Here is what happens when you give up alcohol for a month
Are you trying Dry January? Here is what happens when you give up alcohol for a month. You will be amazed at what can happen. Plus 6 infused water recipes. Dive in!
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Welcome back and welcome in.
Don’t mind the rear end of our Motorcoach. She is getting a paint job very soon! I could not believe I scored a lake view at Lake Havasu State Park in Arizona. Well, we were supposed to back in, but with a view like that, why would I? We had enough room on both sides to easily accomplish this. We carry 50 feet long hoses so we can do just this.
Lake Havasu State Park campground is open year-round with 50 amp and water for $35 a night. The spacious sites can accommodate up to 6 people with a fire ring and picnic table. The park offers three boat ramps, 54 campsites along with 13 cute and cozy beachside cabins. You can also park your RV next to the cabins.
A nice treat is the Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden showcasing the native plants and wildlife. I trekked through just after sunrise and took in the sounds of the birds while watching desert cottontails hopping around in search of food.
I followed the path through and continued along the Mohave Sunset 1-mile trail up the hill to the best view of the lake and around the shoreline. I did not get to take in the sunset from the top however, from shore level, it did not disappoint. This lake is popular for all types of water sports. It can get super loud during the day. The beach is crowded with people soaking in the sun, water and sand. At night, it’s dark and super quiet just the way I like it.
Fun fact, Lake Havasu City is home to more lighthouses than any other city in the entire country. The shoreline is lined with 28 scaled-down functional lighthouse replicas of famous US lighthouses. All of the lighthouses on the west side of Lake Havasu are replicas of famous West Coast lighthouses. The East Coast replicas are on the east side. The lighthouses around the island are replicas of lighthouses from the Great Lakes. Sunset Charter & Tour Co. takes passengers aboard the Canyon Cruiser Kon Tiki on a two-hour narrated tour of over a dozen lighthouses.
What Happens when you give up alcohol for a month?
Since it’s January sounds like a good month to give up alcohol. Have you heard of Dry January? I had not. So, I thought I would share with you this week, what Dry January is, when it started and what happens when you give up alcohol for just one month. You may be shocked by the positive outcome.
What is dry January?
Way back in 1942 the Finnish government launched a campaign called “Sober January” also known as “drip-Free January” as part of its war effort to stop people from using liquor as a comfort mechanism.
The notion seems to have popped up when Seatle Times staff reporter Nicole Brodeur penned “ A Good time to dry up” in 2010. Reflecting upon her upcoming 50th birthday decided to start the new year with a clear head after coming across the Dry January Facebook group. The group was started by a guy named Paul Cave who at the time had 39 members.
I did a quick search on Facebook and there are tons of groups and events for the Dry January challenge. I also came across a free app called Try Dry: The Dry January App that helps you track your drinking year-round. They also have a Facebook Page.
In January 2013 the UK charity Alcohol Concern initiated the first-ever Dry January and registered the trademark "Dry January" a year later. Switzerland had numerous no-profit organizations and other companies come together to and launch Dry January in 2021.
In the US there is no official organization for Dry January however, according to National Today, the “Dry January 2023” public health campaign is practiced across America and European countries.
Canada has the “Dry Feb” challenge to go alcohol-free to help raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. I wonder if Canada has a better success rate given it’s only 28 days? I wonder. According to Soberish.co Dry January 2023-Your Complete Guide to Making it Work;
“In 2022, 1 in 5 adults participated in Dry January, a figure that was up from 13% in 2021. If current trends hold, even more participants will be taking the plunge this year.”
What are the health benefits of giving Dry January a try?
There are so many benefits from just one month of no alchol. But, before we get into them and you are still not convinced to join in, of course, there is a study to back up the benefits.
Liver specialists Rajiv Jalan, PhD, Dr Gautam Mehta and Dr Stewart MacDonald, teamed up with scientists from University College London and The Royal Free Hospital to find out, what happens after giving up alcohol for one month.
According to the BBC show, Trust Me I’m a Doctor, The researchers divided 26 people into two groups: one abstaining from alcohol and the other drinking as they usually did. A full health exam including blood pressure and liver check-ups was performed at the beginning and end of the month.
