Burning Fat
It is the way alcohol deals with fat that can add pounds and bloat you up. Instead of storing away fat like some substances, alcohol is converted into acetate by the liver to slow or eliminate the body's fat burning processes. When the acetate levels rise, the body is forced to spend more time burning more acetate and less fat. So the fat left over sticks around. The combination of alcohol and a high-calorie meal is especially fattening, according to a 1996 Canadian study reported in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." The desire to eat more while drinking alcohol was verified in a 2002 study by Denmark's Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. A group of men ate more when the meal was served with beer or wine rather than a soft drink, as was reported in the "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders."
Adding Fat
Drinking too much alcohol stops the body from burning fat as energy just as skipping meals or not getting enough rest does. It is bad enough that alcohol is converted into acetate, which affects the body's fat burning abilities, but the body also makes another substance called acetyl CoA, which causes the body to make even more body fat, according to Shapefit.com. The body can only process a certain amount of alcohol per hour, about an ounce or less. It makes the liver work harder at all its functions, but it can only do so many during a short time. That's why excessive drinking can slow down the body's burning of fat and even be responsible for creating more fat. Additionally, you are not getting any vitamins, minerals or other nutrients, because alcohol has empty calories.
Gastritis
Alcohol can irritate and erode the stomach lining, which can create bloating because the stomach is more vulnerable to digestive juices. The stomach's protective layer becomes weakened and so it is not so easy to digest foods. The digestive juices damage and inflame the stomach lining. Excessive alcohol can lead to gastritis, which produces bloating and other symptoms. Too much alcohol can make you feel hungry and eat more while eventually making you overweight and bloated. But it is not just they way you feel, it is what you are doing to your body if you continue to drink excessively. Stick to moderate drinking to give your body time to go through its fat-burning activities and keep you in healthy shape.
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