A doctor has shared some of the ways your body can change after giving up alcohol for a month.
As more people are moving away from drinking alcohol, many might be wondering about the impact four weeks off the sauce could have on our health.
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Whether it's Dry January or Sober October, taking a break from drinking can have a lot of health benefits even if you're not planning on giving up entirely.
Not only that, but if you do drink again after the month you may find you have a more responsible approach to it.
Humans might have been swilling it in some form or another since the dawn of civilization but there's no getting away from the fact that alcohol is essentially poison.
Many people drink because they like the taste or enjoy it as a social function, but the impact on physical and mental health is something they have to square themselves with.
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Dr Zac Turner has explained 'five major benefits' you may experience after going a month without alcohol in his column for news.com.au.
Improved sleep
The doctor explains that alcohol can impact your ability to sleep properly.
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Many of us are all too familiar with having to endure the disastrous consequences of our overindulgence.
One or two drinks might not leave you sprawled on the sofa yearning for the sweet embrace of death, but it will still impact on the quality of your sleep.
Taking a pause will allow you to get better sleep quality so you can find yourself more well rested.
Better liver function
Alcohol is processed by the liver, therefore Dr Turner notes that abstaining - even for a short while - can have a positive impact on the health of this organ.
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In extreme cases, long-term heavy drinking can cause serious problems including alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Clearer mental function
Among the things alcohol impacts is the brain's ability to function.
The medic explained that over time this can impact on memory and cognitive capability, and taking a break can improve on your attention span, memory, and problem-solving.
More stable mood
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This is tied in to the last point as cognitive abilities aren't the only brain function impacted by alcohol.
There might be a temptation to use alcohol as a stress relief, but Dr Turner notes that it has been shown to increase symptoms of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Weight loss
We all know about beer bellies, but plenty of other alcoholic beverages also have a lot of calories in them, and cutting back means you'll no longer have those extra calories in your diet.
Though as a caveat, if you're switching out to a non alcoholic beer then this won't apply as it may not have the booze but it still has the calories.
Dr Turner explains that while it's perfectly fine to enjoy drinking in moderation, taking a pause is a very good way to give your body a break, as well as to nip any potential for an unhealthy relationship with alcohol in the bud.
If you've been affected by addiction and want to speak to someone in confidence, you can call American Addiction Centers on (888) 324-0595, available 24/7, or contact them through their website.
Topics: Alcohol, Food and Drink, Health
Kit Roberts