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Do dry challenges work?
You have probably heard of Dry July and Ocsober. These and other one-month alcohol abstinence campaigns are followed by many people worldwide. But do dry challenges work? Campaigns such as Dry July don’t necessarily aim at people quitting alcohol forever but perhaps think about their drinking habits. Most of the alcohol campaigns last for a month, exist in multiple countries, and include Dry January, Febfast, Dry July and Ocsober. Some of these may sound familiar to you. These campaigns come with accountability through social media and sometimes fundraising. This article is based on a study published in the Harm Reduction Journal, which analysed 13 sources which included studies and campaign…
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How does alcohol affect exercise?
Within the realm of sports, alcohol has been viewed as a performance-enhancing drug, a rehydration beverage, a social lubricant and a post-event treat. Although it is generally understood that excess alcohol intake can be detrimental to health, the answer to “how does alcohol affect exercise?” is less clear. Alcohol consumption is a socially acceptable and expected aspect of team and other sports, and major alcoholic beverage brands often sponsor sports teams and events. Therefore, instead of pretending we can remove alcohol from athlete’s diets, it is more useful to identify which aspects of exercise can be affected by its intake. How does alcohol affect exercise? Energy balance Alcohol is a…
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Alcohol and health: To drink or not to drink
With the end of the year almost here, most of us have social events to attend, which in many cases means increased alcohol consumption. If you wonder what’s the relationship between alcohol and health, read on. Alcohol, a drug and a nutrient Alcohol is one of the most prevalent socially accepted drugs. It is also a nutrient, in the sense that it contributes to energy intake. Each gram of alcohol contributes 7 kilocalories (29.3 kilojoules) per gram. Compare this to 4 kilocalories (16.7 kilojoules) per gram of carbohydrate or protein and 9 kilocalories (37.7 kilojoules) per gram of fat. To put these numbers into perspective, a standard drink is a…
