The Incredible Body Makeover After Breaking Up With Alcohol
If you’re one of the many individuals who enjoy unwinding with an adult beverage, you’re certainly not alone. Recent data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reveals that two-thirds of U.S. adults have consumed alcohol in the past year, with 52% reporting alcohol intake in the last month. While the occasional drink can be a source of relaxation, the long-term impact on your health can be significant. From heart and liver health to weight management and mental well-being, the consequences of regular alcohol consumption are noteworthy.
1. Your Heart Health Improves
Abstaining from alcohol can lead to a noticeable improvement in your cardiovascular health. Research indicates that regular alcohol use may elevate blood pressure, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. A 2016 study found that those who avoid or significantly reduce alcohol consumption experience enhanced heart function. Moderate drinking, however, is not associated with increased heart condition risks, as highlighted by Brittany Lubeck, RD, a registered dietitian.
2. Your Liver Will Thank You
Alcohol’s impact on the liver is well-documented, contributing to inflammation and fatty liver disease. However, the NIH emphasizes that giving up alcohol provides your liver with the opportunity to repair and regenerate. Trista Best, RD, a registered dietitian, notes that alcohol metabolism can lead to various liver issues, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Quitting alcohol allows for liver regeneration, promoting overall liver health.
3. You’ll Lose Weight
Alcohol is calorically dense, providing empty calories that lack nutritional value. Quitting alcohol often results in weight loss, as highlighted by Lubeck. The reduction in overall calorie intake, combined with improved food choices due to decreased cravings while sober, contributes to a healthier weight.
Moreover, a study in the journal Appetite found that even a half-shot of alcohol (20 grams) led to an 11% increase in food consumption, particularly high-fat, high-calorie foods.
4. Your Sleep Quality Will Improve
While alcohol may induce drowsiness initially, it disrupts the sleep cycle, leading to poor-quality rest. Giving up alcohol often normalizes sleep patterns, resulting in more restful and rejuvenating sleep. Improved sleep quality contributes to enhanced cognitive function, mood regulation, and overall well-being.
Best explains, “Alcohol disrupts the sleep cycle, leading to difficulties falling and staying asleep. By giving up alcohol, you may experience improved sleep quality and duration, offering numerous health benefits.”
5. You’ll Boost Your Immune System
The NIH emphasizes that alcohol can suppress the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to illness and infections. Removing alcohol from your diet strengthens the immune system, reducing the risk of infections, supporting faster recovery times, and enhancing the immune response.
Lubeck underscores, “Excessive alcohol use has been linked to poor immunity, increasing the risk of pneumonia, sepsis, and cancer. Giving up booze may support and improve your immune system, lowering the risk of infections and certain health conditions.”
6. Your Mental Health Will Improve
The intricate connection between alcohol and mental health is undeniable. Abstaining from alcoholic beverages can lead to significant improvements in psychological well-being. A 2022 review suggests that giving up alcohol can reduce anxiety and depression, enhance mood, and improve cognitive function.
Best notes, “Alcohol is a depressant that negatively impacts mental health. Quitting alcohol can lead to improved mood, reduced anxiety, better mental well-being, and contribute to enhanced stress management and coping mechanisms.”
7. You’ll Have More Energy
Heavy alcohol consumption negatively affects sleep, impacting mood and energy levels the following day. A study in the journal Sleep and Vigilance found a significant increase in daytime sleepiness after drinking. Giving up alcohol translates to improved daytime alertness and energy levels, as sleep quality normalizes.
8. Your Digestion May Improve
Alcohol, even in small doses, can negatively affect digestion by altering gastric acid secretion and hindering digestive enzymes. This impairment leads to bloating and abdominal discomfort. Studies indicate that alcohol paired with a meal can slow down digestion, exacerbating stomach issues.
9. You May Notice Better Skin
Alcohol’s diuretic effect, increasing fluid excretion, can impact skin health. Research links alcohol use to various skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, spider veins, and post-adolescent acne. Heavy drinking, defined as eight or more drinks per week, has been associated with increased facial lines, under-eye puffiness, and midface volume loss.
In conclusion, the positive changes that occur in your body when you give up alcohol are substantial and varied. From improved heart and liver function to enhanced sleep quality, weight loss, boosted immune system, improved mental health, increased energy, better digestion, and even healthier skin, the benefits are multifaceted.
