Dry January is an incredibly popular event at the start of the new year, challenging people to give up alcohol for a whole month, and the effects it has on your body are likely to shock you.
Most people enjoy an alcoholic beverage every once in a while, but many have taken it upon themselves to give it up completely during January at the start of every year.
Started initially by Alcohol Change UK in 2013, hundreds of thousands of people sign up every year with far more taking on the challenge unofficially, but have you ever wondered exactly what effect Dry January has on your body and your health?
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As reported by Science Alert, the effects of undertaking a month of no alcohol are not only positive but fast-acting too, with respondents indicating improvements to their health in a number of bodily areas.
From a purely scientific perspective, biological studies indicate that taking a break from the booze reduces your liver fat, blood glucose, and blood cholesterol levels, all of which are positive for your overall health.
Perhaps the most illuminating discovery is that reducing your alcohol intake appears to dramatically increase the quality of your sleep. 56% of respondents to a survey conducted by Science Alert and Alcohol Change UK indicated that their sleep improved by the end of Dry January, and the health benefits of a better sleep are well documented.
Similar numbers also indicated that they had increased energy levels, alongside feeling healthier overall, and if you're one for saving money then 63% of participants outlined that not drinking helped their purse out too.
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Undertaking the process of Dry January isn't for everyone though, and it can actually be harmful depending on your level of alcohol dependency.
One commenter on Reddit outlined: "So was trying Dry January and couldn't. It's made me realize I don't just have a drinking problem, I have proper alcohol dependence, with withdrawal effects and missing work and everything."
As it's very much a drug, going cold turkey with alcohol can have some incredibly damaging withdrawal symptoms, with other posts indicating that people "didn't sleep well," and had "night sweats for a few days."
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Subreddits like r/DryJanuary and r/stopdrinking provide support for people going through issues like this though, and it goes to show that while taking the plunge can be a healthy break for some, it isn't always cut and dry if you typically drink far more than the average.