Athletes are well aware that taking all kinds of supplements along with alcohol is an unreasonable action. After all, the weakening effect of alcohol on the body is a well-known fact. However, each athlete needs periodic relaxation and emotional unloading, which eliminates the feeling of accumulated fatigue. Therefore, athletes often allow themselves to consume a glass of wine or beer. In our publication, I would like to talk about the compatibility of the popular creatine supplement with alcohol. Let's find out how reasonable such actions are? What threatens the body with the consequences of such a symbiosis?
What is creatine?
Creatine is an essential amino acid for the body, which is involved in the formation of new muscle fibers. The chemical compound maintains healthy metabolic processes. Without creatine, athletes can only rely on a moderate increase in strength over long, strained workouts. Indeed, during regular exercises, the body does not have time to produce a sufficient amount of free energy. Useful amino acid helps speedy recovery after increased physical exertion and provides muscle building.
Through the use of supplements, athletes receive the following benefits:
- The increase in the number of approaches.
- The gain in speed.
- The possibility of lifting more weight.
- Active addition of muscle fibers.
Prerequisites for Creatine Monohydrate
Sports nutrition experts advise creatine intake in several categories of people. A suitable solution looks for those who want to strengthen the body, but suffer from poor health. Another reason that encourages the use of supplements is daily activity in the regime of enhanced training.
The human body is able to reproduce creatine only in small quantities. The liver, kidneys and pancreas are responsible for the synthesis of amino acids. The concentration of the substance in the tissues of the body ensures the formation of ATP molecules. The latter have the function of transporting energy throughout the body. The more such molecules are reproduced, the more enduring and stronger the person is.
Given the above, it is reasonable to take creatine if necessary to increase physical performance. Sports supplement will benefit athletes who should achieve high results in the shortest possible time.
On the effects of alcohol on the body
Are alcohol and creatine compatible? To understand this issue in detail, it is worth taking a look at how the use of strong drinks affects the state of organs and systems:
- Alcohol prevents the production of copious amounts of proteins in body tissues. The result is the inhibition of natural metabolic processes that occur in muscle fibers.
- The body of a drinking person suffers from a deficiency of proteins that are quickly broken down by alcohol and excreted from the body. The body can no longer cope with increased physical exertion as high quality as before. The result is a slowdown in recovery processes after receiving microtraumas in the muscle structure, without which it is impossible to imagine the formation of new muscles.
- Alcohol causes the body to become susceptible to insulin. Thus, malfunctions occur in the production of growth hormone - the hormone that is responsible for the growth of the body.
- Drinking alcohol leads to dehydration. An alcohol-prone athlete suffers from a moisture deficit in body tissues, and often feels an unquenchable thirst.
Given the above, it is easy to guess why creatine and alcohol are considered incompatible substances. More specifically, a combination of these products will be discussed later.
Creatine Monohydrate and Alcohol - Compatibility
A specific effect of taking creatine is to delay the abundance of moisture in body tissues. Due to this action, the muscles visually increase in volume. Failure to use the drug leads to the disappearance of such a result.
If creatine and alcohol are taken, the ability to concentrate moisture in tissues can have a detrimental effect on the body. Any alcohol is a diuretic. The kidneys begin to function in an enhanced mode, trying to bring ethanol out. The effects of creatine and alcohol come into confrontation. The body is deficient in energy. Training no longer produces any impressive results. Muscle mass is added extremely slowly.
Drinking alcohol leads to a decrease in concentration. At the same time, the endurance of the athlete suffers. The athlete loses the ability to focus on the correct implementation of exercises. Inattention during exercise increases the risk of accidental injury.
Effects
The combination of sports supplements and alcohol is fraught with a number of potentially dangerous consequences. Creatine and alcohol together can cause the development of such negative symptoms:
- Bloating.
- Attacks of nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Difficulties with training at the usual pace.
- Longer periods of recovery.
- Stopping the formation of new muscle fibers.
- Convulsive conditions due to dehydration.
- Increased injuries when performing simple exercises.
Finally
So we found out how compatible creatine and alcohol are. In conclusion, it is worth noting that the instructions for using the sports supplement absolutely say nothing about the possibility and consequences of taking the substance along with alcohol. There are no restrictions on the combination of these products. This is probably why many people who lead an active lifestyle hint at the possibility of drinking besides the course of taking creatine monohydrate. However, the information from our publication indicates the opposite. To resort to such actions is at least unreasonable.