I was lecturing a group of new Army recruits at Fort Jackson, South Carolina about the dangers of alcohol abuse. I had intended to limits my remarks to the legal ramifications of underage drinking in the military. Halfway through my lecture, I decided to raise the fact that the over consumption of alcohol impairs fitness.
It is a scientific fact that the heavy drinking of alcohol limits ones ability to stay in good physical condition. Researchers recently published a study to determine the effects of chronic alcohol ingestion on androgen-receptor content during resistance training. (The androgen-receptor is thought to control amino acid uptake and muscle protein synthesis.) Although the studies were performed on rats, it clearly showed that ingesting approximately one-third of daily calories as alcohol reduced the androgen-receptor content of fast-twitch muscle fibers (despite resistance training) and prevented the training-induced increase in androgen-receptor content of slow-twitch fibers. The conclusion is, like the alcohol-laden rodents, if you drink too much alcohol, no matter how much you lift, you will not reach your fitness goals.
While there are certain health benefits to consumption of alcohol (especially certain types of red wine), moderation is the key. If fitness is your goal, keep the intake of alcoholic drinks to no more than two regular sized servings of alcohol per day.
GREGORY CHANDLER
Colonel, US Army Reserve
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