Many people want to know if drinking alcohol can impact muscle growth. Well the answer is yes!

This will not be a speech against drinking. I’m definitely not against alcohol. I like to have drinks myself sometimes.

If you’re trying to build muscle, consuming a lot of alcohol will have a bad impact.

Here are 5 ways that drinking alcohol can slow your muscle gains…

#1 It Slows Protein Synthesis

Amino acids have to band together to form proteins. This is called protein synthesis. Drinking a lot can slow this process down as much as 20%.

Your muscles are made mostly of protein and water, so you can see how this is a concern!

#2 It Lowers Testosterone

If you want to gain muscle, testosterone is your best friend!

#3 It Dehydrates You

To break down the alcohol, your kidneys must filter large quantities of water. This can cause major dehydration

Your muscles are about 70% water, so even slight dehydration is a problem.

#4 It Depletes Your Body Of Vitamins And Minerals

Excessive drinking causes vitamins A, C, B, calcium, and other minerals to be drained at fast rates.

This affects a lot of functions within your body, including processes that help repair and grow muscle tissue.

#5 It Causes Fat Storage

Alcohol can also be fattening. For one thing, the calories contain no nutritional value. Two, alcohol disrupts your body’s Krebs Cycle. The Krebs Cycle plays a role in fat burning processes. If you gain body fat, your muscle will be less visible.

If you want to build muscle fast, monitor your alcohol intake and drink in moderation.

Having some drinks now and then won’t hurt you very much. If you wanna get drunk a few times a week, please realize that it’s going to slow down your ability to build lean muscle.

Before you start drinking, have a lot of water, take some extra vitamins and minerals and eat a meal high in protein.

Terrence Banks has a site on how to build muscle and tips on the fastest way to build muscle.