If you’ve recently completed a month of sobriety this October (and even if you haven’t), it’s a great time to remind ourselves of the several benefits that come with life without alcohol.
Reduced Health Risks from Heavy Drinking
If you’ve made an active effort to not drink, or just to drink less, there’s a reduced chance of you “over drinking” and consuming large volumes that can actually be damaging to your body. For instance, sessions of heavy drinking can increase your risk of the following:
- Anxiety
- Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
- Cancer
- Cirrhosis
- Dementia
- Depression
- Digestive issues
- Fibrosis
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
Make Way for Healthier Habits
Research has also shown us that over time, the damage caused by heavy drinking to your liver, cardiovascular system and brain will begin to gradually heal. And as you phase out drinking, this leaves more room for healthier habits that can increase recovery from various health concerns you might have.
When we assess potential clients who see us for acupuncture for anxiety in London, we always try to review the root causes first, which in many cases may stem from alcohol consumption. Reducing your overall intake can improve the benefits of our treatments and help you achieve your desired outcomes sooner.
Better Skin
As well as causing dehydration (which is awful for skin health) alcohol can also have many negative effects on your skin, such as inflammation, broken capillaries and reduced collagen levels.
Improved Sleep
Those who cut down on their alcohol consumption often observe an improved ability to sleep and more natural sleep-wake cycles. And the better you sleep, the better your overall health and mood may become. Acupuncture can be useful to help with sleep quality and reduce withdrawal symptoms – although if you really need help quitting you should seek specific counselling help.
Feel Lighter and More Energetic
As well as being full of empty calories and in some cases extremely high levels of sugar, alcohol robs your body of essential nutrients and disrupts metabolism. Removing alcohol from your life can also make exercise much more appealing.
Better Mental Health
Improvement in your mental health is perhaps one of the most undervalued benefits of giving up or cutting down on alcohol. For some, it will offer them a clearer head to make better decisions that lead to growth and positivity. For others, it means staying away from triggers that could cause a spiral of anxiety and depression.
Improved Immunity
As it gets colder, it’s crucial that we actively work on building or maintaining our immune systems. As alcohol interferes with your immune system, preventing it from producing enough white blood cells to fend off germs, cutting down can help your body cope with any colds or viruses that are going around in winter.
