Almost everyone loves having a good time & what do these good times usually revolve around? You guessed it, alcohol. Even the serious bodybuilders get tempted to drink & have a good time, but should he or she drink or not? The answer will vary on the person & how educated he or she is on recovery from drinking alcohol & knowing what alcohol does to the body.

Nutrient wise, alcohol contains seven calories per gram, which is three calories higher than carb & protein sources. The calories that come from alchol are mostly sugars & very little protein. Even low carb beers contain around 100 calories even thought they only have about two & a half grams of carbs & half a gram of protein. A twelve ounce wine cooler contains 180 calories, a two ounce strawberry daiquiri contains 110 calories, so alcohol is very calorie dense.

Although alcohol is absorbed rapidly, it is metabolized very slowly & can have a negative effect on athletic performance. If an athlete consumes as little as two or three drinks fourty-eight hours prior to his or her performance, the athlete will suffer from impaired reaction time, decreased strength, & impaired hand/eye coordination. Alcohol will also increase fatigue, interfere with body temperature, cause dehydration, impact cellular repair, deplete aerobic capacity, disrupt sleep, & cause vitamin & mineral depletion.

Most adults who drink alcohol consume reasonable amounts but there always those who drink irresponsibly. These irresponsible people increase their risk of illness, injury, & are more likely to have drinking problems than the responsible drinkers. Alcohol abuse can cause significant harm to a person`s health & completely destroy a person`s life. If you decide to drink, it`s very important that you know if your drinking patterns are risky, safe, or even harmful.

We are only human & need to have a good time every now & then. Some people could not live with the thought of never being able to touch alcohol while others would find it very easy. Drinking is okay if you keep it in moderation. However, don`t let it control you & let it become who you are. Alcoholism is not fun. I`ve been through it & seen many of my friends fade away because of it. Just be careful.

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