But one glass too many at the office do, a couple of beers at the pub with your colleagues, or just a few extra drinks on your night out with friends can make all these festivities challenging on your body.
Although Christmas only happens once a year, you should still control the amount of alcohol you ingest; especially if you’re concerned about the way you look. You may have already heard that excess alcohol can generate up to 200 different diseases, including liver conditions and some forms of cancer, but you probably didn’t know that just a few extra drinks from time to time can also have negative effects on your weight and wellbeing.
Alcohol increases fat storage
This is because our bodies can’t store alcohol, so they have to metabolise it immediately. The chemical reactions that take place allow for the production of fatty acid, due to the inefficient processing of fats and sugar that alcohol consumption causes.
Because your body starts using alcohol for instant energy, your brain receives signals of excess of energy; remember dancing to the Macarena at the Christmas party? This makes your body store the fatty acid and can cause you to put on weight.
Say no to snacks in the pub
The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research has developed a series of studies on the effects that alcohol has on glucose, insulin, and fat oxidation. While there is still no clear connection between alcohol and excessive weight, there are a series of factors that make scientists connect heavy drinking with fat storage.
Not sober, just moderate
If you do drink, drink moderately. Some types of alcohol, such as red wine, has been argued to have certain health benefits and can raise the levels of “good cholesterol” in your system and help fight against heart disease. At the end of the day, it’s all about quantities. If a glass of wine turns into a bottle, it’s probably best to abstain.