Researchers at Massey University in New Zealand put volunteers through

a strenuous leg workout that left them sore for several days. Drinking 1 gram
of alcohol per kilogram of bodyweight after the workout delayed muscle
recovery compared to a control group drinking straight orange juice,
but a dose of 0.5 grams had no effect.
9 HIGH DOSE 9 LOW DOSE
1 G ETHANOL / KG BODY WEIGHT 0.5 G ETHANOL / KG BODY WEIGHT
LEG MUSCLE TORQUE

300 300
(NEWTON-METRES)

ORANGE JUICE ORANGE JUICE

ALCOHOL ALCOHOL
250 250
ALCOHOL
200 200

150 150
Pre 36 60 Pre 36 60
TIME AFTER EXERCISE (HOURS) TIME AFTER EXERCISE (HOURS)
1 GRAM OF ALCOHOL/KG BODY 0.5 GRAMs ALCOHOL/KG BODY
WEIGHT CORRESPONDS TO: WEIGHT CORRESPONDS TO:
50 70 90 WEIGHT (KG) 50 70 90
63.4 88.7 114.1 ALCOHOL (ML) 31.7 44.4 57

3.7 5.2 6.7 1.9 2.6 3.3

BEER - 5%
341 ml

4.2 5.9 7.6 2.1 3.0 3.8

WINE - 12%
125 ml

2.1 3.0 3.9 1.1 1.5 1.9

EGG NOG - with 74 ml
double shot brandy or rum
TRISH McALASTER/THE GLOBE AND MAIL 8 SOURCES: BARNES ET AL.,
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN SPORT, EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY