Everything that happens when you stop drinking alcohol as woman shares before and after of going 30 days sober

Planning to give up alcohol in the near future? Here are all the changes you may notice in your body.

Enjoying a drink or two may be a British national pastime, especially when the sun's out, but it's no secret that knocking back the booze isn't good for us. So if you're here, then chances are you're considering taking an extended break from drinking.

But what exactly takes place inside your body when you put down the bottle? You won't be surprised to learn that there are quite a few changes which take place, as one woman discovered after taking a photo of her face every day for a month after quitting drinking.

YouTuber and yoga teacher Paige may not have noticed many changes to her face in the series of selfies, but followers certainly did, pointing out that her skin appeared brighter and clearer after a month without the booze.

Paige before and after 30 days without alcohol (Yoga with Paige)

So with that in mind, what other changes take place when you stop drinking?

Changes to your sleep

Pack in the booze for an extended period of timeand there's a good chance that you'll see noticeable change to the quality of sleep you're getting.

Alcohol Change notes that drinking alcohol leads to the body spending less time in deep sleep. Deep sleep is important for the body's physical recovery, and without enough of it, you'll end up waking up and still feeling tired and groggy.

This likely explains why you feel exhausted after sleeping for 10 hours following a big night out.

Meanwhile, Drinkaware notes that drinking can interrupt your REM sleep - which is responsible for feeling mentally refreshed - which again leaves you feeling sluggish.

Changes to your heart, liver and blood pressure

A more refreshing night's sleep isn't the only change you'll see after quitting the booze.

There's a good chance that you'll see a reduction in your blood pressure after 30 days off the sauce.

Reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol is important, as the British Heart Foundation notes that controlling your blood pressure lowers your risk of heart disease and strokes.

Stopping the booze may lead to a more refreshing night's sleep (Getty Stock Images)

Meanwhile, your liver will certainly thank you for quitting the drink. Your liver is responsible for filtering out the toxins in your body, metabolising around 90 percent of alcohol consumed.

One study cited by Alcohol Change notes that going a month without drinking substantially reduces your risk of getting 'liver stiffness', which is a precursor to liver disease.

When caught early, issues with the liver are considered to be reversible, which means that taking time away from booze gives your liver an important chance to mend itself.

Changes to your appearance, skin and weight

The changes aren't just internal, as you'll also see differences in your appearance.

After giving up alcohol, you'll begin to become more hydrated, which leads to your skin looking more glowing and hydrated. Ocean Recovery Centre also notes that improved skin health can lead to decreased puffiness in the face, which is certainly something that Paige's followers noted.

As well as changes both inside and out (Getty Stock Images)

Changes to your brain function

Increased hydration won't only benefit your skin either, as dehydration can also cause headaches, poor concentration and impaired memory.

Cut out the booze and you're likely to enjoy increased motivation and less brain fog.

However, Sober Powered does note that heavy drinkers or people with an alcohol dependency may notice an increase in brain fog in the early days of sobriety, due to withdrawal symptoms.

Changes to your sex life

Heavy drinkers are also likely to notice changes to their sex life after going sober, with WebMD noting that boozing can lead to men struggling to maintain an erection, while women will see a decrease in their sex drive.

Pack in drinking and there's a good chance this will improve.