Improved Heart Health

Drinking alcohol increases heart rate and blood pressure, which can weaken the heart over time. Research has also shown that when we drink, we’re more likely to consume calorie-dense, high-fat foods, which can put further stress on the heart.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by California Gourmet Nuts (@californiagourmetnuts)

Clearer Skin

As a diuretic, alcohol dilates blood vessels and causes our bodies to become dehydrated. Not drinking can help to reduce the appearance of redness and keep skin from becoming too dry. Dry skin also produces excess oil, which can lead to acne and inflammation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neutrogena (@neutrogena)

Better Sleep

Alcohol disrupts REM sleep, which is necessary for learning, memory, and brain development. Taking a break from alcohol allows our bodies and brains to get the rest they need so we can enjoy increased focus and energy levels during the day. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brooklinen (@brooklinen)

The post It’s Not Too Late to Start Your Dry January appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Get Better Sleep

We all know that after a few drinks your sleep tends to be interrupted and not as deep. Having this type of sleep stops your body from repairing and replenishing itself. Taking a month off from drinking in January can help you feel more energized in the morning after a great night’s sleep.

Stronger Immune System

Drinking a lot of alcohol can suppress your immune system, which will make you more likely to catch colds and flu, and other sicknesses. Frequent drinking can also cause inflammation throughout the body, so taking a break can help you feel much better and less swollen.

Less Anxiety

The morning after drinking you generally feel tired, nauseous, and have some anxiety, which is all part of a hangover. Waking up sober for a month will bring you less anxiety in the evening and calmer mornings.

The post How to Reap the Health Benefits of Dry January appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that having the occasional drink while leading a healthy lifestyle is totally acceptable. There are even some alcohols that could be considered “healthier” than others as they are gentler on your gut and blood sugar, and some do actually have health benefits. 

Red Wine

Thanks to its inclusion of antioxidants and polyphenols, red wine is actually good for both your brain and heart. Having the odd glass of Merlot or Cabinet Sauvignon can potentially lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. We’ll say cheers to that!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ermitage78 (@ermitage78)

Tequila

If you are a fan of agave-based liquor, you’ll be pleased to know that it actually contains fewer calories and less sugar than most alcohols, making it the best choice to keep your blood sugar in balance.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ruhlman (@ruhlman)

Hard Kombucha

Hard kombucha is the alcoholic cousin of regular kombucha that has been fermented for longer, creating a higher ABV. But just like it’s non-alcoholic relative, both are rich in probiotics which improve gut health and aids in digestion.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Scrivner (@scrivys1234)

The post Choose These Healthier Alcohols on Your Next Night Out appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Weight Gain

We all know that most drinks contain plenty of added sugar and hidden calories, so it may be best to limit your alcohol intake if you’re trying to lose weight.

Performance

The truth is that moderate drinking probably won’t have a huge impact on your athletic performance. However, drinking four or more drinks is likely to decrease energy levels and affect your performance.

Sleep

Quality sleep can boost our energy levels, as well as increase performance and endurance, so getting enough quality sleep is extremely important for athletes. Even though drinking a glass of wine can sometimes help us fall asleep, consuming too much alcohol can most certainly affect our quality of sleep.

Decrease Muscle Building

Some studies have shown that binge drinking can decrease growth hormone production. This means that drinking too much alcohol is not a good idea if you want to build muscle, because it can sabotage muscle growth.

The post Here’s How Alcohol Can Impact Your Fitness Performance appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Choose Mixers Wisely

When choosing a mixture for your vodka or tequila, opt for one rich in antioxidants or 100 percent fruit juice over soda. Instead of adding empty calories, you’ll be getting health benefits from the juices. You can also mix sparkling water with liquors or wine, which is low in calories and will keep you hydrated.

Bloody Mary For Antioxidants

Bloody Marys are a tomato-based drink which are rich in antioxidants. During your next brunch, choose a Bloody Mary over a mimosa and make sure the mix is made with real tomatoes and free of corn syrup and artificial colors.

Kombucha For Bubbly and Gut-Friendly Drink

Kombucha adds bubbly to your cocktail and the probiotics will give you an immunity boosts. Kombucha is also delicious on its own.

Add Real Fruit

Squeeze real fruit into your drinks. Blood oranges, lemons, and tart cherries are great additions to any cocktail.

Swap Out Syrupy Liquids

Sure sweet liquors taste amazing, but they’re full of sugar. Instead use the real thing, like for a peppermint taste, use mint leaves and for a coffee taste, use espresso shots.

The post Love Cocktails? Here’s How to Make Them Healthier appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Besides the general health risks that alcohol brings, in this article we will discuss ways in which it affects muscle development and other fitness goals.  

Dehydrates Your Body

This substance can actually ruin your gains in many different ways. Firstly, it dehydrates your body. Studies reveal that dehydration can dramatically impair exercise performance, not to mention the dry mouth and thirst you feel the next morning.  

Weight Gain

Alcohol is also really high in calories which can lead to gaining weight without noticing it. One drink can contain more than 200 calories which undoubtedly will be stored as fat. The worst part is that these are ‘empty calories’ that have no nutritional value.  

