An Australian doctor has revealed the five positive changes you can expect from giving up alcohol for a month - and why everyone should give it a go.
Drinking alcohol is a pretty ingrained part of society, with the average person in the UK knocking back around 18 units a week, according to research from Alcohol Change UK, which is over the guidance of 14 units per week.
A doctor has now urged people to try a month without the booze, revealing that four weeks would be enough for you to start noticing the positive changes to your body.
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Below are the five changes Dr. Zac Turner revealed would happen after a month teetotal, during an interview with news.com.au.
Stable mood
The first change Dr. Turner points out is that less alcohol equals a more stable mental state.
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This is because alcohol consumption is linked to chemical changes in your brain
which can cause heightened negative feelings such as anger, depression and anxiety, according to research from the Mental Health Foundation.
Dr. Turner adds that cutting back on the booze will lead to a more stabilised mood, with initial changes being apparent in just a few days.
Potential weight loss
Alcohol can cause weight gain for a number of reasons. According to the Better Health Channel.
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Boozy drinks such as beer and wine are high in empty calories - which are calories that don't carry nutrients for the body - and alcohol is also known to slow down the burning of body fat, as your digestive system will prioritise breaking down the drinks you've chugged before anything else.
It can also cause the body to feel more hungry and crave unhealthy foods.
Dr. Turner says a month off the strong stuff will allow you to see positive changes in terms of fat loss and energy improvements.
Improved mental function
According to Dr. Turner, swapping your gin and tonic for a glass of orange juice could aid your brain function, memory and cognitive abilities.
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The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism adds that this is because booze interferes with the brain's communication pathways and can lead to a higher risk of injury.
Better quality sleep
Research from Drinkaware states that a lifestyle which involves regular drinking leads to a negative impact on the quality of your sleep, which leaves you feeling tired and sluggish.
This is because alcohol causes the body to spend less time in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep, which leaves you feeling less refreshed.
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Dr. Turner believes that even a few days without alcohol will leave you experiencing a better quality of sleep.
Better liver function
The most obvious part of your body which will see improvement after cutting out the drink is the liver.
The liver is responsible for breaking down any alcohol which enters the body, with prolonged excessive drinking leading to various diseases.
Dr. Turner believes that even a few days without booze will allow the organ to reduce liver fat and inflammation.
Topics: Alcohol, Food And Drink, Health
Brenna Cooper