According to Mayo Clinic, if you drink alcohol it is best to keep the consumption moderate. While planning to lose weight it is ideal to avoid alcohol because it is full of calories and does not offer any nourishment. It may also lead you to make poor food choices, as it alters judgment. Alcohol consumption adds empty calories to the diet and is best avoided if you are aiming to lose weight.
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Alcohol lowers blood sugar levels, which leaves you feeling hungrier and more likely to overeat. Dr Andrew Weil reports that, "a 2002 Danish study published in the 'International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders' found that men who were told they could eat as much as they wanted ate more when meals were served with beer or wine rather than soft drinks." Alcohol consumption piles on the calories and is a disaster to weight loss, as the increased food intake and calories from the alcohol consumed play havoc on your weight. Diabetics should be particularly cautious if they are trying to reduce weight and consume alcohol because low glucose levels will not only slow weight loss, it can threaten their life.
Inhibits Fat Loss
The process of metabolizing alcohol is different from that of other substances. The way the body metabolizes fats and carbohydrates is affected by the presence of alcohol in the system. Your body starts processing alcohol, converts it to acetate and tries to burn it off immediately in an attempt to eliminate it. Your body cannot store the energy obtained from alcohol, so processing food becomes secondary until the alcohol is out of your system. This leads to food getting stored and synthesized as fat, which leads to fat retention causing eventual weight gain.
Hinders Physical Activity
Consumption of alcohol can make you sluggish and affect your performance at the gym by slowing down your body. Alcohol hinders restful sleep and makes people lethargic, which can disrupt exercise regimens. Hangovers may cause you to skip exercise altogether because they are a result of severe dehydration. Along with the excess calories consumption, excess fat retention occurs with alcohol consumption, which leads to weight gain rather than the weight loss.
References
- Oregon Counseling: Biological Impacts Of Alcohol Use; An Overview
- The Ohio State University Student Wellness Center: Drinking your Calories with Alcohol
- Andrew Weil, M.D.: Can Alcohol Prevent Weight Loss?
- Archives of Internal Medicine: Alcohol Consumption, Weight Gain, and Risk of Becoming Overweight in Middle-aged and Older Women
- Mayo Clinic: Alcohol use; If you drink, keep it moderate
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