Nutritionist Explains The Real Benefits Of Dry January

Dry January is a challenge where people taking part ditch alcohol for the first month of the new year. For some it's a time to psychologically and physiology ‘reset’ after a boozy festive season, for others it may be the first part of a resolution to start drinking less alcohol. Two years of intermittent lockdowns and restrictions has had an impact on people, and it’s possible an increase in isolation, stress and loneliness has resulted in many using alcohol to cope. Dry January is a good opportunity to start the new year with a clear head and develop a healthier relationship with alcohol.

 

Benefits of Dry January

1. Overall health improvement

Your general health may improve and may you start to feel better. Drinking and binge drinking can have many negative side effects, such as impaired sleeping patterns, and it can also increase the risk of certain diseases. Abstaining from drinking alcohol for a month can only benefit you, even if you don’t choose to give up for good.An observational study published in the British Medical Journal (2018) tracked moderate to heavy drinkers who abstained from alcohol for a month, and found health improvements.

 

2. Improving your relationship with alcohol 

If you're worried about your relationship with alcohol and feel lethargic due to excessive drinking, Dry January could be a helpful opportunity to reassess how you're feeling on a psychological, physical and social level. 

3. Improved sleep and commitment to exercise   

Heading to bed at a reasonable hour and not staying up late drinking can lead to more (and better) sleep This has the added benefit of feeling groggy less, which can lead to more adherence to your exercise routine, giving you the endorphin hit.

 

4. Stronger immune system 

Being intoxicated can acutely suppress immune function — making you more vulnerable to pathogens — and chronic drinking can lead to inflammatory reactions throughout the body. Even a one-off night of heavy drinking can impede your body’s ability to fight off infections for up to 24 hours.

 

5. Fewer calories

If you're having several drinks a week, another benefit of Dry January could be a decrease in your overall calorie intake. A standard alcoholic drink typically contains around 150-200 calories, but it doesn't make us feel more satisfied as it doesn’t contain any micronutrients. These are known as ‘empty calories’. Alcohol also makes the body thinks it’s hungrier than it actually is by upregulating hunger hormones and down-regulating satiety signalling.

 

6. Improved decision making

Alcohol’s ability to impair judgment may lead you to make impulsive food choices that sound great at the time. It’s probably fair to say we’ve all been tempted by a McDonald’s on the way home after a night out. And it’s often not just a portion for one, but three! It’s easy to consume more than we need after a few drinks, but this can contribute to feeling low the day after. 

 

7. Improved thinking patterns 

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain works. These disruptions can change mood and behaviour and make it harder to think clearly, and taking a break from alcohol could lead to improved memory and cognition.