Shouldn't alcohol help muscle growth?

[The 3 Karma]

I've heard lots of things about alcohol being negative for muscle growth (though I've been unable to find an unflawed explanation yet). However, my (basic) understanding of hormones and neurotransmitters seems to imply otherwise. So I figured I'd see what the freaks (that's a compliment) over at ABC have to say.

This is what my knowledge tells me:

Alcohol increases GABAergic activity, and slows NMDA receptors. This seems to be the most prominent effect of it. The former (GABA) acts on the pituitary, and releases HGH. Shouldn't this, in the end, assist growth?

[Venom]

Check this post out, bro

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum/sho...;page=0#1214380

[The 3 Karma]

Eh, thanks. Most of that I have no idea about, I must have missed that article.

If I remember, the effects of alcohol on melatonin are much of what reduced HGH levels during sleep; as after intoxication, the body has trouble achieving stages of sleep properly. The effects of sleep, then, also become less prominent-- one of these being HGH.

It seems then, that drinking in the mornings would technically boost overall HGH levels?

(Though, it certainly wouldn't be worth it, anyways. That is, due to all the other disadvantages accompanying, and the existence of other ways to stimulate GABAergic systems)

[Venom]

But who one drinks in the morning!?! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I have only seen that it decreases it, but that is an interesting thought. But yeah, I would say it is not worth it either way.