Dry January: Four weeks to better health and a fresher you
Dry January is a challenge where participants abstain from drinking alcohol for an entire month. A doctor highlighted the benefits that each consecutive week of sobriety brings.
"Dry January" is an annual event initiated in 2014 by the British non-governmental organization Alcohol Change United Kingdom. The challenge involves completely refraining from drinking alcohol in the first month of the new year. January was chosen deliberately, as after New Year's Eve excesses, vows of staying away from alcohol seem to come naturally.
What are the benefits of Dry January?
In an interview with Metro, addiction specialist Dr. Niall Campbell outlined the weekly benefits for those who manage to last through the entire Dry January. The World Health Organization (WHO), based on decades of data, has established that there are no "safe" levels of alcohol consumption. On the WHO website, it states: "Alcohol and alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is a psychoactive and toxic substance with dependence-producing properties. Alcohol has been widely used in many cultures for centuries, but it is associated with significant health risks and harms."
First week without alcohol - Better sleep and hydration
Dr. Campbell reminded us that alcohol disrupts the natural sleep cycle. Drinking causes immediate deep sleep, skipping the crucial rapid eye movement (REM) phase. Even a shorter sober sleep results in feeling more rested than sleep aided by alcohol. Apart from better sleep, the first week of sobriety will make your body more hydrated. The doctor explained: "When drinking alcohol, we lose about four times more fluid than we actually consumed."
Dehydration negatively impacts the entire body, with the brain being particularly affected. According to Dr. Campbell, within the first week of abstaining from alcohol, individuals often notice improvements in mood stability and concentration, along with a reduction in headaches. He also highlighted that overcoming the effects of dehydration, such as low motivation and fatigue, can lead to increased energy levels throughout the day.
Second week without alcohol - Better digestion
In the second week of Dry January, you'll notice a reduction in stomach pains and digestive issues. Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, so taking a break gives your body time to heal. Dr. Campbell also noted that you'll start losing weight by cutting out the empty calories found in alcohol. She calculated: "By the end of Dry January, you are likely to have reduced your calorie intake by 3,840 for the month if you used to drink six glasses of 175ml wine a week, or 4,320 calories over the month if you used to drink six pints of lager a wee."
Third week without alcohol - Lower blood pressure
After three weeks without alcohol, your blood pressure will begin to drop. Heavy drinking is closely associated with hypertension, which is a major cause of strokes and heart attacks.
Fourth week without alcohol - Improved appearance and rejuvenated liver
Making it to the end of Dry January means you'll notice differences not only in how you feel but also in your appearance. Dr. Campbell explained: "Your boosted hydration levels will have a positive effect on your skin. As more water will have been absorbed rather than wasted, you are likely to have more hydrated-looking skin, as well as reduced dandruff and eczema."
Your liver will also feel better. Dr. Campbell emphasized: "Removing alcohol from your diet for four weeks can also help to improve your liver function, as your liver will start to shed excess fat. If your liver function is not too badly affected by alcohol, it can recover within four to eight weeks." It's important to remember that frequent drinking, even small amounts of alcohol, damages the liver, which continually removes toxins from the body without getting a chance to regenerate.
Source: metro.co.uk
