The annual Dry January challenge is a hugely popular initiative, with a whopping 8.8 million Brits reportedly taking part in 2023. It’s a great way to kickstart your health following the festive season’s indulgences.
But not only does Dry January offer a chance to rejuvenate your physical and mental well-being, but it also serves as an ideal moment to reassess your drinking habits and acknowledge the advantages of a booze-free lifestyle, even if it’s just for 31 days. Health experts Trevor Connor and Griffin McMath of The Paleo Diet have delved into the immediate and long-term impacts of alcohol consumption on the body, highlighting how even a brief hiatus can cause benefits, reports the Mirror.
While chronic drinking may lead to permanent issues such as fatty liver deposits, the experts point out that other detrimental effects, including inflammation – a precursor to serious illnesses like diabetes and cancer – can appear quicker. Griffin said: “Your first hangover, that’s a cause of inflammation right there. You can even see it in people whose bodies have a hard time processing alcohol – you can see the flush in their faces.
“You can see the harmful effects of alcohol after one drink.” Trevor said: “Your body wants to stay in balance – alcohol gets you out of balance, but your body finds a way to say “I can deal with this.” So as Griffin said, the effects are immediate.
“You’re going to have some sort of inflammatory effect after your first night of drinking. But your body’s going to be able to address that, and prevent the more severe, long-term consequences.
“The question is – how long does that have to sustain, where your body is trying to manage it, before your ability to manage it breaks down and you start seeing chronic diseases. That’s going to be individual, but anybody – even if you’re past that point – if you reduce alcohol and get that inflammation down, you can reverse some of the negative consequences.”
However, it’s crucial to remember that this isn’t a one-size-fits all solution. Griffin emphasised that years of heavy drinking can have irreversible effects – but giving up alcohol is ‘always worth it’.
While Dry January might just be one month of quitting alcohol, even a short-term break can have positive impacts on your health.
Trevor said: “Overall, yes you’re going to be healthier doing this. I think you’ll see some benefits in the short run, but if it’s really just one month, I think mostly what you’re going to experience by the end of that month is hopefully how much better you can feel without the alcohol in your system.”
They also issued a stark warning to those undertaking Dry January, pointing out that any that any benefits could be short-lived if old habits resume post-January.
Trevor added: “If you just do it for a month and then get back to the way you used to drink, I don’t think you’re going to see any long-term benefits. I think if you maintain it, that’s where you’re really going to see long term benefits such as reduction of inflammation. Getting inflammation down in our bodies is really important for us – that has an impact on almost every chronic disease.”
Beyond this, Trevor also noted improvements in gut microbiome are possible, but warned that habitual drinking can swiftly reverse these benefits.