One month alcohol-free: What's happening to your body?

Why should you go a month alcohol-free?

Like everything, alcohol is fine in moderation. But no matter how much you drink, whether it’s a lot regularly or not, abstaining for just a month gives your body a chance to revitalise itself.

A concise breakdown of the potential health benefits of a sober month:

1. Improved sleep

2. Increased energy levels

3. Better digestion

4. Reduced blood pressure

5. Glowing skin

6. Weight loss

7. Improved liver function

8. Reduced risk of serious diseases

The benefits of not drinking for one month

After one month of abstinence, you will start to experience the benefits of not drinking alcohol. Here’s what you can expect:

Improved sleep

After one week off alcohol, you may notice that you are sleeping better. When you drink, you typically fall straight into a deep sleep, reducing the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep you need. Most people have between six and seven cycles of REM sleep a night; however, you may only have one or two when you’ve been drinking.

There are many benefits of better sleep. You will be more productive, where you can learn and communicate better. Your ability to control your emotions and behaviour will also improve.

You’ll have more opportunities to manage your food and drink intake too. Sleep helps to balance the hormones that make you feel hungry or full. After drinking, your ghrelin levels (the hormone that makes you feel hungry) go up, and leptin levels (the hormones that make you feel full) go down.

Increased energy levels

Alongside better sleep, those who abstain from alcohol for a while often notice that they feel more energetic. This may positively impact your overall well-being and help kick-start any new exercise or healthy living routines you may be trying to implement.

Better digestion

By removing alcohol from your diet, you can reduce the likelihood of developing acid reflux, gastritis, or stomach inflammation.

Symptoms such as indigestion and acid reflux can be caused by alcohol irritating your digestive system. When you abstain from alcohol, you’ll also be better able to absorb nutrients and store vitamins and minerals. You’ll also see a reduction in issues like bloating, wind, constipation, or diarrhoea.

Reduced blood pressure & improved heart health

High blood pressure is linked to alcohol consumption, and this is known to be one of the leading causes of heart disease. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily raises your blood pressure, but repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases. 

Alcohol consumption is an entirely preventable cause of severe hypertension (high blood pressure) in both men and women. Giving up alcohol for a period can help you make positive changes to reduce high blood pressure.

Glowing skin

Adult acne can be a challenge to cope with, and for some of us, our drinking habits negatively affect our skin. You may be surprised by how healthy your skin looks and feels after a month of no drinking.

To pamper your skin, visit Pharmacy2U’s skincare range in our Health & Wellness Shop. Even if just for a month, stopping drinking could be the kickstart for that new skincare regime you've been waiting for.

Weight loss

Alcohol slows your metabolism, making it harder for your body to process fats and sugar. Alcohol also has a high-calorie count (approximately 160 calories for a medium glass of red wine, 210 or more in a pint of beer), and many of the mixers we enjoy with spirits, like vodka or gin, are high in sugar. You’ll also be less likely to have late-night, fast-food binges than you would after you’ve been drinking alcohol.

When you cut out alcohol, it makes it easier to lose weight by losing these extra calories. Even if you don’t drop any weight, most who partake in a sober month or initiatives like Dry January will round out the 4 weeks feeling better and more in shape than when they started.

Improved liver function

Cirrhosis of the liver can occur over time in those who drink excessively. Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver disease and conditions like hepatitis and chronic alcoholism.

Cirrhosis doesn’t happen in a day, but for anyone who drinks in excess, which is more than two drinks a day for men, and one a day for women, there are fatty changes to the liver. When you stop drinking, the negative changes are usually reversible, allowing your liver to become normal again.

Because the liver is a tolerant organ, positive changes can occur within weeks of going dry. Without alcohol, the liver can focus on its other jobs, such as breaking down other toxins produced by the body, metabolising fats, and breaking down excess hormones.

Reduced risk of serious illnesses

The long-term impact of drinking a lot and doing so regularly is that it can lead to an increased risk of developing serious illnesses. By staying off alcohol for a month, you can reduce the risk of developing certain cancers, including breast and colorectal. You can also reduce your risk of strokes, heart disease, and hypertension while improving your life expectancy.

What else can I do?

Throughout the year, several campaigns and initiatives promote an alcohol-free month, like Dry January and Sober October.

Dry January

Dry January is a month when participants abstain from drinking alcohol to start off the new year. It’s a popular initiative across the UK, Europe, and the US. The month’s origins are attributed to Alcohol Change, a UK-based charity, but many more organisations and individuals have joined the campaign to promote the healthy and positive benefits that can come from even a temporary period of sobriety.

Sober October

Staying off alcohol isn’t just for January—you can also try Sober October. This is a UK-based campaign from Macmillan Cancer Support to raise awareness, support, and funds for people living with cancer in the UK. Starting in 2014, every October since has seen people swapping pints for non-alcoholic alternatives to promote healthier habits that can last a lifetime.

Summary

Across the month, your body is likely to have benefitted greatly from giving up alcohol. Better hydration and improved sleep will increase your productivity and daily well-being. Your liver, stomach, and skin will also have improved from not dealing with alcohol.

Useful resources

If you are struggling with alcohol and are finding it hard to quit, you may want to think about getting support.

Your GP is your first port of call for alcohol problems. They can provide confidential advice and refer you if you need extra support.

There are several NHS services you can use to find support and treatment services near you:

· NHS England

· NHS Direct Wales

· NHS Inform, Scotland

· Health and Social Care Northern Ireland