If you’ve ever been to one of our CrossFit Committed parties, whether it was the popular Christmas party or pre/post Open party at WOD & Rest, you’ve probably noticed that CrossFitters like to have a few drinks. In the summer, when it’s nice and warm outside it is tempting sit and enjoy a drink (or two) at your favorite beer garden. Which is why we are going to look at how our bodies process alcohol and how much drinking affects our performance. How do we process alcohol? Various factors -weight, sex, how fast we drink it, or whether we drink on an empty stomach- affect how fast our metabolism tackles alcohol. However, the process is always the same. First, it is processed, then distributed through out the body and then degraded. When we drink, the alcohol (ethanol) travels straight to our stomach where it is immediately absorbed (about 20-25%) into our bloodstream. The rest continues to the small intestine, where it is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Once absorbed, it continues to our liver where it is metabolised. Usually, it takes up about 90 minutes to absorb 14 grams of alcohol (about 1 beer, wine, or a shot of hard alcohol). However, the speed … Read More