People cut out alcohol and take part in Dry January in particular for various reasons, and the results vary. One of our former editors who tried this, for example, came to the conclusion that she had more energy, ended up eating better and saving a good amount of money. Whatever your reason – or reasons – and whatever you expect to gain (or lose) during this time, here are some health benefits you can bring if you participate in dry January.
Benefits of Dry January Doing
Keep in mind that everyone is different. That said, if you are someone who drinks in excessive alcohol, you can withdraw alcohol. “Alcohol dependence is a chronic medical condition where excessive alcohol is ingested due to an urge and inability to stop,” Flora Sinha, managing director of the internal medicine consultancy, told POPSUGAR. “These patients will experience withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, diarrhea, chills and sweating if they stop suddenly.”
Furthermore, quitting cold turkey can have serious adverse consequences. Delirium Tremens (DTs) is a serious form of alcohol withdrawal that can occur within 48 hours after stopping alcohol, psychiatrist Nzinga Harrison, Managing director, who specializes in medicine for addiction, told POPSUGAR. Withdrawal can progress until someone has disorientation, hallucinations or seizures, and it can lead to coma or even death, she said.
If you think you or someone you love needs medical attention for alcohol use, you should consult and contact the support services at the end of this article. “If you develop tremors and diarrhea or vomiting, you should seek medical help immediately to reduce your risk of developing DTs,” said Dr. Harrison advised.
People who drink light to moderate are unlikely to experience withdrawal symptoms, and this article is aimed at that. We’ve talked to a handful of experts about what alcohol can reduce for mental and physical health, and here are some benefits they highlight.
Weight loss and decreased appetite
The aforementioned editor who tried Dry January did lose weight when she eliminated alcohol. “The easiest way to lose weight is to cut out ‘liquid calories’ with minimal nutritional value. It is alcohol for many people,” said Dr. Sinha. Alcohol can negatively affect the metabolism by, for example, interfering with the liver’s ability to process fat.
You may find that you are less hungry when you take alcohol out of the equation. Dr. Sinha noted that there are studies that suggest that alcohol may increase hormones in the brain that regulate appetite. However, she said it was important to know that heavy drinkers (who she called alcoholics) had reduced their appetite “because at that point they were getting most of their calories from alcohol.”
Improved sleep
“At the beginning of the night, alcohol has a calming effect, so most people will notice that they can fall asleep more easily or even ‘disappear’,” said Meredith Broderick, managing director, a three-certified sleep doctor and neurologist, told POPSUGAR. . “But as soon as the alcohol weakens, there is a surge in the sympathetic nervous system that causes an early morning awakening or some awakenings in the second part of the night.”
Dr. Broderick also said that alcohol causes the airway to collapse more easily, allowing people to snore, wake up gasping for air or even notice a swollen uvula. In general, she interrupts the quality of sleep. If you participate in something like Dry January, it can affect someone’s sleep in a positive way.
Better well
Samantha Ellis, MD, a certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at UC Davis, told POPSUGAR that drinking conservative amounts of alcohol does not necessarily lead to impaired skin health or appearance in those without underlying skin conditions (although we well know that alcohol can dehydrate your skin). She also noted that excessive drinking can take a toll on various organ systems, including the skin. This can lead to a dull appearance of the skin, diluted and broken blood vessels on the skin surface, and aggravation of chronic cutaneous diseases such as psoriasis. , eczema and rosacea. ‘
Cutting out alcohol can in other ways have benefits for the skin, said dr. Ellis said. “We know that those who consume alcohol can make poor diet choices and disrupt sleep, both of which negatively affect the appearance of the skin,” she explained. “Without the calming effect of alcohol, individuals may also feel more motivated to engage in healthy skin care habits, such as removing makeup before bedtime, performing a restorative skin care routine, and exercising regularly.”
Improved mental health
Dr. Harrison said that alcohol in moderation is perfectly good for your mental health and that in some studies it is even correlated with an increase in happiness. However, once drinking goes beyond moderation, it is associated with, among other things, anxiety, depression, decreased energy, irritability and concentration problems. It can affect the relationships and life responsibilities of a person, which in turn can make mental health suffer even more.
“Many people believe that only ‘serious alcoholics’ experience this cycle,” said Dr. Harrison said. But in reality, one in six American adults drinks about four times a month. “By reducing alcohol from your diet, you will see an improvement in mood; anxiety; concentration; sleep; relationships; and often self-esteem,” she said.
‘Even if you have not noticed any problems with your drink, but you realize that you are drinking more, or you expect the moment you will expect to be able to pour the drink after work, or that you have a little debt over how much is drinking, you will benefit from it, ‘said dr. Harrison concluded.
Longer-term benefits of reducing alcohol
Dr Sinha said that cutting out alcohol can benefit the liver within a few weeks if you are someone who does not yet have a liver disease. Looking at the long term, eliminating alcohol can reduce liver damage and prevent alcoholic hepatitis or fatty liver disease (although people can get fatty liver disease without alcohol use). If you eliminate alcohol for a long period of time, you can also reduce the long-term risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, said dr. Sinha added.
Moderate drinking is OK
Dr Sinha said that if you want to return to alcohol after dry January, moderate use for healthy adults usually means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. A standard drink looks like this:
- Beer: 12 liquid ounces
- Malt drink: 8 liquid ounces
- Wine: 5 liquid ounces
- Distilled beverage or beverage: 1.5 liquid ounces
If you or a loved one is experiencing signs of addiction or alcohol dependence, the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) national helpline is a free, 24/7 and confidential service you can ask for referral information and treatment. This is 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Also find other sources on samhsa.gov.