Can You Drink Alcohol While Intermittent Fasting?

As you’re cycling between eating and fasting, it can be tempting to have a quick drink in the evening to calm yourself down and settle in for the night. Or, perhaps you’ve gone to a party with the intent to drink while your fasting period is active. Either way, having one drink is harmless, right? It can’t be enough to break your fast or ruin fat burning in your body.

Unfortunately, it can, and does break your fast. Even one glass of wine could be enough to shatter your progress for the evening. Beers are full of calories and liquor affects fat burning. So the short answer to whether or not you can drink alcohol while intermittent fasting is unfortunately no. But, let’s take a look at some of the effects alcohol could have on your intermittent fasting system.

Key Takeaways

• Drinking alcohol while fasting can break your fast, as even a small amount of alcohol contains calories that can push you above your daily caloric threshold.
• Drinking alcohol during your eating window is still acceptable, but excessive consumption can slow down the fat-burning process and make intermittent fasting less effective.
• Limiting alcohol intake is important for weight loss goals during intermittent fasting, as alcohol is high in calories and excessive consumption can lead to bloating and weight gain.
• Alcohol can have other negative health effects beyond its impact on weight loss, including disruption of sleep and increased risk of liver damage and cancer.
• To get the most out of intermittent fasting, it’s recommended to avoid alcohol during the fasting period and limit consumption during the eating window.

Drinking During Your Fast

The whole point of an intermittent fasting is to keep your body below a certain number of calories for a long period of time. This cycle of fasting and eating allows your body ample time to break down and process the nutrients of the day. Once you go above that small threshold of caloric intake allowed during a fasting window, all progress is halted and your body has to restart the process.

Whether you’re a social drinker or someone who has a glass of wine every night to wind down, it might be smart to cut the drinks once the fasting window starts. One sip of alcohol could have as much as 7 calories – an entire glass could account for 100 of your daily calories. Drinking that during your fasting period will certainly break your fast and return your body to “normal”.

Avoid drinking alcohol while intermittent fasting so that your body can actively process the calories it brought on during the day. Once you introduce that alcohol into your system, your body thinks it’s time to start eating again and has to focus on getting back into the fast. It can be quite detrimental to the fasting process.

A Slowed Down Process

But what about drinking alcohol during your eating window? It’s still totally acceptable to drink alcohol when your eating time is happening, but there are some effects that you should be aware of. Drinking alcohol now and then won’t have a massive impact on your weight loss, but drinking too much is certain to slow the process a lot.

A glass or two of alcoholic drinks every day will significantly slow down the fat-burning process. This impedes the intermittent fasting process as it makes it harder for your body to switch from processing calories to fat. It takes longer to burn the fat in your body and so the intermittent fasting period becomes less effective. This will restrict the amount you can eat throughout the day and still see a difference.

Weight Gain

The whole point of intermittent fasting for most people is to lose weight. If you’re introducing too much alcohol into your system, you could quickly notice the opposite is occurring in excess. Too much alcohol could lead to bloating and eventually weight gain. If you’re looking to make the most out of intermittent fasting, restricting your alcohol intake throughout the day is a must.

Alcohol is so high in calories that even one drink could be enough for the day. Take care of your body and limit the amount of alcohol you consume to avoid ample weight gain. Do not drink alcohol during your intermittent fasting period as it breaks the fast and limits the body’s ability to burn fat.

Don’t forget to check our recommended fasting apps on this page to make your intermittent fasting journey easier.

FAQ

• Can I drink alcohol while intermittent fasting?

Technically, you can, but it’s not recommended. Alcohol consumption can interfere with fasting and may lead to dehydration, dizziness, and other adverse effects.

• Will drinking alcohol break my fast?

Yes, drinking alcohol will break your fast. Alcohol contains calories and can cause an insulin response, which can interfere with the fasting process.

• How much alcohol can I drink while intermittent fasting?

It’s recommended that you avoid alcohol altogether while intermittent fasting. However, if you must drink, keep it to a minimum and opt for low-calorie options like light beer or wine.

• When is the best time to drink alcohol while intermittent fasting?

It’s not recommended to drink alcohol while intermittent fasting, but if you choose to do so, it’s best to drink during your eating window.

• What are the risks of drinking alcohol while intermittent fasting?

Drinking alcohol while intermittent fasting can increase the risk of dehydration, dizziness, and other adverse effects. It can also interfere with fasting and may lead to weight gain.

• Can I drink alcohol during my fasting window for a 24-hour fast?

No, you should avoid drinking alcohol during your fasting window, even if you’re doing a 24-hour fast.

• How can I avoid drinking alcohol while intermittent fasting?

To avoid drinking alcohol while intermittent fasting, you can plan by scheduling your eating window when you’re less likely to drink, avoid social situations that involve alcohol, and opt for non-alcoholic drinks instead.