Giving up alcohol completely for a month may initially feel like a daunting task, but the potential benefits to your body and overall health make it worthwhile. Improved sleep, glowing skin, and weight loss are just a few of the positive effects you can expect to experience. So, if you’re participating in sober October this year, you’re already on your way to reaping these health rewards.
According to Karen Tyrell, CEO of charity Drinkaware, abstaining from alcohol can boost your mood in the mornings and reduce the risk of developing seven different types of cancer and liver disease. With these compelling reasons in mind, let’s explore the specific impact that cutting out booze can have on your body.
In the first week of going sober, you’ll bid farewell to those dreaded hangovers. No longer will you wake up feeling nauseous, tired, and irritable. Instead, after a restful night’s sleep, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and energized. Alcohol disrupts the sleep cycle, particularly the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage, which leaves you feeling tired even if you’ve spent enough time in bed. By eliminating alcohol, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your sleep quality and morning wakefulness.
In addition to better sleep, sobriety also has a positive impact on mental health. Alcohol is a depressant that can aggravate anxiety. By abstaining from drinking, you’re giving your brain the opportunity to maintain proper chemical balance, which can improve feelings of stress and anxiety.
Moving into the second week, you’ll start noticing improvements in your skin. Alcohol dehydrates the skin, giving it a bloated, dull, and dry appearance. By avoiding alcohol, you’ll provide your skin with the hydration and essential nutrients it needs to appear healthy and glowing. Furthermore, alcohol can trigger flare-ups of skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea. By reducing your alcohol consumption, you’ll likely witness a brighter and clearer complexion.
Unfortunately, regularly consuming more than the recommended 14 units of alcohol per week can harm your liver. Jaundice, characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes, is a clear indication of severe alcohol-related liver disease. To protect your liver, it’s crucial to limit your alcohol intake or have several alcohol-free days per week.
By the third week of your alcohol-free month, you’ll start noticing changes in your weight. Alcohol is packed with calories, similar to pure fat. A single pint of beer contains over 200 calories, while a standard 175ml glass of wine boasts more than 150 calories. By eliminating alcohol from your diet, you’ll shed excess pounds that you may have been struggling to lose. Not only does alcohol contribute to weight gain, but it also provides empty calories devoid of any nutrition. By reducing your alcohol consumption, you’re taking a step towards maintaining a healthy weight.
In the final week and beyond, the impact of avoiding alcohol becomes even more evident. Alcohol has been linked to various types of cancer, including bowel cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, and mouth cancer. Therefore, by giving up alcohol, you significantly reduce your risk of developing these life-threatening diseases. Additionally, abstaining from alcohol allows your liver to repair itself and regenerate its cells. Although the liver is resilient and capable of recovering from damage, continued drinking increases the risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis. By limiting your consumption or abstaining entirely, you decrease these risks and give your liver a well-deserved break to perform its vital functions effectively.
Remember, each time your liver filters alcohol, some liver cells perish. Excessive alcohol consumption hinders the liver’s ability to regenerate cells, leading to irreversible damage, such as cirrhosis. However, choosing sobriety can prevent further damage and illness.
To ensure that you’re maintaining a healthy relationship with alcohol, you can use the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests). This screening tool, developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization, helps determine if you have any alcohol abuse problems. By answering ten questions, you can assess your level of risk and make informed decisions about your alcohol consumption.
Embarking on a journey of sobriety offers numerous benefits for your overall well-being. Improved sleep, healthier skin, weight loss, reduced cancer and liver disease risk, and a chance for your liver to repair itself are just a few of the rewards you can expect. By prioritizing your health and considering the impact of alcohol, you can make choices that benefit your body and mind in the long run.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
