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If you stay away from booze, you’ll be hangover- and hang-xiety-free, which means more peaceful nights and fewer worrisome mornings. Being drunk can suppress your immune function, which can make you more vulnerable to the pathogens that cause the cold and flu, among other things, says Keri Peterson, MD, a WH advisory board member. In addition, frequent drinking can cause inflammation throughout the body.
Her interests include Minority Health, Women’s Health and Pediatrics. As a wife and mother of two, she uses real-life experiences to clearly communicate keys to better health and wellness for mind, body and spirit. Not drinking is a valid wellness choice with various proven health benefits. Whether it’s just for Dry January, or if it’s more permanent, there are a lot of people out there eager to support you going sober.
The Benefits of Three Months of Sobriety
As long as your diet is healthy, you could even shed a few pounds by reducing your alcohol intake. As often happens in the first month of the new year, vast numbers of Americans are attempting a “Dry January” or even “Damp January— ” a trendy challenge to abstain or moderate alcohol use. You can be sure that those who succeed will see an improvement in their health, as alcohol is not exactly known for its health benefits. But how profound will these changes be, and will they even be that significant? Indeed, while heavy drinkers might see quick shifts in mood and energy, moderate or light drinkers might be apt to wonder if much will be different in their lives at all. Naturally, this will affect your mood and energy levels the following day.
Alcohol is also proven to trigger intense hunger and carb cravings, leading to overeating. Beyond the physical improvements that come with leading an alcohol-free lifestyle, there are many rewarding mental and social aspects to sobriety. These can provide transformative benefits to your overall quality of life. For dependent drinkers, blood pressure may reduce to normal levels by the 3rd or 4th week. Alcohol dehydrates you because it is a diuretic — meaning it flushes out fluids. Many drinkers are surprised to find they stay hydrated for a lot longer when they don’t drink.
Your Relationships May Improve
This format will give you the short version and the long version answers side-by-side and tell you most everything you need to know about alcohol withdrawal. “On the financial side of the coin,” Champion adds, “if you spent $30 at each happy What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol hour three times per week, at the one-year mark, you will have saved almost $5000.” You might also notice a weight reduction.In addition, Champion says that the most significant improvement in your skin occurs at this four-week mark.
After about a month without alcohol, your cholesterol levels start to decline and fatty liver starts to resolve. This can help repair the liver and improve its ability to filter toxins. Alcohol is a known cancer-causing agent according to the US Department of Health and Human Services Report on Carcinogens.
Your risk of developing certain diseases will decrease.
For most people, the physical symptoms of withdrawal will have passed by now. You’ll start to feel more like yourself, and your cravings will start to subside. You may notice that you feel more hydrated, and dry skin conditions such as eczema and dandruff improve. In rare cases, severe physical symptoms such as DTs, sweating, and seizures may continue, and you’ll still need medical supervision. That said, the effects of quitting alcohol can become noticeable quite quickly.
According to a study published in the journal Current Opinion in Lipidology, drinking booze is closely related to the ingestion of fat. Consuming one makes your hypothalamus signal that you’re craving the other. It’s also worth noting that drinking beer can lead to consuming more calories overall, as people may be more likely to eat unhealthy foods or consume more food than they would when not drinking. Therefore, moderate consumption of beer, or any alcoholic beverage, is recommended to avoid negative health consequences.
