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Once an outlier, Dry January has become mainstream with more beer lovers who may have overindulged over the winter holidays already onboard. But while the long term benefits of stepping away from alcohol completely are well-documented, will a month of abstinence really make you feel better?
The Drinks Business is reporting that some doctors are arguing that Dry January participants might actually end up feeling worse.
And since no one in the American Craft Beer office has any inclination to abandon alcohol in 2023 we’re running with this news.
According to Dr Preethi Daniel from the London Doctors Clinic the effect of stepping away from your favorite alcoholic beverages varies widely with heavier drinkers experiencing more intense consequences…
“As your body goes through withdrawal from alcohol dependency, you may experience slight dehydration and an inability to sleep soundly throughout the first few days of the month. Symptoms may also include restlessness, tremors, nausea, sweating and anxiety.
“Your liver generally needs four to six weeks of recovery after a period of heavy drinking. Therefore it may take the whole month to fully experience the health benefits of Dry January, such as an improved sleeping pattern and more radiant skin.”
(Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash)
However, Dr Michael Apstein, a Boston gastroenterologist, has previously stated that there is absolutely ‘no science’ to support the idea that Dry January is good for your liver.
Noting that the enzymes responsible for breaking down alcohol in the liver are created by our body when needed, Apstein wrote in 2016 “those who drink regularly can metabolize more alcohol than those who drink occasionally, because daily imbibers have livers with more of these enzymes.”
“If you think you need to take a month off, you’re either drinking too much during the rest of the year or you have a guilty conscience,” Apstein added. “But giving up alcohol will, all other things being equal, result in a modest weight loss.”
So there’s that…
There’s also this…
1 IN 4 ALREADY DONE WITH DRY JANUARY
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