Abstaining from alcohol can provide you with a clearer mindset and better health for the future. One of the many popular New Year’s resolutions is to have a dry month, abstaining from alcohol throughout the month of January. Cutting out alcohol for a whole month can provide many benefits for your health, relationships, mood, and more. If you are ready to prioritize your health in the new year, here are some ways that no alcohol can boost your overall health.
1- Liver Recovery
Drinking large amounts of alcohol will cause damage to your liver. The liver breaks down alcohol but can become damaged by the substance. If your liver has been damaged from excessive drinking, taking a break will give the organ the time to regenerate cells and heal. Since it is self-healing, the liver could recover in just a few days without alcohol, however, more severe cases could take a few months.
2- Better Hydration
Alcohol can dehydrate you quickly because it is a diuretic. Even just a few sips of alcohol can have you running to empty your bladder. If you are not diligent about replenishing your body with water while drinking alcohol, you could experience dehydration or more intense hangover symptoms. Reducing alcohol consumption will help your organs, skin, and digestive system get the water they desperately need.
3- Decrease Diabetes Risk
Reducing alcohol will reduce insulin resistance and lower your blood pressure. Both of these instances will contribute to diabetes. Those who participated in dry January reported a 25% decrease in insulin resistance. Diabetes puts your body at risk of other things, especially when alcohol is involved. Blood sugar spikes are common when consuming alcohol.
4- Higher Quality Sleep
Alcohol can disrupt your body’s normal rhythm and process, including your sleep. Alcohol interrupts your REM sleep, which could lead you to feel groggy even after getting 8+ hours of sleep. Even if a glass of wine can make you sleepy, most alcohol has been linked to lower-quality sleep and less efficiency, because it causes framented sleep. Drinking alcohol can affect your deep sleep by reducing cortisol production. Heavy drinking can cause you to wake up frequently throughout the night because of the lack of hormones.
5- More Energy
When your sleep is balanced, you will have more energy throughout the day. Participants who have completed Dry January reported being more energetic and improved focus. Limiting your alcohol consumption can improve concentration, work productivity, and chore completion.
6- Balanced Mood
Most people feel that alcohol can lift their spirits, but only for a short period. Alcohol is a mood depressant which could lead to higher anxiety and depression. Cutting back can help avoid emotional slumps and mood swings. While you may think that your mood is fairly stable, changing your alcohol consumption could elevate your energy and make you less irritable. You can avoid the slump that comes after a night out and improve your overall well-being when you attempt dry January.
7- Weight Loss
Puffy faces and bloated stomachs can come after a night of drinking. Lowering your alcohol consumption will reduce inflammation in the body and aid in the digestion of food. While you may not drop tons of weight at first, limiting extra alcohol will lower the calories you consume and inflammation in multiple parts of your body. Inflammation can lead to bloating and criticism of your body when it may not fit into certain clothes.
8- Clear Skin
Long-term consumption of alcohol can cause multiple skin issues like acne, hyperpigmentation, rashes, dryness, and more. Getting flushed during drinking is normal, but long-term drinking can lead to dehydration and flare-ups of certain skin conditions. For those who have existing skin conditions like psoriasis or rosacea, alcohol can worsen symptoms or make your skin itchy and dry.
9- Increased Focus
Drugs and alcohol can slow down your brain and fine motor skills. Another health benefit of limiting alcohol consumption is the ability to improve focus at work and school. Focusing on tasks like homework, writing, phone calls, and driving can all be impaired by alcoholic beverages.
10- Immune System Improvements
All of the chemicals in alcohol can damage your immune system. Those who are consistent alcohol users could experience more severe colds, nausea, infections, and more. Our immune systems need to fight environmental pollutants every day, so having a quality immune system will keep you from spending days in bed or in the hospital. Boosting your immune system by limiting alcohol and taking vitamins can keep you healthy throughout the year.
Participating In Dry January
If you want to take better control of your health and participate in dry January, Red Willow is here to support you! Check out our resources or schedule an appointment with us to help you have professional support throughout the upcoming year. We know that addiction can be a scary thing, so let our compassionate team help you live a higher quality life. You’ve got this!
