You take a drink. As the alcohol enters into digestion, it is split into two
compounds: fat and acetate. The fat is taken through the bloodstream and stored
wherever you tend to deposit fat. The acetate is taken into the bloodstream and
used as your primary energy fuel.
Acetate is used as your primary energy fuel. Hmmmmmmmmmmm....this means that rather than burning
carbohydrates, protein, or fat as a fuel, your body relies on the acetate for
energy. It completely stops burning anything else. Suddenly, you have a surplus of
carbs, protein, and fat circulating in the body with nowhere to go. So where does it
all end up? You guessed it...it's converted to fat and deposited on your waistline.
But that's not the only effect on your body. Alcohol also acts as a potent appetizer. Ever
heard of an apertif? It's an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to increase the
appetite, and many restaurants realize that this is a great way to get you to order
more food! Several studies exist that show a sharp increase in caloric intake when
an alcoholic drink is consumed before a meal (compared to a glass of water, or even
a soda!). So now you want either: A) another glass of wine or B) food (probably
something salty or greasy).
That's not all! Let's say that you succumbs to your appetite and finish the bottle.
Just a single bout of heavy drinking will vastly increase the levels of the hormone
cortisol, while significantly decreasing the levels of the hormone testosterone. In
addition to a headache, here's why you may be concerned: cortisol causes the
body to breakdown muscle and suppresses recovery from exercise, while low
testosterone makes the body less likely build lean muscle or to burn fat as a fuel. So
your getting a big belly, and skinny arms and legs.
Or maybe you already had a big belly, skinny arms and legs...
Isn't acetate used in your nail polish?