Disrupts Muscle Growth

Lastly and most importantly for the bodybuilding community, this substance disrupts the growth of muscle mass because it blocks the process of absorbing protein. 

So, it’s ok to have some fun, just try to hit the bottle as rarely as possible so you don’t ruin all the effort you’ve invested in building the perfect body.  

The post 3 Ways Alcohol Will Kill Your Gains appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

But, what happens when you give up alcohol and go through a phase of sobriety. Here are some beneficial effects of cutting alcohol from your diet.

Better and Glowing Skin

Alcohol is a known diuretic, which entails making multiple trips to the bathroom. It also causes you to go to the bathroom more frequently than if you drank water. The results? Dry skin that appears lackluster. This is where the saying “drink moderately” comes into play. When you take a break from drinking, so does your skin, allowing it to repair itself naturally.

More Intentional Eating

Remember those drunken nights where after hanging out with friends, you’d all sit down and order a greasy pizza or a bag of fish and chips to cap off the night? Well, that won’t happen as much if you decide to take a drinking break. According to a study in the journal Obesity, the drunk munchies may be due to alcohol heightening the senses.

Better Quality of Sleep

The sugar in alcoholic drinks can be hard to shrug off in the wee hours of the evening. It can also keep our thoughts racing and blood pumping. After taking a sobriety break, you’ll notice your immune system strengthening and quality of sleep getting better as each night passes.

The post What Happens To Your Body When You Quit Drinking Alcohol appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Here’s how alcohol sabotages your efforts at the gym:

Alcohol disrupts your nutrient absorption

Alcohol affects your body’s natural ability to absorb nutrients, and it does so by reducing sodium, water and chloride transport. To lose weight or gain muscle, you need a healthy body as well as organs. This can somewhat be achieved if you gain the right nutrients from your diet and digest them accordingly.

Alcohol disrupts hormonal balance

Drinking affects your hormonal balance. It has an adverse effect on your body’s endocrine system. This causes a lack of communication between the endocrine system, the immune system, nervous system, and circadian mechanism.

The result of this is poor heart health, poor recovery, reproductive issues, immune disorders, and thyroid problems.

Alcohol disrupts sleep

Even though there is evidence that shows that alcohol helps you sleep deeply, but this only applies to the earlier hours of the night. It disrupts sleep later on, and it is required to see more results in the gym.

Also, alcohol makes you sleepier during the day, and your tolerance to its effects can increase with more frequent consumption.

The post Alcohol May Be Sabotaging Your Workout, Here’s How appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Improved Heart Health

Drinking alcohol increases heart rate and blood pressure, which can weaken the heart over time. Research has also shown that when we drink, we’re more likely to consume calorie-dense, high-fat foods, which can put further stress on the heart.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by California Gourmet Nuts (@californiagourmetnuts)

Clearer Skin

As a diuretic, alcohol dilates blood vessels and causes our bodies to become dehydrated. Not drinking can help to reduce the appearance of redness and keep skin from becoming too dry. Dry skin also produces excess oil, which can lead to acne and inflammation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neutrogena (@neutrogena)

Better Sleep

Alcohol disrupts REM sleep, which is necessary for learning, memory, and brain development. Taking a break from alcohol allows our bodies and brains to get the rest they need so we can enjoy increased focus and energy levels during the day. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brooklinen (@brooklinen)

The post It’s Not Too Late to Start Your Dry January appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Get Better Sleep

We all know that after a few drinks your sleep tends to be interrupted and not as deep. Having this type of sleep stops your body from repairing and replenishing itself. Taking a month off from drinking in January can help you feel more energized in the morning after a great night’s sleep.

Stronger Immune System

Drinking a lot of alcohol can suppress your immune system, which will make you more likely to catch colds and flu, and other sicknesses. Frequent drinking can also cause inflammation throughout the body, so taking a break can help you feel much better and less swollen.

Less Anxiety

The morning after drinking you generally feel tired, nauseous, and have some anxiety, which is all part of a hangover. Waking up sober for a month will bring you less anxiety in the evening and calmer mornings.

The post How to Reap the Health Benefits of Dry January appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that having the occasional drink while leading a healthy lifestyle is totally acceptable. There are even some alcohols that could be considered “healthier” than others as they are gentler on your gut and blood sugar, and some do actually have health benefits. 

Red Wine

Thanks to its inclusion of antioxidants and polyphenols, red wine is actually good for both your brain and heart. Having the odd glass of Merlot or Cabinet Sauvignon can potentially lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. We’ll say cheers to that!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ermitage78 (@ermitage78)

Tequila

If you are a fan of agave-based liquor, you’ll be pleased to know that it actually contains fewer calories and less sugar than most alcohols, making it the best choice to keep your blood sugar in balance.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ruhlman (@ruhlman)

Hard Kombucha

Hard kombucha is the alcoholic cousin of regular kombucha that has been fermented for longer, creating a higher ABV. But just like it’s non-alcoholic relative, both are rich in probiotics which improve gut health and aids in digestion.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Scrivner (@scrivys1234)

The post Choose These Healthier Alcohols on Your Next Night Out appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Weight Gain

We all know that most drinks contain plenty of added sugar and hidden calories, so it may be best to limit your alcohol intake if you’re trying to lose weight.

