Alcohol Consumption and the Affects on Weight Loss
Many of us have come across an alcoholic or two and noticed the famous Beer Belly. Often times we, ourselves are the ones with the noticeable beer belly. When it comes to weight loss, alcoholic beverages are on the controversial list of foods and beverages whether it’s alright to consume alcohol in our diet or not.
The beer belly is formed from fat accumulated in the mid-section of the body known as abdominal fat. The consumption of alcoholic beverages will cause a bloating effect to accumulate in the mid-abdominal region. Fat buildup in the mid-section of the body can cause serious health issues and harmful damage to internal organs.
Consuming a single drink of an alcoholic beverage such as red wine per day is actually beneficial. It can reduce the risk of high blood pressure. However, consuming more than one drink per day can ruin your health and plans to lose weight.
Alcoholic beverages are known to be empty calories. Empty calories simply mean that from consumption does not have any nutritional benefits. If you are trying to lose weight by calorie counting it is not such a good idea to try to fit alcohol in your daily diet plan.
If you plan on drinking at a bar or party it is not recommended to skip out on eating. If you are trying to lose weight it’s best to eat a healthy meal before heading out for a drink. This method will help you to drink less and cause you not to overeat. When we drink on an empty stomach we tend to eat whatever is available, which most likely it’s foods that are greasy, full of fat, and high in carbohydrates.
Consuming alcohol can impair your judgment. Since alcohol is basically empty calories drinking on an empty stomach will not fill you up. Drinking before eating isn’t a wise choice either, due to the fact that alcohol can increase your appetite and cravings. You will most likely consume foods that are high in fat, calories, and carbohydrates which can ruin your diet.
Alcohol can also cause dehydration in the body which can be very dangerous. Our bodies are made up of mostly water and we need water to survive, when we lose a mass amount of water it can lead to severe health issues.
Your body converts the foods and beverages consumed into proteins and nutrients your body needs for energy and to function properly. However, when consuming alcoholic beverages the body will react differently. Since alcohol contains no beneficial nutrients or proteins it does not need to go through the whole digestion process and can reach the liver and brain in a matter of minutes. Alcohol causes temporary effects such as: slower reactions, poor judgment, dizziness, and increase in urination.
Alcohol when digested, often target the liver. The liver is used to help filter foods that are consumed into nutrients and proteins that the body needs. When you abuse alcohol you also cause severe damage to your liver. Liver damage can cause major health issues and often times lead to death.
Often times while consuming alcohol you will get tired and just pass out, other times alcohol can cause restlessness. This will sometimes lead to less sleep, which isn’t good on the body. The body needs rest to replenish and rejuvenate each day. Being able to get enough sleep will allow the organs to slow down and function properly. The organs in your body work 24 hours a day, so without much sleep you can cause severe damage or failure to your organs by causing them to overwork due to lack of sleep.
There have been low-calorie alcoholic beverages created for consumers wanting to reduce their calorie intake from consuming such beverages. This is a better alternative for people who want to watch their calorie intake without having to sacrifice giving up alcohol completely. However, these types of products are still considered empty calories.
Alcohol can be very addicting and is a very serious issue. Alcohol addiction is also known as alcoholism and the people addicted are known as alcoholics. Some people may think that alcoholics are weak-minded because they are addicted, but that is not true. In some cases alcoholics suffer from various issues such as: lifestyle changes, depression, or wanting to escape everyday issues. Often times this is not how alcoholism begins, it begins with abuse of alcohol. When you consume alcoholic beverages on a regular basis your body will be used to it and have the need for it. If you cannot satisfy your craving for alcohol you can become irritable and irrational. The best way to heal alcoholism is to talk to someone who has been through it.
