If you drink alcohol after working out, it can cut in half the body’s signal to build muscle—compared to just drinking a protein shake after exercise.

46

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

46

Community contributions welcome

46

Alcohol Ingestion Impairs Maximal Post-Exercise Rates of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis following a Single Bout of Concurrent Training

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2014

The study found that drinking alcohol after a tough workout reduces a key muscle-building signal in the body compared to just drinking protein, which supports the claim that alcohol hampers muscle recovery.

Contradicting (0)

0

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Alcohol Ingestion Impairs Maximal Post-Exercise Rates of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis following a Single Bout of Concurrent Training

Score: 46

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088384

Similar Assertions

Drinking alcohol after a workout doesn’t seem to make your muscles break down faster than drinking a protein shake or a sports drink — at least not in the first few hours after you exercise.

0

46

74%

When you lift weights, your muscles temporarily stop building protein, but right after you finish, they kick into high gear to repair and grow—this happens because key signaling molecules in your muscles get activated during recovery.

37

0

72%