Dry January has become increasingly popular in recent years and people around the country put down the bottle in the hope of a healthier life, but what happens to your body if you don’t drink alcohol for a month?
Saying no to alcohol in January is becoming a tradition for some (
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Dry January has become an annual tradition for many, and with the rising cost of living the added expense of going to the pub might encourage more to get involved this year.
But what happens to your body if you go the whole month with no alcohol? Will you see all the health benefits that you’ve dreamt of, and will you manage to save some extra cash?
From clearer skin to a more regular sleep pattern, the benefits are many – and experts from the Priory Group have outlined what will happen to you, on a week-by-week basis – if you manage to do better than most and stick it out for more than seven days.
‘I keep my old heart in a plastic bag in my home – it means so much to me’
Alcohol effects your sleep, soon you’ll be slumbering like a pro
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Are you doing dry January? Let us know in the comments…
Week 1
The first week can be the toughest and according to experts, this is when you’re most likely to give in if you’re a habitual drinker.
For the first few days you may become more irritable, struggle to sleep, and be more dehydrated than usual, but don’t worry – this is normal.
This happens when your body goes through alcohol withdrawal, and extreme symptoms include restlessness, tremors, nausea, and anxiety – but after a few days, these should start to pass.
If you stick it out and get past this stage, you’ll notice your sleep starts to regulate – this may mean it’s harder to sleep to start with.
That’s because alcohol makes you fall asleep quicker, but your quality of sleep also suffers when you drink.
Without a drink though, you’ll make better choices with food, most likely eating less junk too.
You’ll also be a lot more hydrated, as six glasses of wine make you lose 19-24 glasses of water, meaning all the water you aim to drink through the day has been in vain.
By the end of the first week, you’ll start to see a difference in your level of concentration too.
You’ll have more energy for exercise, and be consuming less calories
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Week 2
After two weeks off the booze, you’ll begin to feel all the benefits of better sleep and hydration, you’ll feel more motivated, and your skin will improve – looking less …….