Fun and Fitness: Uncovering the summer drinking myth
I may have missed the addiction
awareness-themed Interrobang by
a long shot, but it's never too late
to reiterate some key issues about
alcohol. I hope I can further clarify
a few things and help dispel certain
myths about alcohol. Many of
these myths run rampant, especially
during the summer, so listen up
and make sure you know better!
One thing you've probably heard for years is that beer is more fattening than liquor. This is completely false in the grand scheme of things. Your typical beer (like Budweiser, which contains five per cent alcohol) has about 150 calories. Now, your typical shot of liquor (rye) has about 70 calories. You would most likely mix your rye with something (unless you're a machine), so half a can of pop is another 70 calories. You've just transformed your supposed “lower calorie” liquor drink into a 150- calorie beverage.
Now let's get serious, most students mix up liquor drinks that are closer to one and a half shots of liquor, or even two shots, for that matter. Your liquor drink just jumped higher in calories than a typical beer! Don't forget, most of us can drink liquor a lot quicker than beer, so you're even deeper in the calorie hole! It's overall calorie consumption that adds pounds, so stop giving beer the sole blame for beer guts.
There are also many myths about hangovers. The truth is, a hangover is a hangover and once you're hung over, there's not much you can do besides wait it out. We're all human and our bodies eliminate alcohol at a certain speed. Time is the only thing that cures a hangover. There are several things that can be done to help cripple some of the awful effects: drinking a little milk or olive oil before a night on the town will help line the stomach and serve as a protective layer; eating a good meal before heading out definitely helps absorb some of the alcohol content; drinking water throughout the night will help alleviate some of the dehydrating effects. Oh, I almost forgot: avoid drinking like you're a rock star trying to commit suicide.
Alcohol also dilates small blood vessels through the skin, which causes increased blood flow near the skin's surface. Over time, these blood vessels can be permanently damaged. Underneath the eyes is where it can become most visible since the skin layer is extremely thin. You might laugh it off now since you're a young stallion, but once you hit your mid- to late 20s, believe me, your skin won't glow like an angel anymore.
Drinking is very detrimental when it comes to weight training and fitness. By now, you already know how important water is when it comes to hitting the gym. If you're dehydrated and your water is being used to metabolize alcohol, then you won't have sufficient water to process other substances! Heavy drinking also weakens your immune system, and it affects your brain in a negative manner, ruining your focus for training and other important daily tasks!
I could go on forever, but I don't think I need to beat a dead horse here. For the most part, we all understand the negative effects of heavy drinking. You're in college now and you should be having the time of your life. What you shouldn't be doing is looking like you're 40 by the time you're 25. A glass of wine a day can promote healthy benefits for the heart, but 10 glasses a day can get you a first-class ticket to a nice coffin. Remember, you are what you eat AND drink.
One thing you've probably heard for years is that beer is more fattening than liquor. This is completely false in the grand scheme of things. Your typical beer (like Budweiser, which contains five per cent alcohol) has about 150 calories. Now, your typical shot of liquor (rye) has about 70 calories. You would most likely mix your rye with something (unless you're a machine), so half a can of pop is another 70 calories. You've just transformed your supposed “lower calorie” liquor drink into a 150- calorie beverage.
Now let's get serious, most students mix up liquor drinks that are closer to one and a half shots of liquor, or even two shots, for that matter. Your liquor drink just jumped higher in calories than a typical beer! Don't forget, most of us can drink liquor a lot quicker than beer, so you're even deeper in the calorie hole! It's overall calorie consumption that adds pounds, so stop giving beer the sole blame for beer guts.
There are also many myths about hangovers. The truth is, a hangover is a hangover and once you're hung over, there's not much you can do besides wait it out. We're all human and our bodies eliminate alcohol at a certain speed. Time is the only thing that cures a hangover. There are several things that can be done to help cripple some of the awful effects: drinking a little milk or olive oil before a night on the town will help line the stomach and serve as a protective layer; eating a good meal before heading out definitely helps absorb some of the alcohol content; drinking water throughout the night will help alleviate some of the dehydrating effects. Oh, I almost forgot: avoid drinking like you're a rock star trying to commit suicide.
Alcohol also dilates small blood vessels through the skin, which causes increased blood flow near the skin's surface. Over time, these blood vessels can be permanently damaged. Underneath the eyes is where it can become most visible since the skin layer is extremely thin. You might laugh it off now since you're a young stallion, but once you hit your mid- to late 20s, believe me, your skin won't glow like an angel anymore.
Drinking is very detrimental when it comes to weight training and fitness. By now, you already know how important water is when it comes to hitting the gym. If you're dehydrated and your water is being used to metabolize alcohol, then you won't have sufficient water to process other substances! Heavy drinking also weakens your immune system, and it affects your brain in a negative manner, ruining your focus for training and other important daily tasks!
I could go on forever, but I don't think I need to beat a dead horse here. For the most part, we all understand the negative effects of heavy drinking. You're in college now and you should be having the time of your life. What you shouldn't be doing is looking like you're 40 by the time you're 25. A glass of wine a day can promote healthy benefits for the heart, but 10 glasses a day can get you a first-class ticket to a nice coffin. Remember, you are what you eat AND drink.
