Does Putting Alcohol Aside Make You Healthier?
Many of you may have chosen to take a month away from alcohol as the New Year unfolded. Does such brief abstinence lead to better health? You may be aware of Dry January. British individuals initiated this tradition in 2013 to raise awareness about alcohol abuse. The practice has spread worldwide. You, too, can join millions of others to kick off the new year in a healthy fashion.
Before you jump on the bandwagon, we probably should establish whether there are any health benefits associated with teetotaling for only one month. Is Dry January helpful in any meaningful way? Enter Richard de Visser, Ph.D. of the University of Sussex in England.
For his research investigation, Dr. de Visser examined the habits of 800 individuals who participated in Dry January in 2018. He collected survey responses from the subjects at the beginning of January, in the first week of February, and in August.
At the final follow-up, participants reported that the number of days they drink fell from 4.3 to 3.3 per week on average. The average number of units consumed daily also fell, from 8.6 to 7.1. Furthermore, the frequency of getting drunk decreased from 3.4 to 2.1 times per month. It is surprising that even those who did not completely abstain from alcohol in January still reported drinking less by August of the same year. The study author concluded this:
“By simply taking one month off alcohol, participants took control over their drinking habits and ultimately consumed less alcohol.”
The participants also reported improvements in well-being (defined using a variety of criteria). Over 70 percent slept better, and nearly 60 percent lost weight. More than half saw improvements in their skin and noted improvements in concentration. Perhaps not surprisingly, 88 percent of subjects saved more money, and 71 percent felt they no longer needed alcohol to enjoy themselves.
Likewise, the University of Sussex investigation of Dry January found that participants reported improvements in well-being, based on various criteria. Over 70% of participants said they were sleeping better, and nearly 60% reported losing weight.
More than half of all participants reported that their skin had improved, and they experienced better concentration. While 88% of participants reported saving more money, 71% found they no longer needed alcohol to enjoy themselves.
To drink or not to drink? Does putting alcohol aside for a short time make you healthier?
Perhaps equally encouraging, 82% of the University of Sussex study participants found themselves thinking more deeply about their relationship with alcohol. This change could help them develop or maintain a healthy level of alcohol consumption.
I would be remiss if I did not point to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025. It advises limiting your alcohol consumption for several reasons. Alcohol use is linked with an elevated risk of death from all causes than those who drink less. Regular drinking increases the chances of various ailments, from liver disease to cardiovascular disease to cancer.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) opines that alcohol use is one of the most preventable risk factors for cancer, joining tobacco use and excess body weight.
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