What Are the Health Benefits of Dry January?
Whether you're going for drinks after work, sipping on beer while watching football, or enjoying a glass of wine with dinner, consuming alcohol — even in moderation — can become a habit before you even realize it.
A growing number of people are challenging their drinking habits by participating in Dry January. This movement started in 2013 as a way to encourage people to take a short break from drinking to see if it changes how they feel. Dry January is perfectly timed to get wellness routines back on track after a holiday season of merriment, but it's also an important chance to discover the many benefits of becoming alcohol-free.
Sure, you save both money and calories when you opt for sparkling water instead of a cocktail or beer. But a month of abstinence comes with an abundance of short- and long-term health perks. According to Alcohol Change UK, the organization that started Dry January, participants who stay dry for the full month:
- Sleep better (70%)
- Have more energy (66%)
- Report generally improved health (65%)
The benefits are especially hard to ignore when you consider that alcohol is linked to liver disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and depression — more than 60 health conditions in total. According to 2018 research from London's Royal Free Hospital, moderate drinkers who go alcohol-free for a month experience:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower glucose levels
- Reduced diabetes risk
- Reduced liver fat
- Lower cholesterol
- Weight loss
- Improved concentration
- Reduced levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood
These health gains can vanish if regular drinking habits resume, but if you've successfully managed temptation and made it through the month-long cleanse, chances are you've started to build a different relationship with alcohol. You're likely more mindful about why you drink and how much, and realize you don't need to rely on alcohol when socializing or relaxing.In fact, even though Dry January is only 31 days long, it can set the tone for lifelong change. Seven out of 10 people who participated in Dry January with the support of the Try Dry app or coaching emails were still drinking more healthily and enjoying a better sense of wellbeing six months later.