What is dry January? The Alcohol ChangeUK organization launched this initiative, with the purpose of starting a month without consuming alcohol and for this to be a start to a healthier lifestyle.

Why January? As this month is close to the holidays, we know that it can include consuming more alcohol than we normally would; we want to be festive and celebrate with our friends and family. Starting the Alcohol Change initiative in January is an excellent option to start the year to help us detoxify the body and mind.

As we age, we must be more careful with alcohol consumption, since we begin to lose muscle mass, body  fat increases and our bodies have less water, which is what helps metabolize the alcohol we consume. Excess alcohol can damage the liver, cause heart problems and weaken the immune system. It also causes memory problems and mood disorders.

In a study led by the University of Sussex in England, it was found that 67% of participants in the Dry January initiative, in just one month, reported feeling more energetic, 58% reported having lost weight, and 57% reported have a better concentration and a notable decrease in chemicals in the blood associated with cancer, also improvements in the skin and hair.

There are those who after 3 weeks say they feel less irritable and less anxious, they also saw a decrease in their blood pressure, insulin resistance and weight. Most people felt a sense of accomplishment and felt more mentally alert.

Starting with a month’s break from alcohol can motivate you to extend it longer, and how to achieve this? You can look for drinks that replace alcohol when you need to socialize, for example, sugar-free mocktails or mineral water.

To avoid temptations when going out, bring your own drinks and inform your friends and family so they don’t pressure you, you can even invite someone to join the initiative with you, so they can encourage and support each other.

And if you fall, don’t give up or feel guilty, just start again the next day.

Source: Aarp, Today, Health.harvard