Did you know that many people believe that they can compensate for drinking too much by exercising vigorously in the days afterwards? A new survey recently published shows that nearly a fifth of the people questioned believed that they could negate excessive alcohol consumption with exercise, either by using their own home fitness equipment or going down to the gym and using the more high-tech workout equipment there.
The government and GPs are worried by this trend as they say that drinkers are sticking their heads in the sand with this attitude. Government guidelines on the safe consumption of alcohol recommend a maximum of three to four units daily for men and two to three for women. These units should not be saved up for a binge drink at weekends and all drinkers should have at least two alcohol free days per week.
It is a fact that no amount of exercise can burn off the excesses caused by drinking double or more the daily recommended limit – it is absolutely no use thinking that a run or a swim or vigorous use of an Abdominal Trainer the next day is going to make any difference whatsoever to the damage that alcohol can do to your body.
The study accepts that people enjoy a drink socially; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it is one of the pleasures of life. However, those who drink heavily and regularly are making themselves vulnerable to increased risk of mouth and throat cancer, and drinkers are more than three times more likely than nondrinkers to have a stroke. So the best advice is to drink moderately and exercise regularly to have the best chance of enjoying a long and healthy life.