Published on: 24-Feb-2023
Many factors come into play when determining your athletic abilities, and your diet is an obvious example of one that impacts your potential to perform.
If you’re a drinker, then you might recognize that alcohol does have a degree of influence in this context, but how much does it matter, and what should you do if you worry that your intake is an issue?
Alcohol Can Compromise Your Performance
It can be difficult to reduce or cut out alcohol from your diet entirely, as drinking is often seen as a way of unwinding after practice or competition. But the undeniable fact is that regular consumption of alcoholic beverages can compromise your performance.
Alcohol has been proven to reduce strength, speed and endurance in athletes. Research shows that it affects both physical skills and cognitive abilities needed for peak performances. Even light-to-moderate amounts of drinking can impair reaction time and coordination, leading to an overall decrease in athletic performance.
It’s also worth considering the effects on recovery from training sessions— dehydration caused by alcohol consumption means decreased muscle repair, which will hinder progress over the longer term.
As well as its direct impact on sports ability, excessive drinking may lead to other lifestyle changes that have an indirect effect – such as poor diet choices, and the increased calorie intake that comes with it.
Where to Get Help
If you’ve decided that it’s time to cut down or quit drinking altogether, then the next question is – how do I go about this?
A local facility, such as a detox center in Indiana, can be an important asset in the journey towards sobriety. Let’s look at what you should expect when visiting one.
Firstly, your medical team will assess your physical condition and any risk factors associated with withdrawal symptoms. This helps them create a tailored plan of care designed specifically for you.
Secondly, there will likely be some form of counseling or therapy sessions included into your stay – these are essential tools for understanding why we drink in the first place and building strategies for maintaining abstinence long-term.
Finally, support groups are invaluable sources of strength during recovery; many centers offer such meetings both onsite and online after discharge from their facility.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
It is important to remember that alcohol affects everyone differently, and the length of time it takes for you to see improvements in your sports performance after quitting will depend on several factors. Generally speaking, most people start feeling some benefits within a week or two if they are no longer drinking. This could mean increased energy levels, better sleep quality and improved mental clarity – all essential ingredients for peak athletic performance.
The full impact can take anywhere from one month up to three months before becoming noticeable, as the body adjusts physiologically and psychologically over this period of time. During this phase there may be occasional cravings which should not be ignored; support systems such as friends or family members may help with managing these moments effectively so you don’t relapse into old habits again.
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason that most professional athletes either abstain from alcohol altogether, or only drink rarely and in small quantities.
Today, there are so many delicious non-alcoholic beverages on the market that there’s really no need to go for the hard stuff when you’re at the bar or chilling at home, so make this change if you’re looking to boost your performance.
The post Can Alcohol Affect Sports Performance? appeared first on Sports Medicine Weekly By Dr. Brian Cole.