Stop Drinking and Enjoy These Top 5 Benefits

You’ve probably noticed that we live in an alcohol culture and the pressures to consume are almost constant. Whether it’s a social engagement, work-related event, or even a charity benefit, the expectation to drink is obvious. Whether you’re just trying to cut back on your alcohol intake, are in recovery, or have long since kicked the addiction, you might have reasons for resisting the pressure.

But the benefits you experience when you quit drinking are usually worth the social discomfort you’ll probably experience. Cutting out alcohol can bring a host of mental and physical improvements that increase your quality of life, especially if you’ve been drinking too much or for a long time. Check out these 5 benefits of quitting drinking and allow them to motivate you to clean out your liquor cabinet or bypass that pitstop on the way home.

Alcohol-Related Health Risks

Heavy or consistent drinking can take a toll on your health in several ways. As you make the choice to set alcohol aside, remember the ill effects you can avoid or reverse by abstaining. This can motivate you to stay the course.

Heavy or prolonged alcohol use can increase your risk of the following:

• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Anxiety
• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Cancer
• Cirrhosis
• Dementia
• Depression
• Digestive issues
• Fibrosis
• Hearing loss
• High blood pressure
• Pancreatitis
• Stroke

What you’ll notice more immediately is that as the alcohol leaves your system, you’ll generally feel better than you have since you started drinking regularly or heavily.

What Is Considered Heavy Drinking?

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), heavy drinking for men means 15 or more drinks per week. If you average that out, it’s only a little over 2 drinks per day. For women, heavy drinking is consuming eight or more drinks per week.

This is important information, because many men and women who consume this much or more alcohol each week don’t consider themselves heavy drinkers, especially if they only drink after work in the evening.

If you’re like most people, you’re probably growing more concerned about your health as you approach middle age and your senior years. A clear picture of where you stand with alcohol is important. This can help you be proactive before some of these negative health effects settle in.

So, what are the more specific positive effects you’ll notice when you stop drinking?

Better-Looking Skin

Heavy alcohol use often leads to redness in your face due to broken capillaries. Prolonged, heavy drinking can also leave a yellow tint on your skin as your liver function is affected. Dry, inflamed skin is also common. And you might eventually develop loose and baggy skin on your face due to a drop in collagen levels.

But the good news is that many of these effects are reversed as you refrain from drinking. Elasticity is restored to the skin and much of the redness and even yellow begins to leave. You’ll find your skin becomes more moist as hydration is restored.

Healthier Weight

Alcohol derails your metabolism and is filled with sugar and empty calories. You can easily consume 600 or more excess calories in just one night of drinking. These simple carbs will go straight to your gut too, generating that notoriously stubborn belly fat.

When you cut out those added alcohol calories, you’ll see an improvement in your waistline, especially if you include a bit of exercise in your daily schedule. In time, you’ll even notice a metabolism boost as your body recovers from frequent alcohol processing.

Improved Sleep

Alcohol is an enemy of quality sleep. It interferes with your sleep-wake cycle, which means it’s more difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. You’re also more likely to snore or experience sleep apnea after drinking, because the alcohol relaxes your throat muscles.

As the alcohol leaves your system, you’ll notice some improvements in your sleep quality.

Improved Immunity

Alcohol interferes with the production and function of white blood cells which are key to fighting off germs and viruses. Heavy drinking runs down your immune system and leaves you open to sickness and disease.

When you stop drinking, you will notice you contract fewer colds, viruses, and other illnesses that had previously plagued you.

Reduced Cancer Risk

There is no debate: alcohol is a known carcinogen. Your risk for developing certain types of cancer increases the more alcohol you consume. Alcohol-related cancers included:

• Breast cancer
• Colon and rectal cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Laryngeal cancer
• Liver cancer
• Oral cancer
• Throat cancer

According to the American Society of Clinical Psychology, it’s best to avoid alcohol if you’re undergoing any type of cancer treatment. Doing so can prevent complications in your treatment.

Better Bladder Health

Alcohol is a known bladder irritant and it’s not uncommon for heavy alcohol use to cause bladder pain, discomfort, and irritation that feels like a bladder infection. You’re also more susceptible to infections, even in your bladder, because of a hampered immune system.

But many of the uncomfortable bladder symptoms you experienced while using alcohol will diminish or disappear as you stop drinking. Since alcohol is dehydrating, you will overall become more hydrated as you abstain. This will also help your bladder comfort.

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