Alcohol and Metabolism

[tastethewaste]

So Im wondering, is there anything a person can do to decrease the effects that alcohol has on a persons metabolism? Im thinking of something other then say cocaine or amphetamines or any intoxicating sort of stimulant. Would taking some sort of metabolism booster such as green tea extract before or possibly during the period of alcohol consumption be enough to neutralize the effects or at least lessen them to some degree?

 

[nuke]

If you're asking this in regard to weight gain, the current consensus is mixed as to whether alcohol causes any weight gain in the first place. You may just want to drink low sugar mixtures like scotch or vodka and water. Green tea will certainly help.

 

[Doooofus]

A lot of weight gain associated with alcohol has been blamed on the foods you crave (i.e. greasy, salty foods) during and after alcohol use. Ever seen someone stumbling home from a big night out munching on a celery stick?

 

[Zagenth]

As far as weight gain, drinking beer in large quantities will add weight and develop a so called "pot belly", if exercise isn't in the equation. However, getting really drunk on anything tends to make the body crave food, almost like the body is begging for something to absorb the alcohol in the stomach.

Most bars and restaurants typically serve people that get too drunk something fatty, mainly fried. It tends to calm the drunks, mainly because it makes them sleepy. Hence why most bars that actually serve food have mainly fried foods on their menus.

Get really drunk, then eat, and most people get sleepy. Beer will add weight more than any other alcoholic beverage, I don't have any links or scientific data, just personal experience.

As far as the OP is concerned, the only way to counteract the food craving of a large alcohol binge is to take something that inhibits food cravings, like stimulants. However mixing stimulants and downers is not always the best idea. Anyways, large alcohol intake will induce the "munchies", so just assume that and deal with it accordingly.

 

[Jimboach]

This is not based on any science, but rather on personal experience as a bartender for many years:

The hardcore alcoholics who are strung out and really rely on booze and suffer the withdrawal and all, tend to be quite skinny. They drink anything they can get and have that rough not fat look to them. They do sport the pooch though.

The people with the big fat beer guts and the general messes like Artie Lange (spelling) from Howard Stern's show are the frat boy type who drink a lot and eat lots of greasy food as a result.

I may not be a scientist but the evidence, to me, is overwhelming.

 

[Niandra LaDes]

thank you jimboach.
as an alcoholic myself and someone whos known many kinds of alcoholics, i too have noticed this. the real hardcores dont look much different than a junkie or a tweaker. probably becuase they go thru the same levels of living hell.
big fat party animals, boring old men, and frat bros all sport the beer gut, and that has more to do with the lifestyle than the drinks of choice, which is light beer 75-90% of the time... *shudders*. Its not the beer, man. its the nachos and the burgers.