Many people wonder if drinking alcohol can affect muscle growth. The answer is yes!

I promise this won’t be an anti alcohol speech. I’m not against alcohol at all. I drink myself a few times a month.

If you’re on a muscle building program, consuming too much alcohol will have a bad impact.

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 protein synthesis. Drinking a lot can slow this process down as much as 20%.

Water and protein are the materials of your muscle, so you see how this is a problem!

#2 It Drops Your Testosterone Levels

You need maximum testosterone production if you want to maximize your muscle gains!

#3 It Dehydrates You

Your kidneys have to filter a lot of water to break down alcohol. 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 negatively impacts a lot of functions within your body, including processes that help repair and grow muscle tissue.

#5 It Causes Fat Storage

Alcohol can also be fattening. For one, the calories contain no value nutritionally. Two, alcohol interferes with the Krebs Cycle. The Krebs Cycle has a role in processes that burn fat. Gaining body fat means your muscle will be covered up.

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

Drinking alcohol sometimes won’t stop you from building muscle. If you wanna get drunk every weekend, just know that it’s probably going to slow down your muscle building.

Before drinking alcohol, drink loads of water, eat a meal high in protein and swallow down a good multi vitamin.

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

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