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Booze: The Nonnutritive Nutrient...

Wednesday, 09 March 2016 00:10

Know your limits, and be aware of how they change with your training and fitness level.

By Monique Ryan (triathlon.competitor.com)

One might expect that endurance athletes would be among those inclined not to drink alcohol, given their greater awareness of health issues and their desire to perform well in training and competition. Still, many who do drink may not be aware of how it can affect their athletic performance. It is important for an athlete to use alcohol sensibly, as it does not play any role in...

physical recovery and could have mild to serious detrimental effects upon performance. Abuse of alcohol can impair health by contributing to cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases, and drunk driving is always dangerous and irresponsible. Alcohol abuse can lead to many kinds of health and social problems. But let’s take a look at the implications of alcohol specifically for endurance sports enthusiasts.

Although alcohol is considered a drug, it provides calories just as foods do. But as far as your body is concerned, alcohol is merely an onslaught of empty calories. These calories are not used for energy in the same way as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Beer and wine contain only small amounts of carbohydrates and only trace amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals. In fact, alcohol can interfere with how your body uses vitamins and minerals. Half an ounce of pure ethanol is the equivalent of one drink—that is, 12 ounces (360 ml) of beer (150 calories), 4 ounces (120 ml) of wine (100 calories), or 1.25 ounces (38 ml) of liquor (100 calories). Despite originating from fermented carbohydrates, alcohol is metabolized in your body as fat. Alcohol by-products are converted into fatty acids, which are stored in your liver and sent to your bloodstream. For this reason, alcohol is not the best nutrient choice if your goal is to be a lean athlete. Consuming four or more drinks daily raises your odds of developing obesity by 46 percent. READ MORE