The amazing things that happen to your body when you stop drinking alcohol for a while

There are numerous reasons to stop drinking alcohol.

Maybe you can’t party hard as you did before, and your hangovers are getting worse and worse. Perhaps you’ve grown a beer belly. Or, there could be a deeper reason why you don’t want your drinking to get out of control before it becomes a problem – unless of course it already is and you’re not aware of it. Whatever your circumstances, you came here for a reason, and you’re ready to drop the nasty habit.

Let us break down what happens to your body once you stop drinking for a while.

1. You’ll sleep better

A recent study from the journal of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research discovered that consuming alcohol before bed increases patterns in the brain called alpha waves – a type of cerebral activity that normally occurs when you are awake but resting. This, of course, means disrupted sleep.

Another review of 27 studies found that while alcohol may help people fall asleep more quickly and deeply at first, it messes up the overall sleep quality as soon as the initial ‘rest period’ is over.

You may roll around in bed at first, but if you give up alcohol, the sleep you will get will leave you feeling fully refreshed and sharp the next day.

Better sleep also means better mood, concentration, and mental performance.

2. You will lose weight

If you quit drinking and don’t even change your diet or program of activity, you’re still likely to lose weight. Alcohol contains a lot of calories (especially beer), with a single IPA containing as many as 200 calories, while a margarita cocktail contains about 300. If you start cutting all the calories that come packaged with alcohol, your weight will drop off over time. In addition, you will overeat much less. Intoxication pushes the brain’s hypothalamus into high gear, which in turn makes your body more sensitive to the smell of food. When this is combined with alcohol’s notorious ability to remove inhibitions, it leads to more eating.

3. In just a month you can lower your risk of diabetes and liver damage 

Back in 2013, 14 people at New Scientist magazine who were consuming between 8 and 64 12-ounce beers per week took a short break from drinking. Ten of them gave up on alcohol for 12 weeks, while the other four kept on drinking. After testing their blood before and after, doctors at the Institute for Liver and Digestive Health at University College London found that the abstainers’ liver fat – a predictor of liver damage – fell 15 to 20 %. In addition, their blood glucose levels – a major factor in diabetes – dropped by an average of 16 %.

4. Your brain performance will improve

Alcohol can hit cognitive performance hard, so going without can improve your concentration, productivity, and you will enjoy an all-around more active lifestyle. The brain’s frontal lobe is highly likely to suffer due to alcohol addiction, and cell recovery after you quit drinking can take years. As your brain gains its power back and you rewire vital neural pathways alcohol-free, you will enjoy improved memory, greater behavioral control, emotional regulation, and better problem-solving capabilities.

5. Your skin will look much better

Alcohol forces water to exit the body, which means it leaves you severely dehydrated. It boosts the production of a hormone that aids your body in absorbing and holding water in. This water is needed during a hangover. And in time, less water in your body inevitably leads to noticeable effects, like wrinkled and dry-looking skin, red cheeks, eczema, and dandruff. After stopping alcohol, you will see an extensive improvement in the quality of your skin.

We hope this article will persuade you to cut down on alcohol and lead a healthier life as a result. Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comment section.