Alcohol has been introduced to us as a social standard but the effects it has on your body’s ability to lose fat is shocking. Society often markets “Low Calorie” Alcoholic drinks as a healthier Alternative. Truth is, Alcohol is what is negatively affecting us rather than the Calories in the Alcoholic Drinks.

While Alcohol is in our System, it is seen as Poison to the body and causes your Metabolism to almost shut down. With a shut down metabolism, almost everything we eat is stored as energy (Fat), as our body cannot metabolize the food we eat.

What You Need to Know

• Any form of alcohol causes problems for anyone trying to shed unwanted weight
• Alcohol once it enters our body, has been shown to Shut down our Metabolism by as much as 75%  
• Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, which is Second highest in comparison to Fat.
• Having 3 oz of alcohol (1/4 of a beer) reduces fat burning by about 1/3
• Alcohol consumption can decrease testosterone in men by 23%

How Alcohol causes Fat Gain

Slows Metabolism

The body isn’t designed to store alcohol, so shuts down our metabolism significantly. This gives alcohol the priority in the metabolic process. While alcohol is in your system your body won’t metabolizes other fats and sugars as efficiently eventually slowing down your metabolism. This makes eating anything while alcohol is in our system less than ideal, as it fast tracks fat storage.

• Alcohol lacks nutrients beneficial for a healthy metabolism which will accelerate fat storage
• Alcohol gradually weakens the kidneys and liver, which will reduce the rate at which food is digested, this interferes with the metabolic process and delays weight loss.

Hinders fat burning process

The liver breaks alcohol into acetate, which your body then burns before any other fuel source that you’ve consumed or stored. While alcohol is being metabolized (used as primary fuel source) your body will stop burning fat (close to 75%) and stop using carbs for energy, therefore the fat and carbs you are eating get stored as fat.

• By suppressing fat burning it enables the fat in your diet to be stored a lot more easily

Promotes Mindless Eating

Alcohol loosens inhibitions, which causes relaxed thinking meaning more calories are being consumed and extra body fat being gained.

• Alcohol provides ZERO nutrition, which leaves cravings for other foods (usually greasy fatty foods)
• People eat about 30 percent more food when they consume alcohol

Lowers Testosterone (In Men)

It takes just one night of heavy drinking to greatly increase the levels of the hormone cortisol, causing a significant decrease of the hormone testosterone.

• Alcohol interferes with testosterone causing the body to lower its metabolic rate hindering testosterone from exerting its fat burning effects.
• Lowered testosterone leads to slow muscle growth and weakens the transport of digestive enzymes and essential nutrients through the body.
• Aromatase will also increase. Aromatase is an enzyme that helps to convert testosterone to estrogen and is obviously not something that is welcomed by many guys

Solution

Alcohol suppresses fat oxidation. Depriving yourself of food during alcohol consumption can prevent fat storage. While alcohol is in the system, the body is prone to store anything consumed as body fat. Alcohol in a standard drink will take around 10 hours for the average person to process. That’s 10 hours of fat storage!

A majority of what you eat within the 10 hours(While alcohol is in the System*) will be stored as body fat. The reason being, your body will prioritize burning the alcohol first and getting it out of your system.

Fasting while alcohol is in your System, and staying hydrated can be seen as one of your best solutions. Limiting Alcohol consumption, can also be seen as the best alternative.

Sources

“Is Alcohol your Weight loss Kryptonite?” retrieved from http://muscleevo.net/alcohol-weight-loss/

“How Alcohol affects Metabolism” retrieved from http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/weight-loss/how-alcohol-affects-metabolism.html

“Alcohol and the Metabolic Diet” retrieved from http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/md19.htm

“Does Alcohol Prevent weight loss, or cause Fat Gain? retrieved from http://www.builtlean.com/2012/11/26/alcohol-weight-loss/