Research

Hormonal

Alcohol consumption reduces sports performance by decreasing strength, power, speed, and resistance, and inhibits muscle synthesis by up to 24% even when consumed immediately post-exercise.

Avoid alcohol after training. It increases cortisol, dehydrates you, and can reduce muscle synthesis by 24%, effectively undoing your workout benefits, even if you drink it right after exercising.

ModerateRefutesMEDIUM confidence
Among the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, the following can be highlighted: reduction of SP due to decrease in strength, power, speed, and resistance; diuretic effect that affects hydration [46]; diminution of sleep quality, mood, and immune system [47]; elevation of cortisol concentration; and reduction of muscle synthesis up to 24% even when consumed right at the end of the exercise [48].
Raúl Arcusa Saura et al. · IntechOpen eBooks · 2019

Why this rating

The paper cites reference [48] for the 24% reduction but provides no primary data.

Source

Sports Nutrition and Performance

Raúl Arcusa Saura et al. · IntechOpen eBooks · 2019

DOI 10.5772/intechopen.84467

book_chapterCited 7×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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