Is Consuming Alcohol Post-Workout Dumb Or Scientifically Smart?

While a guilt-free hangover can be a good enough reason for you to hit the bar before you hit the gym, research suggests it can be one the worst thing you can do to your body.

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Alcohol interrupts the process of slowing down the process of recovery of your muscles to strengthen and grow, particularly in men.

¡°Our research shows men are more affected by alcohol than women,¡± states co-author Jakob Vingren at the University of North Texas to Daily Mail Online.

¡°If you're doing heavy resistance training, if you're going to go out drinking that night, don't go to the gym right before,¡± co-author Jakob Vingren at the University of North Texas warns.

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¡°It's possible the next day you're going to be worse off than if you hadn't gone to the gym,¡± adds Vingren.

Alcohol is particularly damaging to your testosterone; the fuel that is responsible for muscle growth and repair, especially in men.

Men experience a rush of testosterone, much more than in women, after a workout, which is a major contributor to the process of muscle-growth.

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¡°We know alcohol affects testosterone, and it is a gender difference, so testosterone appear to be an obvious thing to look at,¡± states Vingren. Alcohol either affects the total amount of testosterone or the receptors stimulated by testosterone.

But wait there is hope.

Drinking small amounts of alcohol, however post-workout, up to two drinks for men and one for women, can significantly harm your performance when compared to staying alcohol-free.

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A previous study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology claims that sticking to smaller amounts will not significantly hamper your performance post-exercise.

In fact, brands like Lean Machine Brands, Inc intention to release a low-calorie, protein packed ¡°muscle beer¡± for post-workout consumptions was based on this fact.

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Bottom line is that alcohol can leave you dehydrated and hinder the process of muscle recovery, which is why Lean Machine claims only .5% of alcohol in their brewed beer). But a small amount of it and a ton of water after a vigorous workout session might be the ideal reward.