After a certain season, binge drinkingyour body may feel like it needs a break from partying.
Dry January, a modern trend that asks people to abstain from alcohol for the first month of the year, has become a popular way to “detox” from the holidays and start the new year healthy.
Research has shown that alcohol is associated with a variety of health conditions, from hangovers to hangovers. cancer risk.
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In a recent podcast episode of “The Dr. Mark Hyman Show,” Dr. Mark Hyman, chief medical officer at Functional Health, talked about the benefits of 30 days of abstinence. change your health.
Hyman, who is based in Massachusetts, calls Dry January “a powerful way to see in real time how alcohol affects nearly every system in your body and how quickly those systems recover.”
Hyman acknowledged that most people drink to feel happier and more comfortable in social situations. This effect is caused by the main component of alcohol called ethanol, which can also have toxic effects.
instead of stimulating brainalcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions. “You may feel more relaxed, more sociable, more confident, and a little happier,” Hyman says.
Doctors have warned that alcohol’s effects on the brain can also lead to impaired judgment and slowed reflexes.
Drinking also affects the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which Hyman described as “the adult in the room,” which is responsible for judgment, planning, and inhibition. “Drinking alcohol puts you in a state of sobriety early on, and this explains why people feel free and act impulsively when they drink,” he said.
Even moderate alcohol consumption can cause metabolic stressIt can affect nearly every organ system in the body, with inflammation, impaired detoxification and hormonal changes, Hyman said.
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Alcohol consumption is also associated with increased risk of cancer, metabolic dysfunction, impaired gut microbiota, and mitochondrial toxins.
It can also prevent the main unit from falling. REM sleepAccording to Hyman, this is a restorative period of deep rest where the immune system eliminates the day’s toxins.
Memory loss, cognitive decline, anxiety, sleep disorders, dementia, etc. cardiovascular disease These are all known risks of long-term alcohol consumption and liver complications such as fatty liver disease.
“In short, alcohol taxes all of the body’s major systems, especially the liver, brain, gut, and hormones,” Hyman says.
Hyman says that during the first week after your last drink, your body begins to detox and reset. Blood sugar levels and cortisol stress hormones level off, and the liver begins to process the “toxin buildup.” Your body will also be hydrated and energized.
In the second week, the balance between the gut and brain begins to return as hormones like serotonin and dopamine stabilize, gut inflammation decreases, and the microbiome begins to recover. Doctors said her cravings for sugar and alcohol would fade and her mental clarity would return.
The third week is characterized by inflammation, fatty liver, and a further decrease in blood pressure. This is noticeable as the swelling and redness of the skin is reduced. Your mood will start to stabilize and your mood will drop. anxiety level.
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During the fourth week, Hyman said the body experiences additional metabolic and immune benefits, including increased insulin sensitivity. lose weight.
“I have a stronger immune response. I get less sick. I sleep better and my hormones, particularly cortisol and testosterone, are more balanced,” he says. “And I see a huge change in my energy, confidence, and focus.”
Dr. Pinchy Chan, a clinician at Circle Medical in San Francisco, said Dry January is not a “detox,” but rather provides “feedback” from the body.
“It gives your body time to show you how it feels without alcohol, and for many people, that insight alone changes their relationship with drinking,” she says. “The biggest surprise is not what people gave up, but how much better they felt.”
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Doctors acknowledged that while the first few days of sobriety can feel harder than expected and can sometimes cause restlessness, cravings and sleep problems, Dry January can ultimately change your drinking habits for the rest of the year.
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After abstaining from alcohol for a full year, Chiang Kai-shek said the improvement in his health had become deeper. “We see sustained improvements in blood pressure, liver function and inflammation,” she said. “These changes have a direct impact on long-term heart disease, stroke risk. ”
Some experts warn that adopting the Dry January trend may increase the urge to drink more during other months, and point out that some drinkers may be more successful by drinking slowly. drink less Week by week.
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Dr. Thomas Stopka, an epidemiologist and professor of public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts, said in a report in Futurity that “humid January” may be more appropriate for some people.
“Dry January was well-intentioned and for those who can stick with it, it could probably do very well beyond January,” he said. “Others may be more inclined to cut back. alcohol intake Rather than giving up alcohol completely for a month. ”
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Stopka noted that a successful harm reduction approach “aims to liberate judgment.”
“Substance use disorder is a disease,” he said. “It takes time to treat a disease and continue the continuum of care from prevention to treatment initiation and treatment. lasting treatmentThis can be through medication, self-help, individual therapy, or group support. ”
People who are suffering from symptoms of alcohol use disorder should consult a medical professional for individualized guidance.
Fox News Digital has reached out to multiple alcohol industry groups for comment.
