What happens to your body when you give up alcohol for a month

Publish date: 2024-07-17

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Giving up booze for Sober October could save you from more than a wicked hangover.

Experts say ditching alcohol for a month could lead to healthier skin, weight loss, better sleep and lower the risk for future health scares.

In the first week alone of the sober spooky season, sleep should improve and it should be easier to wake up, as research has shown that regular alcohol consumption could lead to insomnia symptoms.

“Although some people find drinking alcohol helps them get to sleep more quickly, it disrupts the important Rapid Eye Movement stage of sleep, leaving you feeling tired the next day — no matter how long you stay in bed,” Drinkaware CEO Karen Tyrell told the Daily Mail.

According to GoodRx, enjoying a pint of witches brew could lead to less REM sleep and could cause more waking up in the middle of the night.

Glowing skin is an expected symptom of sobriety as soon as two weeks after giving up spirits.

During Sober October, ex-drinkers could see a wealth of health benefits in as little as a week. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Getting quality shut-eye and feeling more rested could happen as soon as a week after ditching booze. Getty Images

Because alcohol is a diuretic, it can dehydrate the skin, according to Medical News Today.

Long-term, alcohol can also contribute to an increase risk of skin infections and cancer because it weakens the immune system.

By week three, ex-drinkers may see the scale dip.

“If you’re overweight and regularly drink alcohol, you should find that your weight falls noticeably after you stop,” Tyrell said.

One beer totals around 154 calories, while a 5-ounce glass of vino is approximately 123.

Hard liquor like vodka, tequila, gin and rum typically amount to less than 100 calories per ounce — or shot — which can quickly rack up over the course of a few cocktails on the weekends.

Four weeks or more of sobriety not only allows the liver to recoup, but it can also lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, according to Healthline.

“Stopping drinking or giving your liver a regular break can allow it a chance to repair, but the less you drink the more you reduce your risk,” Tyrell said of liver damage.

Because alcohol can pile on excess calories, cutting it out of your diet can shrink your waist line. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Long-term, taking breaks from drinking allows the liver to heal. Getty Images

Recent research revealed that any amount of alcohol consumption could increase drinkers’ risk of more than 60 diseases.

Last year, scientists declared that a “safe” volume of liquor to consume is only a measly two tablespoons.

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