18 Surprising Benefits Of 1 Month Alcohol Free

It's easy for our alcohol consumption to get away from us sometimes. One glass becomes two, two glasses become three, and all of a sudden the bottle's gone.

If it's catching up with you, you might be considering 1 month alcohol free.

Not only are there great benefits mentally, physically and financially, but I've got the best mocktail recipes to try so you can still enjoy that Friday afternoon drink.

It's important to remember that not everyone will experience the same things at the same time, or even in the same way. This is just a general guide, and not medical advice.

All references are linked at the bottom of the article.

7 days without alcohol - the benefits

The first 7 days without alcohol can often be the most challenging, especially when Friday afternoon rolls around.

Here are the major benefits you'll notice after a 7-day break from alcohol.

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Improved Sleep Patterns

So, you think that extra glass of red is helping you to fall asleep? You may actually be right, but what type of sleep exactly?

The science of sleep is one of constant analysis, but these are the basics.

Our bodies cycle through four sleep stages during sleep - Stage 1 (NREM), Stage 2 (NREM), Stage 3 (NREM) and REM.

When alcohol is consumed, you typically fall straight into a deep sleep. This often means missing the crucial rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is essential for good quality, restorative sleep.

While you are supposed to have between six and seven cycles of REM sleep a night, you typically only have one or two when you’ve been drinking.

This can cause you to wake feeling tired, even if you’ve had a full night's sleep. Even one alcoholic drink will have a negative effect on sleep.

Heads up: I cover all of these benefits in even more detail over on my Instagram account. Be sure to head to my reel section to see the weekly breakdowns.

Improved Hydration

When you consume alcohol, you lose around four times as much liquid as you drink. Dehydration can cause headaches, as your organs take water from the brain due to their own water loss.

Salt and potassium levels also reduce, which can impact nerve and proper muscle function while also causing fatigue and nausea.

Giving up alcohol can help you keep well hydrated, which is in turn beneficial for your brain. Your mood and concentration will be more stable, and the frequency of headaches is likely to decrease.

Hydration is also a huge contributor to glowing skin and reducing premature ageing.

Calories Saved

You might be surprised by the amount of calories in your favourite alcoholic drink. One bottle of wine has 600 calories (2400kjs) on average, which is equivalent to 1 Big Mac or 2.5 Mars Bars.

By replacing these empty calories with healthy, nutrient-dense food you will be feeling incredible in no time.

If you find it tricky to give up completely, why not try an alcohol-free wine? My recommendations for the best non-alcoholic red wines is one of my most popular articles!

Added Bonus: Money Saved

The amount of money saved will be different for everyone, but I recommend you make this month fun by putting aside the money you would usually spend on alcohol.

Treat yourself to something nice at the end of the month.

Or, splash some cash on some of the awesome alcohol free beverages out there.

If these benefits sound appealing, but you need some support with your relationship with alcohol, why not join me for the New Year, Real Me Sobriety Course, run by experience sobriety coaches.

2 weeks without alcohol - the benefits

Two weeks alcohol-free brings even more benefits, and by now you should be well into the swing of things.

You'll be experiencing all the benefits of Week 1, plus:

Stomach Lining Returns To Normal

If you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn, you may find it's settling down by the end of the first week. This is because alcohol irritates your digestive system.

Drinking - even a little - makes your stomach produce more acid than usual which can cause inflammation of the stomach lining.

By now, your stomach lining should have returned to normal meaning less unpleasant digestive symptoms.

Clearer Mind, Less Brain Fog

We discussed in Week 1 how alcohol can cause a disruption in sleeping patterns, affecting your crucial REM sleep after just one alcoholic drink. After almost 2 weeks alcohol free, your normal sleeping patterns may have returned, resulting in you waking up fresh and energised.

Dehydration can also cause lethargy and a fuzzy brain, so the increase in hydration helps with a clearer mind too.

Skin and Eyes May Begin To Clear

Hydration has continued to improve during Week 2, so you may find by Day 14 your skin looks clearer and the whites of your eyes are whiter.

Hydration plays a huge part in skin health, and without decent water intake (or in this case, the alcohol causing the body to lose water) premature ageing can take place.

Another interesting fact is that alcohol can inhibit nutrition absorption, which also plays a huge role in skin health. That green smoothie is only good for you if your body has the ability to absorb it.

Are you one of those people who goes red and blotchy after a few too many?

This is due to the alcohol bringing the blood up to the tissue, causing inflammation which is the second most common cause of skin ageing after sun damage.

Enjoy a virgin mojito mocktail in the shade instead!

3 Weeks no Alcohol - The Benefits

By the end of 3 weeks without alcohol your body is beginning to see some true benefits. Even if you don't notice them straight away - they are happening! You are getting closer to your goal of 1 month alcohol free.

You'll be experiencing all the benefits of Week 1 and 2, plus:

Blood Pressure Reduces

Ever read a headline or an article that tries to tell you alcohol is good for your heart? I'm sorry to break it to you, but it's a myth.

