Sonny's blog

After effect of alcohol consumption

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So I learned that Alcohol (well, a byproduct of it in the body) would interrupt the liver to supply glycogen, hence body will draw glycogen from the muscles to provide energy, in case food was not consumed alogside.

Multiple perspectives here. All are my existing knowledge, I call them observation and analysis, you can call them brain burps. Some might be obvious to you, some don't know anything beyond the word "blood".

The ruined next day #

The hangover is highly likely the result of emptied energy resources (glycogen only in here) and body cannot access its own fat storage (because liver is disrupted to cleanse the carcinogen, the acetaldehyde) hence the person is in a state of energy limbo. Gluconeogenesis cannot happen rapidly enough and the person is in a coma-like state. Although, I'm not sure what happens when someone in deep ketosis consumes too much alcohol. Not sure if the triglyceride could be carried to the cells or there is going to be a build up for that period of time.

Ketosis gate #

Another topic would be using this method (of course controlled, but of course stupid) to deplete glycogen to enter ketosis. Or.. be mindful of this fact and use it as a quick leverage after let's say a once in a while party.

Superwhat? #

The last topic is athletes, which are usually avised to steer away from alcohol. One key characteristics of race days is to have glycogen levels topped up to the max and even beyond. There is a term called glycogen supercompensation that body stores glycogen beyond its usual routine. The athlete and the coach would want to be in control, alcohol disrupts that control heavily.

Plummeted HRV #

While this phenomenon concerns athletes, I am only reporting my own observation. I got a Garmin smartwatch and recently they have introduced Heart-Rate Variability index to the watch. After downing more than a liter of wine within 2 days, my HRV numbers really went down. You want them to be high, but you should compare your numbers with yourself, not the others.