When you are out having a good time and engaging in casual drinking, you might not pause to consider exactly what kind of damage you are doing to your body. Even if you think you have control over your drinking habits, your overall health will greatly increase if you decided to give up drinking. The reasons listed below are just some of the benefits that you will experience.
No More Hangovers
Whenever you consume heavy amounts of alcohol, you can count on the next day being nearly ruined thanks to the side effects of the hangover. If you have a hangover, you don’t want to do anything. You don’t want to go anywhere. Your entire productivity the day of a hangover is completely ruined. By eliminating alcohol from your life, you will no longer experience entire days wasted due to the need to recover from a hangover.
You’ll No Longer Feel Groggy
Even if you aren’t having hangovers due to your alcohol intake, you may still be experiencing an overall sense of grogginess due to intaking wine after a meal. For some, the feeling of grogginess is a persistent one that stays with us, unlike a hangover. Once you quit drinking, your brain will begin to heal. Once your nervous system is no longer bombarded with having to deal with alcohol, it can begin on the path of recovery and you will be able to think clearly and deeply again.
Your Immune System Will Thank You
According to a study performed by the University of Chicago, the number of disease-fighting cells in our immune system is drastically lowed only a few hours after consuming alcohol. While this is a temporary effect, it does demonstrate that drinking puts you at an increased risk of becoming ill. By giving up alcohol, you increase your body’s ability to fight back against sickness.
You’ll Get Better Sleep
You might even drink alcohol in order to relax so that you can get a better night’s sleep. But unfortunately, the opposite is true. Alcohol will reduce both the quality and quantity of sleep that you enjoy. By giving up alcohol, you’ll be more fully rested.
Your Skin Will Clear
Your skin is part of the system that removes toxins from your body, and your body recognizes alcohol as a toxin. So by drinking regularly, you are more likely to develop acne and other signs of aging. After you’ve given up drinking, you’ll have to get used to hearing people compliment you on your glowing skin.
Your Weight Will Be Easier to Control
With a single pint of beer easily being at least 180 calories, it’s easy to consume enough calories to cause unwanted weight gain. This is one reason for the notorious “beer belly” effect. Dropping alcohol from your diet means eliminating useless calories.
You’ll Actually Reduce Your Chances of Cancer
The Society for the Study of Addiction released a study in 2016 that linked the consumption of alcohol to ten different types of cancer, including liver, colon, esophageal, rectal, breast, and cancers of the mouth and throat. By giving up alcohol, you are helping to fight against your chances of developing these cancers.
You’ll Experience Fewer Aches and Pains
When you drink, alcohol prevents your body from absorbing vitamins and essential nutrients from your food. As a result, it’s common for people who drink to develop little aches and pains that they cannot seem to get rid of, no matter how otherwise healthy they consider themselves. By giving up alcohol, you’ll increase your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and decrease the occurrence of aches and pains.
Your Mood Will Improve
After giving up drinking, it’s common to experience a renewed sense of energy. No longer will you have to rely upon alcohol as a confidence booster or a mood changer. When you give up drinking, your mood will be more stable and your emotional stability will benefit from that on a long-term basis.
Your Liver Will Begin to Heal
Your liver is greatly affected when you consume alcohol. It is the organ responsible for cleansing your body of the toxins associated with alcohol. But after only two months of quitting drinking, your liver will begin the long process of repairing itself. Once your liver begins this process, you’ll decrease your chances of developing long-term liver conditions, such as hepatitis or cancer.
Conclusion
Giving up drinking may sound like a considerable sacrifice to make. However, by reviewing the previous list it should become clear that there are a number of health benefits that will occur once you remove alcohol from your life. With so many potential benefits, drinking alcohol as part of a regular night’s out should no longer hold the same appeal.
It should also be recognized, though, that you may be in need of professional alcohol addiction treatment. Do not be afraid to ask for help.
Updated: 25 April 2019
