Will Dry January improve my health?

If you’re taking part in Dry January, your motivation may have been sparked by the excesses of the Christmas holidays. We all know that being booze-free is a positive lifestyle change, but will you feel the health benefits of Dry January after being tee-total for 31 days? Here, we look at the physical changes you may notice after cutting out alcohol this month and why your mental health will thank you for it.

Improved immune system

For a woman, drinking more than four alcoholic drinks on a single occasion is classed as binge drinking. While we all need to let our hair down sometimes, it’s worth knowing that your immune cells will decrease within two to five hours after an episode of binge drinking. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pick up a virus and feel unwell, but it isn’t good news for your health and could mean your hangover manifests into something worse.

Beat the bloat when avoiding alcohol

If you suffer from digestive issues, you may notice that one of the health benefits of Dry January is feeling less bloated. Alcohol is known to increase your appetite, which can lead to eating high-fat snacks and junk food that make your tummy swollen and uncomfortable. Chronic alcohol use can also trigger inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can cause constipation, discomfort, and stomach pain. If you’re boycotting the booze this month, you can expect to see a significant difference in any bloating caused by alcohol and reduce your calorie intake at the same time.

Reduced anxiety in Dry January

There’s no denying that having a drink in the evening or with a friend is an enjoyable way to unwind and catch up. However, using alcohol as a coping mechanism or distraction can be a dangerous habit to get into because it can intensify feelings of depression and anxiety. By cutting out the booze in January, you’re likely to find your mood becomes more stable, and you feel less sluggish and more energised. These are all factors that affect mental health, so don’t be surprised if you’ve noticed some positive cognitive changes by the end of the month if you’re giving Dry January a try.

Better quality of sleep in Dry January

It’s not uncommon to nod off after a few drinks, but you’ll probably find you wake up a few hours later or feel tired and unrefreshed the next day. This is down to the way alcohol interferes with adenosine – a chemical that makes blood vessels dilate and relax. If you’ve noticed that the quality and quantity of your sleep suffers after drinking alcohol, improved rest is one of the health benefits of Dry January that could boost your energy levels and have a positive impact on other areas of your life.

Brighter complexion

Alcohol is a diuretic, which can make your bladder work overtime and leave your body (and skin) dehydrated and crying out for moisture. Although drinking your favourite tipple won’t directly cause spots, it can increase the amount of cortisol hormone in your body. This can cause your blood sugar levels to spike and lead to breakouts and blemishes. Alcohol is also known to speed up the skin’s ageing process due to its high toxin concentration, so the health benefits of Dry January may mean you find yourself with a younger, brighter-looking complexion to start off the new year.

Contact UK Food Intolerance to review your lifestyle

If you’d like to rule out any food intolerances and streamline your diet in 2024, testing kits are available to buy from our website. You can also email any questions you have about food intolerance testing to [email protected] or fill out our contact form.