Alcohol does not have any health benefits that can't be obtained by other foods.

Drinking too much alcohol can cause your blood pressure to rise both in the short and long term. Even 1 drink per day can increase your risk of high blood pressure.

After 3-4 weeks without alcohol, your blood pressure may start to reduce (assuming there are no other underlying health issues of course).

That's good for your heart and your overall health and wellbeing!

Improved Vision

A break from alcohol can greatly impact eye health. Binge drinking (which is only 6 standard drinks for men and 4 for women) can cause a number of problems with the health of your eyes, including dry eye and cataracts.

You may also notice your eyes have become brighter and whiter by now.

Sleeping Patterns are Regular and Consistent

By now you may have found a regular sleeping pattern and will be feeling the benefits of truly restorative sleep. You might even be finding you need less sleep and wake feeling more fresh, because the quality of sleep you are getting is so much higher.

Note: if you are still finding it difficult to fall/stay asleep by Week 3, it can't hurt to have a chat to your doctor. If you've been using alcohol as a sleep aid, it can take a lot longer for restorative sleep to regulate.

Increased Clarity and productivity

You will likely be experiencing less brain fog and overall be more productive. A big contributing factor here is your better quality sleep and all that refreshing hydration.

You should be noticing that it's easier to concentrate for longer periods.

Better Kidney Health

Alcohol causes changes in the function of the kidneys and makes them less able to filter the blood. Alcohol also affects the ability to regulate fluid and electrolytes in the body.

Without proper-functioning kidneys, our bodies become overwhelmed with the waste in our blood and may start to break down. We need to keep them strong and working their best.

With 3 weeks booze free, those kidneys will be feeling great and working much more efficiently.

Benefits of 1 Month Alcohol Free

You're doing so well and you should be feeling amazing!

After 4 weeks alcohol-free, you'll be experiencing all the benefits of Week 1, 2 and 3, plus:

Liver Health Improves

Liver fat will now be reduced by up to 15% after 1 month alcohol free.

With the liver playing a part in over 500 vital processes, you give your body a better chance of removing contaminants, converting food nutrients, storing minerals and vitamins, helping to fight infections and maintaining hormone balance by keeping your liver in good condition.

Glucose Stabilises and Cholesterol drops by up to 5%

With your body's ability to better absorb nutrients and filter out the nasties, your glucose levels will stabilise. That's good for reducing your risk of diabetes, glaucoma and organ damage.

It's also got the potential to drop your cholesterol by up to 5%.

Reduced Anxiety

You might think that having that extra wine makes you feel more relaxed and assists with easing anxiety, but unfortunately it's just making it worse. While it may initially 'take the edge off' and make you feel relaxed, alcohol is a depressant.

Alcohol changes levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, which can worsen anxiety. In fact, you may feel more anxious after the alcohol wears off.

Alcohol-induced anxiety can last for several hours, or even for an entire day after drinking.

Reduced cancer risk

Alcohol is a known human carcinogen, and has been placed in the same category as tobacco and asbestos. There is strong scientific evidence that every drink increases your risk of cancer.

Even individuals who have no more than one drink per day (which is about 100-150mls or 5 ounces of wine) have an increased risk.

Likely to be more mindful of alcohol consumption moving forward

Statistics show that a 1 month break from alcohol can have a positive effect on the amount someone drinks for 6 months following the break.

This means for the next 6 months (hopefully longer) you will be more mindful of how much alcohol you are consuming, and pay more attention to the knock-on effects. You may even consider abstaining for a little longer.

1 whole month without alcohol - you made it!

Congratulations for doing your mind and body a huge favour by taking a one month break from the booze. It might not have been easy but it was no doubt worth it.

You've done so many great things for your mind, your body and your wallet!

You're having a better night's sleep, you can concentrate better, your blood pressure has decreased as has your risk of stroke and diabetes, your liver and kidneys are working better, your body is absorbing all those great nutrients more efficiently, you're less anxious and moody, and you've probably saved a chunk of money.

If you're yet to give it a go but those benefits sound really good to you, then what are you waiting for? It's only a month and there are so many delicious mocktails to try, you might find that booze doesn't have the same appeal afterwards.

If you're inspired to keep going a little longer, or you have a friend who might benefit from 1 month alcohol free, please share this article with them!

Have you tried a month off the booze? Let me know how you felt and share any tips or tricks you've got that helped make it easier.

Note: This article applies to moderate drinkers, not those who are clinically dependent on alcohol.

References:

• Sleep: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/alcohol-and-sleep
• Nutrient absorption: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa22.htm
• Cancer risk: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet
• Blood pressure: https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/alcohol/physical-health/alcohols-effect-on-the-body/blood-pressure-and-the-heart.html
• Inflammation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513683/
• Anxiety: https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol-and-anxiety
• Skin: https://www.insider.com/stop-drinking-what-happens-to-your-skin-2018-8
• Kidneys: https://www.kidney.org/news/kidneyCare/winter10/AlcoholAffects