Everything that happens to your body when you stop drinking alcohol
With summer here, the warm weather has been calling many of us to beer gardens or a cheeky wine in the sun.
While the odd drink in moderation isn't going to destroy your health, regular drinking can seriously mess with your body over time.
Alcohol affects pretty much every part of your system, from giving you that banging headache the next morning to increasing your risk of certain cancers down the line.
If you're thinking about giving the booze a break, here's what happens when you quit.
After one day
Your body needs about a day to completely process and eliminate alcohol, so you might start feeling better almost immediately.
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The most noticeable change is probably hydration. Once the booze is out of your system, your body can absorb water normally again which leads to better digestion, clearer thinking, and more energy.
Your blood sugar will also start to normalise because alcohol messes with your liver's ability to regulate glucose.
If you're someone who drinks daily, you might feel a bit rough at first. Your body has got used to having alcohol around, so you could experience disrupted sleep, mood swings, sweating or shakes. However, these will resolve themselves in about a week.
After one week
By the end of your first alcohol-free week, you'll probably notice you're sleeping better. Alcohol can make you feel drowsy initially, but it completely ruins your sleep quality once you're out.
Since your liver does all the heavy lifting when it comes to alcohol, it can be easily damaged from drinking. The good news is it can also regenerate quickly.
Just seven days without alcohol can be enough to reduce liver fat and start repairing mild scarring and tissue damage.
After one month
After about a month, most people start feeling better mentally.
Alcohol makes it harder to manage your emotions and can make anxiety and depression worse, so cutting it out often leads to a mood boost. With better sleep and improved mood, you'll likely have more energy and just feel better about life in general.
Some people also report losing some weight, too, when off the booze, as alcohol can lead to overeating and a desire for junk food.
Plus, your skin will probably look better because alcohol ages you through dehydration and inflammation.
Your digestive system gets a break as well. Alcohol irritates your gut and causes bloating, heartburn, and other unpleasant symptoms that usually clear up within four weeks of stopping.
Furthermore, insulin resistance drops by about 25%, your blood pressure reduces by 6%, and cancer-related growth factors decrease.
After six months
By this point, even moderate drinkers might find that any liver damage has completely reversed. Heavy drinkers will likely notice they're getting ill less often and feeling healthier overall.
After one year
This is where the really big health benefits kick in. Alcohol contributes to a range of diseases including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and seven different types of cancer, not to mention mental health problems.
Even a small increase in blood pressure significantly raises your risk of stroke and heart disease. One study found that cutting back to less than two drinks a day can reduce the risk of stroke (10%) and heart disease (7%).