Cutting back on alcohol?
Within a few days, you might experience some positive changes in how you look and feel, and your risk of medium- and long-term health issues may decrease.
A good night’s sleep, glowing skin, and a happier disposition. Reducing your alcohol use can improve your appearance and mood, frequently within a few days.
Reducing your alcohol consumption may also enhance your general mental well-being. Additionally, you may be lowering your medium- to long-term risks of developing major diseases including liver and heart disease.
How much booze is too much?
According to low risk drinking recommendations, it’s best for both men and women to limit their weekly alcohol consumption to 14 units, spaced out over three or more days with several drink-free days, and to avoid bingeing.
If you are now consistently exceeding the low risk drinking recommendations, you will be developing an alcohol tolerance. This may imply that you experience the effects of alcohol less keenly, but the risk to your health, including the possibility of dependency, increases the more you drink.
It’s also crucial to control how much alcohol you consume at a time. Avoiding “binge drinking,” or drinking a lot of alcohol in a short period of time, lowers your risk of mishaps, regrettable judgments, and alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.
What Happens Physically When You Stop Drinking
A healthier heartÂ
Regularly drinking red wine or other alcoholic beverages may seem to be beneficial for your heart. However, that could be untrue or simply apply to light drinkers (those who consume fewer than one drink each day). If you use more than that, reducing your usage or stopping altogether may lower your blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and risk of heart failure.
Your live may recover
Toxins are filtered by your liver’s functions. Alcohol also poisons your cells. Heavy drinking, defined as eight or more drinks for women and at least 15 for men per week, can damage the liver and cause cirrhosis, fatty liver, and other issues. The good news is that your liver may renew and even heal itself. So it’s always worthwhile to cut back or stop drinking.
A better night’s sleep
Being a depressant, alcohol may first make you feel sleepy. However, if you nod off, it may wake you up several times throughout the night. Additionally, it disturbs the crucial REM stage of sleep and could affect your breathing. You might also need to stand up more frequently to use the restroom. For more comfortable sleep, try to avoid drinking alcohol, especially in the late afternoon and evening.
You might drop a few kilos
Two pints of beer have 364 calories, while two glasses of wine have 318. There is no denying that alcohol has a lot of calories. So, reducing our intake of our preferred alcoholic beverage can greatly benefit in weight loss. Your top priority may not be losing weight. However, losing weight also leads to improved health, increased energy, and a lower risk of developing a number of diseases.
Ease some financial stress
Drinking alcohol, whether it comes from a bar or your fridge, is a costly pastime. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that more than 86% of participants in Dry January reported saving money. By eliminating this significant expense, we create space for self-investment. This financial freedom can result in increased wellbeing, whether it’s saving for a vacation, a new home, a rainy day, or other expenses.
Better relationships
Social drinking in moderation can improve your mood and strengthen relationships with others. However, drinking alone or in large quantities every day runs the risk of becoming a bad habit. Alcohol use disorder is a condition that can develop if you can’t regulate your consumption. You might be able to concentrate on your relationships, job, and health if you stop drinking. Additionally, it might lower your anxiety and despair while boosting your self-esteem.
Better skin
Alcohol can leave the skin looking dry and grey since it dehydrates the body. Your skin will look clearer and brighter in just a few days after you reduce your alcohol intake. You’ll appear and feel better, which could significantly alter how you relate to those around you.
More action in the bedroom
Alcohol may make couples more flirtatious. However, anything more than one or two drinks per day has the opposite impact, particularly if you misuse or abuse alcohol. Men may struggle to achieve and maintain an erection. The vagina of women may get drier and their sex drive may decline. Reduce your alcohol consumption and see if your romance improves.
Less time being sick
The ability of your body to fight off germs for up to 24 hours may be weakened by even one episode of binge drinking. Large doses of alcohol gradually weaken your body’s ability to heal itself and your immune system. Reduce your alcohol use to help fend off ailments.
Lowers your blood pressure
You might be able to lower your blood pressure if you stop drinking alcohol if you consume a lot of alcohol and your readings are too high. Even just cutting less on drinking can have a significant benefit. Discuss your numbers with your doctor. Blood pressure should be less than 120/80. Your blood pressure is high if it is greater than 130/80.
Clearer thinking
Heavy sonsumption of alcohol can impair one’s ability to think clearly or recall details. Heavy drinking over time can slow down and weaken your motor abilities as well as distort your sense of distances and volumes. Even reading the emotions of other people may become more difficult for you as a result. However, it seems that your brain can restore some of these skills if you stop.
No more hangovers
You might be recovering from a hangover or dealing with “the fear” on the weekends. This is the depressive state that frequently follows a night of drinking. It might be a relief to awaken in the morning with a clear head and plenty of energy. You can utilize your leisure time more effectively if you do this.
Time for new interests
You can find time for new, diverse interests thanks to your increased energy, better mental health, and greater cash. Discover joy in a new habit by trying out new things you’ve always wanted to try. Along the journey, you’re more likely to encounter new individuals, pick up new skills, and develop an open mind.
If you have come this far, you may be concerned about your alcohol consumption and can see the benefits of drinking less alcohol. Read here to see some signs that you may be drinking too much.