At the end of one month results;
“We found that the health of all our volunteers who gave up alcohol for a month improved – even those who normally drank less than the government recommended levels. We found that their cancer markers, liver fat and weight all fell, while their quality of sleep, concentration and liver health improved.
Is Dry January good for you?
There you have it, one month of no alcohol and your body can bounce back pretty quickly. So, yes, Dry January is good for you! Other benefits that happen when you try Dry January for a month;
First of all, you will save a ton of money! Imagine what you could do with all that money saved.
Brain Fog gone! Of course, it won’t happen right away, in fact, depending on how much you do drink, you may experience a day or two of fogged brain and then incredible clarity.
You sleep better. Many believe that alcohol makes you fall asleep. While true, alcohol starts out as a sedative, however, it quickly irritates the nervous system resulting in interrupted sleep, and robs you of REM sleep.
Improved health of course. You may notice not feeling as tired, increased energy, and better appetite, all of which, increase your immune system. Alcohol is the worst thing for your immune system. Acute Immunomodulatory 2014 study, Effects of Binge Alcohol Ingestion in the journal Alcohol, found 20 minutes after drinking alcohol increased inflammation. The study surmised
a single episode of binge alcohol intoxication exerted effects on the immune system that caused an early and transient pro-inflammatory state followed by an anti-inflammatory state.Better outlook on life, clarity, and moods. Alcohol negatively impacts the nutrients involved in keeping your mental health healthy. Alcohol is a depressant which leads to psychological depression. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns women who drink are also more vulnerable to brain and heart damage than men. A Canadian study found that women who gave up drinking experienced a boost in their mental health. Dry January is a great way to test out how you can improve your mood and stress levels.
Looking to lose weight? It’s January, who isn’t? Alcohol increases inflammation and blood glucose which leads to weight gain. Let’s face it, alcohol has more calories and sugar than soda. Looking at men between the ages of 40–59 years, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found, this age group gained weight regardless of the type of alcohol.
How about better digestion? Yes, giving up alcohol could mean a better gut. Alcohol damages the intestinal lining, the liver and the kidneys. A 2021 study found the complete recovery of the gut barrier function after 3 weeks of absence from alcohol. Diarrhea may disappear as well.
Why go all in for Dry January?
If you still need convincing let me give you another reason to go dry for a month, Research in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal demonstrated abstinence from alcohol in moderate–heavy drinkers improves insulin resistance, weight, blood pressure, and cancer-related growth factors. The study found an independent association of alcohol consumption with cancer risk, and suggest an increased risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.
How to Start Dry January
Figure out your “why”, join a group or an association for support, and get going!
Have you tried Dry January before? If so, how did you do?
If you have not tried Dry January before, are you thinking about it? Or, are you all in?
Let me know in the comments I would love to hear your story.
6 Flavoured water ideas
Since you are going to be drinking more water this January I thought I would share 6 flavored water recipes with you all. You can always add the cucumbers or fruit to the water and let it infuse overnight. Or, give these a try with 2 quarts of water and let infuse overnight as well. You do not have to refrigerate to infuse. Just be sure to drink it within a day. For any leftovers, be sure to remove the solid ingredients and refrigerate the water.
3 fresh Rosemary sprigs and 1 tablespoon minced or sliced fresh ginger root
1/2 a small grapefruit, peeled, sliced or chopped and 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 small apple, chopped, (skin removed if not organic), 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds, and 1 3-inch cinnamon stick
2 tangerines, chopped (skin removed if not organic), and 3 fresh thyme sprigs.
1–3 inch turmeric root, skin removed, chopped or sliced, 1 -3 inch ginger root, skin removed, chopped or sliced, and 1/2 lemon chopped (skin removed if not organic).
1 cup cranberries, smashed, 1/2 a small orange, sliced or chopped (skin removed if not organic), 4 green cardamon pods crushed.
What a wonderful way to start your January. If you are not doing Dry January, what is your “word” or resolution? Please do share in the comments.
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Until next week Shihemi (see you next week).
~Karen