Top 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Ditching Alcohol

It's commonly remarked that the British have a fondness for their tea, chatting about the weather, and let’s be honest, having a drink. So, it comes as no surprise that data from The Global Drug Survey of 2019, which looked into over 120,000 adults globally, revealed that people in Britain lead the world in getting intoxicated at least weekly.

Over time, regular consumption leads to gradual harm that isn't immediately apparent," explains Professor Sally Marlow, an expert in mental health and addiction at King’s College London. "Such damage affects our liver, stomach, skin, and brain.

In our 40s and 50s, these issues tend to escalate," explains Professor Marlow. "Importantly, during this period, we're also more prone to becoming heavily dependent on alcohol; for some individuals, this can even lead to addiction—or as experts refer to it, dependence. This makes quitting harder and reduces our ability to manage our consumption.

Nevertheless, reducing consumption or quitting entirely at any stage of life can yield significant benefits. "After making the choice to cut down on alcohol intake or abstain for a period," explains Karen Tyrell, who serves as the CEO of Drinkaware, "you have essentially embarked upon a path toward a more healthful way of living."

Continue reading to discover additional information regarding the near-term and far-reaching advantages of not drinking alcohol .

Jump to:

• Improved sleep
• Lower accident risk
• Lower cancer risk
• Better immunity
• Better heart health
• Weight loss
• Improved mental health
• Beneficial impact on social interactions
• Better skin
• No more hangovers

1. Improved sleep patterns

Many people have experienced firsthand how excessive alcohol consumption can result in poor sleep, leaving them feeling sluggish, dehydrated, queasy, and with a headache. However, as Drinkware notes, consuming alcohol regularly or just a few drinks can interfere with your sleep patterns and diminish the overall quality of your rest.

This is due to the fact that having alcohol in your system causes you to spend less time in the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep So when you awaken, you feel less rejuvenated. During the REM phase, your brain gets to rest and repair, which is associated with improved mental well-being.

Alcohol additionally acts as a diuretic, leading your body to shed additional fluids. Put differently, you’ll pee more This may lead to dehydration, which can negatively affect your sleep quality. Due to the influence alcohol consumption has on sleep patterns, cutting back or abstaining from drinking will likely result in higher energy levels as one of the most apparent benefits.

2. Reduced likelihood of incidents

Based on NHS statistics, over one-tenth of emergency room visits involve alcohol, and more than 1.2 million acts of violence in England are associated with excessive drinking.

3. Reduced likelihood of developing cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorized alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating substances with definitive evidence linking them to cancer. This classification ranks it at the top level of risks, placing it in the same category as tobacco and radiation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 4 percent of all global cancer cases identified in 2020 could be attributed to alcohol use.

Consumption of alcohol leads to seven different forms of cancer. including breast "And it leads to approximately 11,900 annual cancer cases each year in the UK," states Malcolm Clark, who serves as a senior prevention policy manager at Cancer Research UK.

As stated by the charitable organization, the primary methods through which alcohol contributes to cancer development include:

• It has the potential to harm our cells and prevent them from fixing the damage.
• This may influence chemical messengers that prompt cells to divide at a higher frequency.
• This could facilitate the absorption of dangerous substances by oral cavity cells.

"Regardless of individuals' drinking behaviors, reducing consumption can lessen the likelihood of developing cancer. Moreover, for those who abstain from alcohol, studies indicate that their risk of cancer decreases the more time they spend without consuming alcohol," according to Clark.

4. Boosted immune system

An additional advantage of reducing alcohol consumption is an enhanced immune system. Consuming large amounts of alcohol in one sitting can be especially detrimental to our body’s defenses. According to the NHS, binge drinking is characterized as "consuming excessive amounts of alcohol within a brief period," which equates to more than eight units for men and more than six units for women during a single drinking session.

In 2015, a study featured in the health journal Alcohol discovered that consuming alcohol excessively in a single session can decrease your white blood cell count, thereby diminishing the efficiency of your immune system.

Even light alcohol consumption affects the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to heal. Quitting drinking allows your immune system to start repairing itself; however, this doesn’t apply if extensive harm like liver disease has already taken place due to prolonged abuse.

5. Heart health

For many years, it has been widely believed that red wine benefits cardiac health due to its content of an antioxidant known as resveratrol. This notion was first highlighted in 1992 within a medical journal. The Lancet released research indicating that moderate alcohol consumption correlated with a 40 percent decrease in heart attack risk. This led to what became known as the 'French Paradox,' following observations that individuals in France experienced lower rates of heart attacks compared to others, even though they consumed foods high in saturated fats like cheese and enjoyed red wine.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, over the past few years, experts have refuted these claims. Professor Marlow states that there are no health advantages associated with alcohol intake, even for heart health. In 2023, the World Health Organization released a comparable announcement indicating that every quantity of alcoholic consumption impacts health.

