There are many people that want to know if drinking alcohol negatively affects muscle growth. The short answer is yes!

No, this will not be an anti alcohol speech. I’m not against alcohol at all. I like to have a drink or two myself sometimes.  But, if you’re on a mass building regimen, drinking too much can definitely have a negetive impact on your efforts.

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Here are 5 ways that drinking alcohol can slow your muscle gains…

#1 It Slows Protein Synthesis

Amino acids have to band together to form proteins. This is called protein synthesis. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can slow this process down by about 20%.

Your muscles are made of water and protein, so you see how this can be a problem!

#2 It Drops Your Testosterone Levels

If you want to gain muscle, testosterone is your best friend!

#3 It Dehydrates You

To break down the alcohol, your kidneys have to filter large quantities of water. This can cause major dehydration

Your muscles are about 70% water, so even slight dehydration is a problem.

#4 It Depletes Your Body Of Vitamins And Minerals

Excessive drinking causes vitamins A, C, B, calcium, and other minerals to be drained at fast rates.

This adversely affects many functions within your body, including repair and growth of muscle tissue.

#5 It Causes Fat Storage

Alcohol can also be fattening. For one thing, the calories are empty and contain no nutritional value. Two, alcohol disrupts your body’s Krebs Cycle. The Krebs Cycle has a role in processes that burn fat. If you gain body fat, your muscle will be less visible.

If you want to build muscle fast, monitor your alcohol intake and drink in moderation.

Drinking alcohol sometimes won’t hurt too much. However, if you have a number of drinks a few times a week, know that it’s going to hinder your ability to build lean muscle.

Before you begin drinking, drink a lot of water, have some extra vitamins and minerals and eat a meal rich in protein.

Terrence Banks has a site on how to build muscle and tips on the fastest way to build muscle.

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Filed under: Muscle Building

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