Today we will discuss alcohol vs. cannabis. It’s safe to say we all appreciate the chance to relax and unwind, allowing ourselves to momentarily escape from the demands of our daily lives. Happy hour, having a drink at dinner, or a nightcap are common and socially acceptable ways to loosen our minds after the responsibilities of the day. However, very rarely does anyone wake up after a night of drinking and feel fantastic.
If you’re a canna-ssoieur you know that cannabis allows us to unplug and leaves us feeling plenty mellow, without any of the side effects. If you’re new to cannabis, you may be hesitant to make the switch from alcohol. So I’m going to lay out the reasons you should consider switching, from a fitness and nutrition standpoint! Fitness-wise, cannabis beats alcohol and will bring you weight loss and better fitness outcomes.
PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL
Stomach discomfort, nausea, headache, dry mouth, and overall body fatigue are just some of the unpleasantness we experience after drinking. These effects alone often discourage us from drinking, but consider the following additional reasons why you should prioritize cannabis over alcohol for superior fitness.
ALCOHOL CONTRIBUTES TO WEIGHT GAIN
The way your body metabolizes alcohol (or should I say doesn’t metabolize) is different from food. Essentially, your body sees alcohol as a poison and uses its resources to try to get rid of the alcohol. Since your body is occupied trying to rid itself of the alcohol, it’s not able to efficiently process the food you’re eating, hence weight gain.
The calories from the drink itself also add to the problem with drinks starting at a minimum of 100 calories and quickly adding up to 250 calories for sugary drinks, wine and beer. A candy bar is also about 250 calories yet society has labeled them as “unhealthy”. Both have little to no nutritional value. Alcohol is not a carbohydrate, protein or a fat and therefore does not provide the body with any energy or fuel.
GREATER HEALTH RISKS
In addition to just making us feel crappy, adding empty calories and preventing our body from metabolizing food properly, there are a number of health risks associated with alcohol including:
DNA damage, acceleration of aging, healthy tissue damage, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm (which raises the risk of blood clots and stroke), cognitive decline, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Here’s a sobering statistic: alcoholic liver disease kills about 22,000 people in the United States annually.
According to a 2022 report, individuals who drink just two alcoholic beverages daily can damage the liver in as few as 5 years. Additionally, 90% of those studied who have four drinks daily show signs of alcoholic fatty liver.
REDUCES EFFECTIVENESS OF WORKOUTS
Alcohol is detrimental to performance because of both how it affects the body physically and how it impairs brain functions like judgment. Consuming alcohol after a workout prevents proper healing of our muscles by decreasing secretion of certain hormones. This contributes to prolonged soreness and delayed healing time.
Not true with cannabis! Professional and recreational athletes alike use cannabis regularly to enhance their mind-body connection, alleviate performance anxiety and clearly focus on their training. More and more evidence is appearing showing the benefits of cannabis through popular methods such as topicals, ingestion or inhalation.
CANNABIS > ALCOHOL
All forms of cannabis including: CBD (non psychoactive), and THC (psychoactive), and the lesser known cannabinoids (eg: CBN, CBG, THCv), provide some or all of the following benefits for our fitness:
- Support for muscle and joint function, mood, and overall wellness
- Stimulation of serotonin in the brain
- Reduction of pain and inflammation
- Promote quality sleep
- Clarity and focus for life’s daily tasks and creative endeavors
- An enhanced mind body connection
- Certain kinds can suppress appetite and help with regulation of cravings, hunger and fullness
- Used responsibly, cannabis can help us with managing anxiety, enhance our fitness and accelerate weight loss.
CANNABIS DRINKS ARE HOT RIGHT NOW
There’s a “sober curious” movement happening as younger generations weigh the health effects of alcohol. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 62% of adults under age 35 say they drink alcohol, which is 10% less than 2 decades ago. Trends like “Dry January” are more than just social media fads, they are becoming part of our culture more each year.
Cannabis infused drink manufacturers are responding to this trend by providing options for social drinkers who still want a slight buzz from a “bubbly, refreshing” beverage without the nasty effects. Personally, I cannot wait to be able to order an infused drink at a restaurant or bar so that I can enjoy a slight buzz and relaxation if my friends are enjoying their more traditional happy hour cocktails. Thankfully, popular brands like Cann, Happi, and Rebel Rabbit are available to ship directly to your door.
Pro Tip: First time trying cannabis infused drinks? Select a drink with a 1:1 ratio of CBD:THC to maximize the relaxation effect and learn how your body tolerates a canna-buzz.
YOU NEED TO KNOW
It takes time to understand your body using cannabis. Much like we learned our bodies using alcohol (possibly in our younger years!), we need to take the time to try various strains, dosages and delivery methods to determine our optimal usage. Be open and willing to try different products before deciding what’s the best choice for you.
Looking to lose weight? Working for optimal fitness? Choose cannabis, not alcohol, as your way to relax, rejuvenate, recover and refresh!
If you’re interested in more personalized information or want to explore further, feel free to reach out to me directly at Beth@Cannafitnessnutrition.com. You can discover more about my comprehensive 12 week program, CannaFit, which helps you integrate cannabis into your fitness and nutrition for superior wellness at www.cannafitnessnutrition.com.