re: Alcohol & Fitness

quote:

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I think it does step to the front of the energy-burning line

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Full explanation:

Alcohol breaks down as follows:

Ethanol->Acetaldehyde->Acetic Acid->AcetylCoA(directly useful to the body as energy)

Acetaldehyde is a poison, and your body will try to limit its concentration in the body. Therefore, if your acetaldehyde concentration gets too high it will hold off on converting ethanol until your body can convert some of the acetaldehyde to acetic acid. This causes ethanol to build up in your blood stream and this is the buzz you get. Also, since acetaldehyde is a poison, your body fully applies your liver to getting rid of it.

Your liver then doesn't not release glucose into the blood stream at this time (too busy with the alcohol). This means that the macros that require your liver to convert to useful energy (proteins, fats) are not being converted to energy during this time. Too much of this results in a "fatty liver" and alcohol related liver diseases.

However, simple carbohydrates don't require your liver to break down into energy - even your saliva will start to convert simple starches to glucose. If you consume a simple carb with drinking, it will enter your bloodstream same as normal and spike insulin (non-diabetic) or spike blood sugar (diabetic). This insulin spike will promote fat retention.

TL:DR - Alcohol delays processing of certain metabolic processes, but simple carb breakdown is not hindered by alcohol.