Performance

The truth is that moderate drinking probably won’t have a huge impact on your athletic performance. However, drinking four or more drinks is likely to decrease energy levels and affect your performance.

Sleep

Quality sleep can boost our energy levels, as well as increase performance and endurance, so getting enough quality sleep is extremely important for athletes. Even though drinking a glass of wine can sometimes help us fall asleep, consuming too much alcohol can most certainly affect our quality of sleep.

Decrease Muscle Building

Some studies have shown that binge drinking can decrease growth hormone production. This means that drinking too much alcohol is not a good idea if you want to build muscle, because it can sabotage muscle growth.

The post Here’s How Alcohol Can Impact Your Fitness Performance appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Choose Mixers Wisely

When choosing a mixture for your vodka or tequila, opt for one rich in antioxidants or 100 percent fruit juice over soda. Instead of adding empty calories, you’ll be getting health benefits from the juices. You can also mix sparkling water with liquors or wine, which is low in calories and will keep you hydrated.

Bloody Mary For Antioxidants

Bloody Marys are a tomato-based drink which are rich in antioxidants. During your next brunch, choose a Bloody Mary over a mimosa and make sure the mix is made with real tomatoes and free of corn syrup and artificial colors.

Kombucha For Bubbly and Gut-Friendly Drink

Kombucha adds bubbly to your cocktail and the probiotics will give you an immunity boosts. Kombucha is also delicious on its own.

Add Real Fruit

Squeeze real fruit into your drinks. Blood oranges, lemons, and tart cherries are great additions to any cocktail.

Swap Out Syrupy Liquids

Sure sweet liquors taste amazing, but they’re full of sugar. Instead use the real thing, like for a peppermint taste, use mint leaves and for a coffee taste, use espresso shots.

The post Love Cocktails? Here’s How to Make Them Healthier appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Besides the general health risks that alcohol brings, in this article we will discuss ways in which it affects muscle development and other fitness goals.  

Dehydrates Your Body

This substance can actually ruin your gains in many different ways. Firstly, it dehydrates your body. Studies reveal that dehydration can dramatically impair exercise performance, not to mention the dry mouth and thirst you feel the next morning.  

Weight Gain

Alcohol is also really high in calories which can lead to gaining weight without noticing it. One drink can contain more than 200 calories which undoubtedly will be stored as fat. The worst part is that these are ‘empty calories’ that have no nutritional value.  

Disrupts Muscle Growth

Lastly and most importantly for the bodybuilding community, this substance disrupts the growth of muscle mass because it blocks the process of absorbing protein. 

So, it’s ok to have some fun, just try to hit the bottle as rarely as possible so you don’t ruin all the effort you’ve invested in building the perfect body.  

The post 3 Ways Alcohol Will Kill Your Gains appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

But, what happens when you give up alcohol and go through a phase of sobriety. Here are some beneficial effects of cutting alcohol from your diet.

Better and Glowing Skin

Alcohol is a known diuretic, which entails making multiple trips to the bathroom. It also causes you to go to the bathroom more frequently than if you drank water. The results? Dry skin that appears lackluster. This is where the saying “drink moderately” comes into play. When you take a break from drinking, so does your skin, allowing it to repair itself naturally.

More Intentional Eating

Remember those drunken nights where after hanging out with friends, you’d all sit down and order a greasy pizza or a bag of fish and chips to cap off the night? Well, that won’t happen as much if you decide to take a drinking break. According to a study in the journal Obesity, the drunk munchies may be due to alcohol heightening the senses.

Better Quality of Sleep

The sugar in alcoholic drinks can be hard to shrug off in the wee hours of the evening. It can also keep our thoughts racing and blood pumping. After taking a sobriety break, you’ll notice your immune system strengthening and quality of sleep getting better as each night passes.

The post What Happens To Your Body When You Quit Drinking Alcohol appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Here’s how alcohol sabotages your efforts at the gym:

Alcohol disrupts your nutrient absorption

Alcohol affects your body’s natural ability to absorb nutrients, and it does so by reducing sodium, water and chloride transport. To lose weight or gain muscle, you need a healthy body as well as organs. This can somewhat be achieved if you gain the right nutrients from your diet and digest them accordingly.

Alcohol disrupts hormonal balance

Drinking affects your hormonal balance. It has an adverse effect on your body’s endocrine system. This causes a lack of communication between the endocrine system, the immune system, nervous system, and circadian mechanism.

The result of this is poor heart health, poor recovery, reproductive issues, immune disorders, and thyroid problems.

Alcohol disrupts sleep

Even though there is evidence that shows that alcohol helps you sleep deeply, but this only applies to the earlier hours of the night. It disrupts sleep later on, and it is required to see more results in the gym.

Also, alcohol makes you sleepier during the day, and your tolerance to its effects can increase with more frequent consumption.

The post Alcohol May Be Sabotaging Your Workout, Here’s How appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.