental state.
- Drinking a drink after a workout can cause migraines, nausea, some feel dizziness, disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract, deterioration in concentration and coordination of movements.
- The immune system is in a depressed state, and the harmful microflora feels at its best. That’s why those who drink beer after playing sports are usually more likely to get colds and infectious diseases.
- In a body dehydrated by stress, the drink causes an even greater deficiency of fluid, so it has to “remove” it from the kidneys and liver.
- After heavy exercise, beer additionally loads the heart and blood vessels. That’s why so many foam lovers suffer from their defeat, without even playing sports.
Some scientists believe that there are still benefits to drinking the drink. However, they recommend drinking only dark beers in small doses 6-8 hours after any physical activity, including workouts. It's all about the high content of antioxidants, approximately the same as in natural red wine. This has beneficial effects for the heart and cardiovascular system.
In addition, after drinking beer, it is better to postpone your next athletic activity for at least two, and preferably three, days. And to restore the water balance, you will have to drink a lot of water the next day after the “libations”, the maximum possible amount.
Immediately after training
We have already partially answered the question of whether you can drink beer after a workout immediately after leaving the gym. But it’s worth understanding in more detail so that no misunderstandings arise. Physical activity greatly “accelerates” the body. All his systems sometimes “work” to the limit of their strength. Beer, contrary to misconceptions, does not relax, but makes the body tense even more.
Thus, it is easy to guess that you are only getting an additional, completely useless load. All systems and organs have to work hard. In fact, just one glass of beer can ruin all your efforts in the gym. If you are willing to sacrifice your progress to enjoy the foam, then you can safely drink it to your heart's content. In addition, alcohol inhibits the recovery processes in the muscles, which can provoke various sprains and tears.
A few hours after training
We know from our school biology course that approximately eighty percent of our muscles are composed of water. Any alcoholic drink, including beer, can create a deficiency in the body, and at the same time a lack of vitamins B, A, C. Moreover, the first few hours after an intense workout are the most dangerous. It is during this period that you need to restore the water balance, and not give it additional work and shaking. It is better to give preference to ordinary purified water or herbal tea.
Before training
We have already mentioned the false feeling of relaxation or a surge of energy after a glass of beer. However, this is not all that will forever make you give it up immediately before physical exercise.
- All your work will go down the drain, because it is unlikely that you will even be able to maintain the existing result, let alone improve it.
- A general decrease in the activity of the nervous system can lead to uncoordination of movements. Then it’s not far from banal injuries in the gym.
- The energy expenditure for processing the product will force the body to significantly reduce overall strength indicators.
Quite a lot has already been said about water balance, so we won’t repeat it, but let us remind you that dehydration can lead to really serious consequences.
When losing weight
If you exercise not only to maintain physical fitness and preparedness, but also to eliminate excess fat reserves, then this drink is definitely not for you. It has its so-called empty calories. That is, it does not provide any energy, but is immediately transferred to fat accumulations, especially in the abdominal area.
Everyone has heard of the “beer belly,” and these are the consequences of excessive consumption. This can ultimately lead to abdominal obesity, which in turn leads to various pathologies. But even if this does not happen due to small doses, then you will definitely have to wait a long time for progress in physical fitness, but it will never happen. Beer completely neutralizes all your efforts, preventing you from moving on.
Non-alcoholic beer in bodybuilding
Naturally, drinking beer, especially non-alcoholic beer, reduces the harmful effects on the body of athletes, but not completely, since the high calorie content and high estrogen content remain.
In this regard, it can be argued that non-alcoholic beer also has a negative effect on the body due to the deposition of fatty tissue.
There is another factor that has a significant impact - the quality of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beer. This is especially true for domestic producers, since sometimes beer prices are quite questionable, which indicates their low quality. As for European countries, the situation here is somewhat better and the quality of food products is subject to appropriate control. Despite this, even high-quality beer is not recommended for athletes if they want to achieve high results in sports.
Beer in the evening on training day
Any person's leisure time includes holidays. After training in the evening, are you planning an alcoholic feast, a party, watching a football match, drinking beer? It's hard to refuse. Remember the only rule is to drink in moderation. The poisonous dose of ethyl alcohol is 40 grams, which is equal to 600 milliliters of beer. After drinking a lot of alcohol in the evening, reschedule your upcoming workout for another day. The body removes toxins and spends energy processing alcohol. When you start training, you risk causing significant harm to your health. The alcohol will finally leave the blood, the cardiovascular and muscular systems will normalize after 5-7 days.
Are alcohol and sports compatible? Is it possible to drink beer after training?
I often see people leaving the gym and immediately buying a couple of bottles of beer at the store.
