Exercise Protects Against Negative Impacts of Alcohol
Researchers were interested in the effects of exercise on individuals who consume alcohol. Prior research links alcohol consumption with a higher risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions that negatively impact lifespan.
This new research was a mouse study because there are many similarities between mice and humans. The 37 young adult mice were divided into 4 groups, and over a 6-week period experienced:
Group 1: No alcohol and no exercise;
Group 2: No alcohol and received exercise;
Group 3: Consumed alcohol and no exercise; or
Group 4: Consumed alcohol and received exercise.
After the 6-week interventions, the mice were given normal food, water, and care as they lived out their lifespan.
Researchers discovered that the sedentary mice that drank alcohol had significantly shorter lifespans than those that did not consume alcohol. However, the mice that consumed alcohol and exercised daily had lifespans that were similar to those that did not consume alcohol.
Takeaway: This research suggests that aerobic exercise is protective against the negative impacts of alcohol consumption. Researchers advise that because exercise positively impacts all body systems, including those negatively impacted by alcohol (brain, liver, and muscle), that adults who consume alcohol should also exercise regularly.
Source
American Psychological Society, Planning to Hit the Bars? Be Sure to Hit the Gym First | American Physiological Society, Apr. 25, 2025.