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  • Here’s what a month off alcohol can do for your body, mind and wallet

    Staff Writer - 5 min read

    01 July 2020


    Whatever the name and purpose for your month off alcohol, the health benefits of abstaining remain the same, and make for pretty fascinating reading…

    What a month off drinking does for your body

    Dry July, Octsober, Febfast: whatever the name and purpose for your month off alcohol, the health benefits of abstaining – even if it’s just for a short time – remain the same.

    While alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation, drinking more than two standard drinks per day (the recommended amount, according to health experts) can have negative impacts on your health and wellbeing. And as we try and muddle our way through a pandemic, and all the stress and strain it entails, it’s more important than ever to be conscious of what we’re putting into our bodies.

    Following a night of drinking, you’re likely to feel foggy, headachy, thirsty and irritable – a hangover, basically. Heavy drinkers – those who have more drinks, more often – are likely to face ongoing, and serious, health issues: liver damage, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer.

    But what actually happens to our bodies, minds and wallets when we stop drinking for four weeks? Let’s find out.

    YOUR BODY

    When you stop drinking, you can start to see positive effects in your body almost immediately. Within 12-24 hours, the detoxification process begins, which means alcohol starts to expel from your system and your blood sugar normalises.

    Depending on how much you drink, you may notice withdrawal symptoms within the first day or so off drinking – things like sweating, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Make sure you drink plenty of water, exercise (even a little!), and fill your body with nutritious food while it adjusts.

    Speaking of water, within a week you’ll likely start to feel more hydrated. Your skin is likely to clear up (bye bye, breakouts!) and your lips may regain their natural plumpness, and be less prone to cracking.

    Weight loss can also occur when you stop drinking. Not only are you cutting out empty calories, but alcohol also prevents your body from effectively burning fat, and can lead to less healthy food choices (experts have reasoned that we crave fatty food after drinking because it provides the most calories for the least effort).

    By the end of a month off alcohol, your blood pressure can begin to stabilise, and your cholesterol and liver fat can decrease. Win-win.

    YOUR MIND

    While it might feel like you’re on top of the world when you’ve got a drink in your hand, alcohol is a depressant that can have negative side effects on your mental health, and is known to trigger existing signs of anxiety. How many times have you woken up after a night out with workmates, plagued by a sense of dread at what you’re pretty sure you may have said to your boss?

    Taking a break from booze can allow your brain to recalibrate, which means you’ll be able to think more clearly, and more rationally. After a week without alcohol, you may even start sleeping better and feeling more alert throughout the day. 

    YOUR WALLET

    After a night out with friends, you’ll notice your wallet/bank balance is much slimmer than it was at the start of the evening. Alcohol is expensive, and those one or two drinks after work with a colleague/Saturday arvo footy sessions at the pub/exclamations of “Let’s have another pint with dinner!” really adds up.

    The average Australian household reports saving around $140 a month – that’s over $1,600 a year! – by cutting out their alcohol spend. Think of all the things you could get for that sort of cash.

    Taking a break from alcohol can be tricky, but start with small changes if you don’t feel confident giving up for a month. Aim for at least four alcohol-free days each week, and arrange early morning catch ups with friends, like walks around the park, a swim at the local pool, or a coffee at your favourite café.

    If you’re looking to reduce your alcohol intake, make sure you have a glass of water before, between and after drinks – water will flush out your system and make you feel fuller, alternate your wine or beer with an alcohol-free alternative, and consider tracking your alcohol intake with an app, like the BAC Alcohol Calculator. 


    Staff Writer

    Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances 

     

    Copyright © 2020 AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861 AFSL 230043). This is general information only, without taking into account factors like the objectives, financial situation, needs or personal circumstances of any individual and is not intended to be financial, legal, tax, medical, nutritional, health, fitness or other advice.


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    Copyright © 2021. AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Priority Protection and Priority Protection for Platform Investors products are issued by AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861, AFSL 230043). AIA Vitality, a personalised, science-backed program that supports members every day to make healthier choices, is available with eligible products issued by AIA Australia. AIA Health with AIA Vitality is issued by AIA Health Insurance Pty Ltd ABN 32 611 323 034, a registered private health insurer governed by the Private Health Insurance Act 2007, Private Health Insurance Rules 2007 and the AIA Health Insurance Pty Ltd Fund Rules. The information on this website is current as at 1 April 2021 and may be subject to change. It is general information only and is not intended in any way to be financial, legal, tax, health, medical, nutritional or other advice. You should consider your own personal circumstances and needs and view the relevant product documents, fact sheets, fund rules and terms and conditions before making a decision to acquire such products. If necessary you should obtain professional advice from a financial, tax, medical or health professional. Unless expressly stated, any views or expressions of opinion (including any video content) do not represent the opinion of AIA.
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