In contrast, a research paper from Boston University, released in July 2023, indicates that over time possessing merely A single daily alcoholic beverage was associated with an increase in blood pressure. .

6. Weight loss

Eliminate alcohol consumption to shed pounds. Since alcohol is produced using natural starches and sugars, it poses a significant risk for weight gain. For instance, a pint of lager typically includes about 200 calories, whereas a big glass of wine has an even higher calorie count.

In the instance of spirits, they frequently come paired with sweet and high-calorie mixers such as cola or lemonade. It’s important to mention that more health-conscious choices involve using soda water instead. Professor Marlow suggests mixing wine with soda water to create a refreshing spritzer.

A study released in 2023 in the BMC Public Health Journal It has been discovered that frequent alcohol consumption is associated with obesity; therefore, it comes as no surprise that individuals who engage in regular binge drinking tend to have bigger waist sizes.

A 2020 study conducted at University College London and featured in the journal Addiction revealed that excessive alcohol consumption in later years can increase one’s waist circumference by about 4 centimeters. The lead researcher of this study, Dr. Linda Ng Fat, commented, "These findings indicate that individuals who persistently consume large amounts of alcohol over time tend to have bigger waists as they get older. Therefore, reducing heavy drinking sooner rather than later provides additional health advantages."

7. Improved mental health

When individuals stop consuming alcohol or significantly reduce their intake, they frequently report feeling less anxious or less depressed," explains Professor Marlow. "This can be quite unexpected for numerous people since they had believed that alcohol was assisting them in coping with anxiety and depression; however, the reality is just the contrary.

Ethanol is quite a multifaceted compound, and once it moves from the bloodstream into the brain, it interacts with several distinct neurotransmitters, such as those associated with depression and others connected to restlessness and anxiousness.

Professor Marlow notes that numerous individuals who stop consuming alcohol find out that their mental well-being enhances. "Especially for women experiencing depression, doctors tend to prescribe antidepressants," she explains. "However, if these women are also drinking alcohol, it can interfere with the effectiveness of the medication, rendering them less effective."

It’s a two-fold issue for these women, instead of being prescribed antidepressants, they should receive support to quit drinking. Furthermore, even if they were dealing with depression, the antidepressants wouldn't be effective.

8. Effect on personal connections and everyday social interactions

"Alcohol is frequently seen as an excellent social facilitator, and individuals in the UK who do not consume alcohol are usually met with skepticism, except for those abstaining due to religious beliefs," Professor Marlow explains.

On the downside, when alcohol consumption becomes an issue, it often leads to conflicts. These disputes could arise between partners or within families, or even involve unknown individuals, potentially resulting in arguments or escalating into more severe acts like aggression and violence.

When it comes to What impact does alcohol have on our interpersonal connections? "There exists a continuum when it comes to alcohol consumption among individuals. What starts as jovial entertainment might gradually turn into scenarios that jeopardize your connections with loved ones," according to Tyrell.

For instance, getting into arguments with friends and dear ones, or missing out on family gatherings and social events due to feeling hungover.

9. Healthier skin

Cutting down or abstaining from alcohol consumption may result in enhancements to your appearance.

"Drinking alcohol depletes your body’s moisture, leading to a lackluster appearance of both your skin and eyes. Reducing or ceasing consumption allows your skin to appear more vibrant," explains Tyrell.

10. End of hangovers

Farewell to hangovers. By abstaining from alcohol, you avoid them altogether.

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The impact of alcohol on your body

Alcohol includes a specific kind of molecule known as ethanol. Upon consuming alcohol, these ethanol molecules get absorbed into your circulatory system and move throughout various areas of your body, such as your brain, causing certain biochemical alterations.

For instance, it dampens down the section of your brain known as the prefrontal cortex, which usually regulates restraint, causing you to potentially utter or perform actions you would typically avoid when abstinent.

Even though alcohol is known for boosting moods, it actually acts as a depressant on the brain, and this impact persists until your body fully processes all the consumed alcohol. That’s why it might leave you feeling anxious or depressed the following day.

Alcohol also boosts your likelihood of:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Stroke
• Mental ill health
• Sleep disturbance

The WHO indicates that alcohol is a "toxic, mind-altering, and potentially addictive substance."

"Nevertheless, people keep drinking despite knowing it can cause them harm," Professor Marlow states.

It's ingrained in our culture. We bathe a newborn's head with water, toast during weddings and birthday celebrations, all the way till the final moments when we have drinks at funerals.

The guidelines set forth by the Chief Medical Officers for both men and women suggest keeping health risks associated with alcohol consumption to a minimum level. to drink up to 14 alcoholic beverages weekly .

A single serving of liquor equals one unit, whereas a typical glass of wine or a pint of beer includes two units each," explains Tyrell. "However, it’s advisable to distribute your consumption across at least three separate days.

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