Moderate Drinking Boosts Athletic Performance

It is already evident from many studies that drinking post workouts can have detrimental effects on your health; but moderate alcohol consumption prior to an athletic performance can actually improve energy levels and boost performance. The magazine-Runner’s world conducted a study on runners to test their work efficiency after a night of drinking and found out that females who drank beer were able to run 22% longer than those who didn’t.

On the contrary, men revealed poor results of 21% less strength and performance compared to those men who didn’t drink.

According to Dr Leadbetter from the Colorado Mesa University’s Human Research Lab, the reason behind these distinctly varied results might be due to be the fact that women have different ways of metabolizing foods than men. To understand this better and to demonstrate the effects of moderate alcohol consumption prior to athletic workouts, he conducted a study on 5 males and females. Both men and women were allowed alcohol consumption below the weekly limits and were tested on two different levels-‘the beer run’ and the ‘exhaustion run’.

The statistics revealed astonishing results-women showed 22% better energy and performance at athletic feats after a night on the beer. Men, on the other hand, lagged behind by 21%.

Though it would not be appropriate to take these statistics, based on a very small sample, into consideration at this stage, further studies may open a whole new possibility of better athletic performance in the future.

Reference:

Advertisement

1. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/027795369090090F

2. http://www.livestrong.com/article/345415-the-effects-of-alcohol-on-fitness/

Source-Medindia