Any amount of alcohol affects both the yield and recovery of the athlete.

According to Dr. Peter Manonelles, Secretary General of the Spanish Federation of Sports Medicine, the sport requires the total integrity of all organ systems
Alcohol consumption has resulted in increased urine output and therefore promotes dehydration
Experts say there is no evidence that the use of beer, especially as its alcohol content is, has a significant effect on improving the athlete's health


Any amount of alcohol significantly affects both the yield and recovery of the athlete. It's compelling shows Dr. Peter Manonelles, Secretary General of the Spanish Federation of Sports Medicine, in assessing the possible positive effects of moderate consumption of alcohol, including beer, in the life of a sportsman.

In recent months, have released some news regarding alleged benefits of beer consumption in the recovery of an athlete, but much of the medical establishment distrusts these precepts. Small amounts of alcohol (from 0.2 grams of alcohol per liter of blood) have different effects on neuropsychological functions. The sport requires the total integrity of all organ systems, so any amount of alcohol significantly affects both the yield and recovery of the athlete, "adds Dr Manonelles.

The consumption of alcohol in any of its variants, has a negative impact on performance, strength and coordination. The ethanol present in alcohol, affects the nervous system and can lead to euphoria and initially stronger, but the final effect is depressed, ie, depresses the capacity of individuals to deal with any situation and reduces glare. As a result, movements are slowed, coordination decreases and if it was excessive intake may cause changes in vision.

Similarly, he seems far from clear that alcohol, even in minimum quantities of beer, have some beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease prevention. Alcohol is, after snuff, a leading single cause of preventable mortality in Spain. The positive correlation between various cancers and consumption of alcohol strongly advises against any use, as stated quite clearly the prestigious scientific organizations such as World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research, explains Ms. Yolanda Hall, dietitian and coordinator of the Spanish Association of Dietitians-Nutritionists (AEDN).

Furthermore, alcohol acts as a diuretic which can lead to a picture of dehydration during sports, and because their intake increases fluid loss, there is also a greater loss of vitamins and minerals essential for the proper performance sport as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium.

Alcohol and sport
The Spanish Federation of Sports Medicine published the Consensus on sports drinks. Composition and fluid replacement guidelines. It pays special attention to define some guidelines to promote proper hydration after physical activity.

It is very important that the person to practice a sporting activity is adequately hydrated throughout the day, ie before, during and after physical effort you make. The hydration during physical activity is incomplete in many sports by the characteristics of effort and perspiration losses. In these cases we must try to optimize the moisture as possible, report says.

For the Secretary General of the Spanish Federation of Sports Medicine, alcohol consumption, even if this is found in beer, has many harmful effects. Among the harmful effects is dehydration.

Furthermore, ethanol is readily absorbed into the body and impairs the metabolism of other nutrients at the same time generating an inhibitory effect on fat oxidation, thus, can cause weight gain at the expense of unwanted body fat.

Among other negative effects on metabolism, we can say that ethanol increases the degradation of proteins, which of course harms our body lean mass.

For these and other reasons, Dr. Manonelles discourages the consumption of beer in an athlete's diet. It has been shown that the use of beer, especially as its alcohol content is, has a significant effect on improving health. The sport is associated with a set of ethical values that should be waived: companionship, respect your opponent, and so on. But it must also involve the waiver of toxic habits such as doping, drug consumption of snuff and alcohol, he believes.

In the same vein, Ms. Hall adds: The only thing to be transmitted clearly to the population, do sport or not, is that in any case, increased alcohol intake is a measure recommended. Alcohol is a hazardous substance and as such must be addressed when we address the population.