5 reasons to go alcohol-free for a month

A Month Without Alcohol – Won’t It Be a Shock to the Body?

Only positive. Abstinence is nothing to be afraid of. Experts reveal that “skipping a drink” will result in better functioning of the body very soon after starting, but you need to endure for at least a month. And, of course, after the month without alcohol is over, do not return to excessive drinking.

The human body works as a whole. Excessive amounts of alcohol put a lot of strain on it, many organs have to deal primarily with the breakdown of alcohol and cannot function as they should. For example, the liver, one of the most important organs in the body, preferentially breaks down alcohol, which can mean the accumulation of fats and other inappropriate substances in the body, which causes overweight, cardiovascular diseases, liver disease and even cancer.

Liver function test is not difficult, it includes several interrelated tests. Within this package of tests, we examine 11 parameters that may be related to disorders of the liver, gallbladder and biliary tract.

Regular alcohol consumption poses serious risks and makes life more unpleasant

Long-term alcohol consumption causes a range of health problems, from digestive system diseases such as inflammation of the stomach, intestines and pancreas, to diabetes and cancer, such as stomach, liver, pancreas or colon cancer.

However, when we think of excessive alcohol consumption, we most often think of liver disease – cirrhosis, cancer or hepatitis. No less important are heart diseases, which can lead to myocardial infarction, increased blood pressure, heart muscle disease or arrhythmia. Serious consequences of excessive alcohol consumption include brain damage, learning difficulties, problems with achieving and maintaining an erection in men, and problems with getting pregnant in women. Pregnant women can suffer serious damage to the fetus.

Alcohol consumption also causes bone loss (osteoporosis), slows down the healing of fractures, and has a negative impact on bone metabolism.

Abstinence – Why it pays to go at least 28 days without alcohol?

It doesn’t have to be February. You can abstain in any month of the year. And, of course, you don’t have to stick to just one month. Let’s take a look at 5 reasons why you should avoid a drink at least in February.

1. Changes will have a positive effect on weight

Alcohol has a high energy value, as it contains a high amount of sugar. One gram of pure alcohol contains 7 calories, or 29.4 kJ. From a nutritional point of view, such calories have no benefit for the human body, they are so-called empty calories, which, when consumed frequently, have a negative effect on the amount of adipose tissue and contribute to the formation of excess weight. The reason for the change is also that the liver will not be so burdened.

2. Improves skin condition 

Our overall appearance suffers from long-term alcohol consumption. This mainly affects the quality of the skin. The blood vessels and veins on the face expand, the formation of hematomas and dark spots on the skin increases. Alcohol also has a negative effect on the blood vessels in the eyes, which can become red. Over time, the skin loses its natural elasticity and begins to sag, the face looks swollen. Drinking alcohol also leads to increased hair loss, dry hair and oily scalp. The cause is a lack or imbalance of various minerals in the body.

3. You will be less susceptible to infections 

Drinking alcohol can also affect the body's defenses, leading to a higher susceptibility to infections. Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption reduces the number of peripheral T lymphocytes and can cause a decrease in the number of B lymphocytes, which play a role in destroying infectious organisms.

4. You will not suffer from sleep disorders 

The effect of alcohol on sleep is different for everyone, but the basic rules usually apply - in small doses and when the level increases, alcohol stimulates, and in high doses and when the level decreases, on the contrary, it depresses. Drinking alcohol can ensure faster falling asleep, but the quality of sleep, especially the REM phase, suffers. As a result of drinking alcohol, sleep is generally shorter and of poorer quality. Alcohol consumers often suffer from insomnia and drowsiness during the next day.

5. Positive impact on your psyche

Last but not least, alcohol affects the psyche in the short and long term. Small doses of alcohol have a stimulating effect, higher doses have a depressant effect. After consuming alcohol, some people become more aggressive, while others experience regret or a temporary improvement in their mood. However, long-term alcohol consumption usually leads to problems with emotions and feelings, and can also increase the risk of depression or worsening of existing mental illnesses or disorders in some individuals.

In chronic drinkers who consume alcohol regularly and for a long time, alcohol targets brain cells and destroys them, because brain cells do not have the ability to renew themselves. Therefore, in people who drink for a long time, alcohol has a devastating effect on the brain and possibly on thinking.

Whether your alcohol-free month is January, February, March or November, it's great! A month without alcohol will have a positive effect on both your health and your wallet.

We recommend going for a liver function test at the beginning of February and comparing the measured values with another examination (e.g. at the beginning of March or in any other interval of at least 30 days).

Downloadable preventive check-up calendar

We have prepared a downloadable preventive check-up calendar for you, so that you don't have to think about it. And we haven't forgotten about your little ones. The calendar even includes a few challenges that you can get inspired by.