Drinking alcohol is a favorite past time for most people and is also a social thing too. Some studies suggest that alcohol can have health benefits for example a glass of red wine a day can lower your risk of heart disease.
However, alcohol also plays a large role in weight loss and weight management. Anyone looking to drop a few kilograms may want to consider skipping their evening glass of wine.
How alcohol affects your weight loss:
Alcohol is often “empty” calories.
Alcoholic drinks are often referred to as “empty “calories. This means that they provide your body with no or very little nutritional value. There are almost 155 calories in one can of beer and 125 calories in a glass of red wine. A night with several drink can add an enormous number of calories and no benefit to your health.
Alcohol is used as primary source of fuel instead of burning abnormal fat.
When alcohol is consumed, it first burns the alcohol as fuel for your body before it starts using anything else. This includes glucose from carbs or lipids from fats. When your body is using alcohol as a primary source of energy, the excess glucose and lipids ends up as adipose tissue or fat and so self-sabotaging your weight loss efforts.
Alcohol can also affect your organs.
The primary role of your liver is to act as a the “filter” for any foreign substances in your body, such as drugs and alcohol. The liver also plays a role in the metabolism of fats, carbs and proteins. Excess consumption of alcohol can lead to something known as fatty liver.
This condition can damage your liver and affect the way your body metabolizes and stores carbs and fats. Changes in the way your body stores energy from food can make it very difficult to lose weight.
Alcohol can contribute to excess belly fat
Foods high in sugar such as candy, soda and even beer are also high in calories. Extra calories end up as stored fat in the body. Consuming foods and drinks high in sugar can quickly lead to weight gain. We cannot choose were all the extra kilograms ends up , but the body tends to store these extra fat on the belly area.
Alcohol affects judgement calls …. especially with food
Even the most die-hard diet fan will have a very hard time sticking to the urge of over indulgence when intoxicated. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and can lead to poor decisions and ultimately eating the wrong foods and self-sabotaging your weight loss journey.
Alcohol can negatively affect your sleep
A nightcap before bed may sound like a ticket to a good night’s rest but you may want to reconsider. Research suggest that alcohol can lead to increased periods of wakefulness during sleep cycles. Sleep deprivation or lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain or affect your weight loss as studies have shown that people that sleep more than 8 hours lose more weight than people that don’t.
Alcohol affects digestion and nutrient uptake.
Your social anxiety is not the only thing that alcohols removes. The intake of alcohol can also inhibit proper digestive function. Alcohol can cause stress on the stomach and intestines. This leads to decreased digestive secretion and movement of food through your tract. Digestive secretion is a very important part of breaking down your food. Any level of alcohol intake can decrease the absorption of nutrients and ultimately affect your me metabolism that can play a role in maintaining or losing weight.
These are the main reasons why we do not allow alcohol on our weight loss program. Alcohol is also known to increase your insulin levels and also halting or stalling your weight loss results.