Exactly how bad is drinking Alcohol ?

[Reef]

Exactly how bad is drinking Alcohol in terms of
a) overall health
b) gaining muscle / strength

I'm not sure how to quantify it, but any input is cool.

Who is more healthy? The guy who lifts or does cardio 3 x 45mins a week but has 10 drinks/week -- Or the guy who doesn't drink but doesn't work out? Etc

thanks

[Edge34]

On a pure speculation basis, I'm going with the lifter who drinks, but a lot of it obviously depends on how hard he works, how the rest of his diet is, and what exactly he's drinking.

Example, a Bud Light has 110 calories, but alcohol calories are freaking heavy. 1.5 ounces of 80-proof vodka has 97 calories. Then of course whatever mixers are to be taken into account. The guy who's drinking will have to work harder to burn it, but its not impossible.

[Reef]

for the first part of the question more so looking for the answer to: is the damaging effects of alcohol on brain and liver compensated for by a healthier heart , lungs , and muscles?

I realize its all speculation/opinion.

[zer0]

alcohol isn't only bad because of calories, it has an insanely negative effect on muscles and their development. i dont know exact details off the top of my head, but i'm sure a simple google search would give you tons of studies.

on a guess, the lifter who drinks is probably still more healthy than the guy who does neither (assuming nothing drastic on either side)

[Big Poppa Smurf]

Reef,

10 drinks a week isn't really anything at all, especially if it's a beer a night with dinner and an extra one or two on the weekend, and not 10/week of binge drinking all in one night. The exerciser drinking that much is definitely in better shape than someone who doesn't work out.

[Scary_Tiger]

[ QUOTE ]
Reef,

10 drinks a week isn't really anything at all, especially if it's a beer a night with dinner and an extra one or two on the weekend, and not 10/week of binge drinking all in one night. The exerciser drinking that much is definitely in better shape than someone who doesn't work out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I was going to say a better question would be like Victor versus your average person.

(I'm going other person, although I'm sure Victor could outbike (and outdrink) the other guy.)

[Big Poppa Smurf]

Scary,

If Victor weighed less I would say Victor's routine would put him in better shape than your average non-exerciser.

[Blue Lagoon]

it depends

[Troll_Inc]

[ QUOTE ]
for the first part of the question more so looking for the answer to: is the damaging effects of alcohol on brain and liver compensated for by a healthier heart , lungs , and muscles?

I realize its all speculation/opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]

1-2 beers a day is healthier than not drinking at all.

Not drinking ANY alcohol is a risk factor for heart disease!

"The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in nondrinkers. One drink is defined as 1-1/2 fluid ounces (fl oz) of 80-proof spirits (such as bourbon, Scotch, vodka, gin, etc.), 1 fl oz of 100-proof spirits, 4 fl oz of wine or 12 fl oz of beer. It's not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they drink. "

http://www.americanheart.org/present...dentifier=4726

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
it depends

[/ QUOTE ]

assume the guy who drinks but exercises is twins with the guy who doesn't exercise or drink. Who is healthier? Feel free to make your own units.. ie: every drink a week requires a mile ran or 3 miles biked to make up the difference