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Another study in the UK suggests that as much as 72% of participants drink much less throughout the year, and some stop drinking altogether.
Alcohol can have a very high calorie content, so removing this from your diet for a month can be extremely helpful to achieve weight loss, if that’s your goal. A night of drinking provides us with plenty of calories, but doesn’t make us feel full. In fact, it can increase our hunger and we usually don’t make healthy food choices on those occasions!
Another part of the body that is affected by alcohol is the liver. When you drink, your liver produces certain enzymes that signal that it’s in oxidative stress. When you’re sober, these numbers begin to reduce.
You can expect your skin to look fresher and healthier, and your eyes to look brighter. This is also assisted by the fact that you’re receiving less calories from alcohol and may be replacing them with more nutrient-diverse foods.
The gut affects many other parts of the body–it’s not just about digestion. A balanced and healthy microbiome can improve your mental health and your immune system. The most common problem associated with alcohol is gut dysbiosis. This occurs when the bacterial balance of the gut is disturbed, and can lead to diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and anxiety.
The gut is a very sensitive microbiome that is easily affected by alcohol consumption. It’s also very quick to show improvements when alcohol is cut out of the diet!
Dr. George Koob, president of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), says that some people begin to experience the benefits sooner than others. The most obvious improvements include better sleep, reduced stomach irritation, and more energy.
For light drinkers, there might be an improvement in these numbers after abstaining from alcohol for a week, but it will take longer for heavy drinkers.
This is why you feel so tired even after sleeping for a long time after a night out. As little as a week without alcohol can restore your natural sleep pattern and leave you feeling better rested.
If there’s one thing that unites people (in the Northern Hemisphere at least) it’s the boredom that is January. The holidays are over, the weather is horrific, and summer vacation seems eons away. The only thing that keeps us going is the sense of purpose given to us by our resolutions and goals! For many of us, that involves starting the year with some kind of detox. Veganuary is growing in popularity, but Dry January is a long-time favorite.
On that note, let’s take a look at the amazing ways cutting out alcohol for just one month can affect the human body. Click through this gallery to learn more.
Alcohol has serious effects on both our mental and physical health, more so than we’d like to think. Some experts say that alcohol would be an illegal drug if it hadn’t been slipped into our societal norms through generations of consumption. It’s just as dangerous and addictive as most illicit substances.
All of these benefits are great, but there are other ways Dry January might affect heavier drinkers. Those who are going cold turkey after frequent heavy drinking may experience some withdrawal symptoms.
One study following 857 British adults found that they continued to consume less alcohol in the six months following their 31-day break.
Another key finding of this study was that there wasn’t a ‘rebound’ effect when Dry January came to an end. One might expect that those taking part in this alcohol fast would be desperate to drink all kinds of booze on February 1, but luckily they didn’t!
These statistics send a strong message about the positive result the participants got from giving up alcohol. If you aren’t taking part in Dry January but you’re now thinking it sounds like a good idea, don’t worry: any time is a good time to start.
Sources: (Bustle) (Self) (Healthline)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines heavy drinking as binge drinking at least five days out of the month. Binge drinking means consuming four or more drinks on one occasion for women, and five drinks or more for men.
Just one week of abstinence improves brain function, so a whole month might have you feeling like a new person! This is likely to have a positive influence on your mood, relationships, and productivity.
How 'Dry January' affects your body
Giving up alcohol for a month does wonders for your physical and mental health
HEALTH Alcohol
If there’s one thing that unites people (in the Northern Hemisphere at least) it’s the boredom that is January. The holidays are over, the weather is horrific, and summer vacation seems eons away. The only thing that keeps us going is the sense of purpose given to us by our resolutions and goals! For many of us, that involves starting the year with some kind of detox. Veganuary is growing in popularity, but Dry January is a long-time favorite.
On that note, let’s take a look at the amazing ways cutting out alcohol for just one month can affect the human body. Click through this gallery to learn more.