. Is this normal? In my opinion, this means that all the effort from training was in vain. Although alcohol is a rich source of energy, it is completely useless in the context of athletic performance.
Alcohol is one of the most common substances in the world
. Surprisingly, alcohol has even been used as a doping agent in the past. The immediate effects of alcohol are also relatively well known to everyone.
Let's not lie, athletes don't drink alcohol.
. Today, alcohol in sports does not pose a serious threat from the point of view of doping, but it is very dangerous due to its negative effects on the body, and also due to the fact that athletes are usually at risk in terms of the frequency of alcohol consumption.
Myths about the effects of alcohol on the body
Alcohol has significant mental effects
– it increases self-confidence, promotes aggression, reduces tension - all these properties are very suitable for sports. At some stage it also has a short-term stimulating effect - this, by the way, was the reason for its use as a doping agent in the past. It was also once believed that alcohol increased physical performance, especially in sports that required maximum strength.
However, these effects are completely refuted by medical research.
. As is now generally known, the main effect of alcohol is a weakening of the functions of the central nervous system and brain, and these are effects that are completely incompatible with high-quality sports achievements.
Another myth was that alcohol has an ergogenic (performance enhancing) effect
. Here everything is exactly the opposite - they are increasingly talking about the ergolytic (reducing performance) effects of alcohol. Alcohol reduces the contractility of the heart muscle (myocardium) and reduces the liver’s ability to synthesize glucose as an important source of energy.
Important Tips
If you do decide to exercise and drink alcohol, then follow several useful recommendations to maintain your health:
- To the question of whether you can drink beer after a workout, the answer is no. If you still decide to drink alcohol, then go to the gym only after two days after drinking alcohol.
- Also, don't drink beer for forty-eight hours after your workout, think about your muscles.
- If you decide to drink beer, be sure to eat it with protein foods. In this case, you need to forget about carbohydrates.
- The day after drinking an alcoholic drink, take ascorbic acid. It will help restore your body.
But the best alternative is still non-alcoholic beer. Try it, friend, you will like it.
Of course, drinking beer is a great way to relax with friends. But under no circumstances do this after visiting the gym! If you decide not to deny yourself pleasure, then it’s better not to go to training that day. Drinking alcohol after exercise simply destroys your body. In the process of playing sports, all muscles are actively involved, as well as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, metabolic processes are significantly accelerated, and the body consumes a large amount of oxygen.
Such processes can be called positive stress, since moderate physical activity brings invaluable benefits to the body. But with the simultaneous use of alcohol, the state enters the distress phase. This is a condition that the body can no longer cope with, so it uses up its reserves.
Therefore, we can conclude: if you want to have excellent health and a beautiful body, forget about drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages after training. You can always find a good alternative that will only benefit your body. By giving up alcohol, you will notice an improvement in all sports performance. Do not forget that your health is in your hands, so treat it with all responsibility and love. Do not abuse alcoholic beverages, and then everything will be fine with you.
Source https://fb.ru/article/317455/mojno-li-pit-pivo-posle-trenirovki
Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks around the world. It is valued not only for its ease of use and relevance in many situations, but also for its wide selection of types. Each person will find their ideal option among the many varieties. Beer cannot be called a completely safe drink. So, some people believe that they can drink light beer after training, however, according to experts, it is better to give up this habit.
What to drink after training
During the training process, it is recommended to drink plain clean water. Check with your trainer about the volume of liquid and the intervals between the next portion of water.
Drinking water after a workout is very important for the body, so you can and should replenish lost fluid!
After training, you need to replenish fluid loss. In addition to water, you can afford green or black tea, mate.
Coffee, like alcohol, puts a strain on the kidneys and produces a diuretic effect. In addition, caffeine affects blood vessels and increases blood pressure. Therefore, you should not drink coffee after physical activity.
Green tea perfectly quenches thirst and is rich in vitamins and minerals. A hot drink will invigorate and give strength.
In addition to its invigorating qualities, mate tea has a positive effect on the male reproductive system. That's why Brazilian and Colombian men are known as real macho men.
2 hours after training
80% of muscle composition is water. Any alcoholic drink can cause dehydration of the body, a lack of minerals, vitamins A, C, group B, then muscle tissue is damaged and takes longer to recover. A deceptive opinion: beer harmlessly quenches thirst and replenishes fluid taken from a grueling workout. It has a diuretic effect and leads to rapid dehydration.
After completing your workout, it is recommended to drink tea. Desirable options are mate, green - tonic, invigorating at the same time, increasing immunity. The first two hours after training are the most dangerous. There is a possibility of catching an acute respiratory infection, some kind of virus. Tea is especially beneficial for athletes. It is also appropriate to drink herbal teas and regular still water.
