Lace up shoes, run ten miles, take a shower, open a bottle
of wine—it seems like an unlikely order of events, but research has shown that
the more an individual exercises, the more he/she consumes alcohol (The
Miami Hurricane). After reading
this, my curiosity took the best of me and I jumped into research action. It is true that I myself take advantage of
the ‘burned calories’ to enjoy beer and wine guiltlessly, so does this
consumption have a negative or positive effect on my running?
We all know that alcohol dehydrates our bodies and drinking
before physical activity causes decreased strength, power, speed, and endurance
(American
College of Sports Medicine); however, it has been demonstrated that moderate
consumption of alcohol has health benefits.
Increase of good cholesterol in bloodstream, lower blood pressure,
antioxidants, and disease prevention (Alzheimer’s and Osteoporosis) are the
chasers to your glass of wine or beer (The
Spread of Alcohol Consumption Behavior in a Large Social Network). Furthermore, engaging in social situations
increases self-esteem and positive life experiences, thus drinks with friends
are a ticket to a mental vacation.
Although all this information makes me feel like I should
grab a six-pack of Blue Moon, there is also a word of limited consumption for
my running friends. My lady friends
should keep their enjoyment to one glass a day to reap the benefits and avoid
negative factors. Water intake should be
increased to help the body compensate for any dehydration. Also, that refreshing glass of wine or beer
should not be a replacement for proper refueling. The carbohydrates in a beer may be intriguing, but these carbs are notoriously ‘bad’. Make sure to eat and hydrate before reaching
for that rewarding drink.
I am not attempting to push all my running friends to grab a
cork screw or bottle opener, but if you relish a beer or glass of wine, there are positive health
advantages both physically and psychologically.
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