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A glass of wine with dinner, beers at a party or champagne at a performance. Alcohol is a socially accepted drink, but it is certainly not healthy. Doctor Nish Manek explains what happens to your body when you give up alcohol.
Of course, we all know that alcohol, just like smoking or energy drinks, is not healthy. Doctor Nish Manek explains BBC Science Focus what happens to your body when you stop drinking. You will notice a difference after a few days. But how about a few weeks, months or years without drinking?
Effects on body without alcohol
No alcohol for 5 days
If you leave the alcohol alone for a few days, the body will respond positively. Alcohol is dehydrating and if you go a few days without alcoholic drinks, your hydration level will improve. This can result in clear skin and higher energy levels.
In addition, the liver, which suffers considerably from alcohol consumption, gets rest. After a few days without alcohol, it can detox and recover. In addition, you sleep better after a few days without alcohol.
If you are a regular drinker, you may also experience withdrawal symptoms.
No alcohol for a few weeks
As the fasting days turn into weeks, you will also experience more benefits. This makes your immune system stronger, which ensures that it can fight diseases better.
You can also notice a change mentally. You feel clear and can concentrate better. The ‘fog’ that alcohol causes in the brain disappears.
Some withdrawal symptoms can also last for a while. Such as cravings and drowsiness. But after a few weeks these symptoms also decrease.
No alcohol for a few months
If you go through life sober for months, things will go even better. This will help the liver function better. Normalize liver enzymes, which, for example, reduces the risk of liver disease. And the cardiovascular system also benefits. Blood pressure stabilizes and the risk of heart-related problems decreases.
But weight loss may also be an issue. Alcohol contains ’empty calories’ and without these calories losing weight becomes a lot easier.
In addition, we can deal better with our emotions if the alcohol has been out of our system for a number of months.
Couple of years without alcohol
According to the doctor, a few years without alcohol provides major health benefits. It lowers the risk of chronic conditions such as liver disease, pancreatitis and certain cancers.
But the cognitive functions in our brain are also improving. This has a beneficial effect on memory and mental agility, among other things. Emotional well-being also often gets a boost in the long term, as symptoms of anxiety and depression decrease. And sexual function can also improve by giving up alcohol.
More benefits of alcohol-free living
The doctor emphasizes that many people who live alcohol-free experience that their self-esteem increases and they feel a lot clearer mentally. Sleep patterns also stabilize, which ensures that people sleep much better. “That alone can have a significant impact on our long-term health.”
But we not only reap the physical benefits when we stop drinking alcohol. Our relationships also improve. Not drinking alcohol promotes communication with and trust in others.
Not an easy road
Finally, Manek emphasizes that a sober life is not always an easy path. The doctor explains that it may be that you initially feel worse when you stop drinking alcohol. Or that you experience certain moments when you feel bad. “You may feel ‘stuck’ or have a tendency to relapse emotionally or physically.” That is why, according to Manek, it is important that you receive support from the people around you. “But if you succeed, the benefits can be enormous, both physically and mentally.”
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2023-10-02 12:05:49
#body #stop #drinking #alcohol
