Time to Cleanse
What is Dry January? According to Healthline, t’s kicking off the new year by cutting alcohol for an entire month. It’s a trend that’s gaining popularity each year. Alcohol Change UK founded Dry January in 2013. They started with 4,000 people that year and grew to 4 million who took part in 2020.
If you want to participate in Dry January, it’s essential to make goals, avoid triggers, expect to have urges, be prepared for them, and don’t be afraid to ask for support. There are many health benefits you’ll experience while participating in Dry January.
Alcohol and Sleep
Inverse tates that alcohol can act as a sedative and reduce the amount of time between being fully awake and asleep, a process known as sleep onset latency. Although it’s a sedative, it doesn’t have that effect for long. When one consumes alcohol in a low dose, it can have a stimulating effect on the body. After the sedating effects wear off, alcohol disrupts sleep during the second half of the night.
How alcohol affects someone’s sleep depends on many factors, such as health history, age, and sex. According to SleepFoundation.org, women exhibit signs of intoxication earlier and with lower doses than men. A study published by the National Library of Medicine in 2018 showed that both men and women experienced more negative sleep issues with increased alcohol consumption. If you don’t get enough sleep, you then hurt your overall health and well-being.
The Benefits
When first starting Dry January, you may feel like you’re having a hard time falling asleep. Even though it may be tough to fall asleep, your sleep quality will be much better and more beneficial to your body. You will fall into a deeper sleep. According to Women’s Health, there are many health benefits you will start to notice throughout the month without alcohol. These benefits include increased hydration, losing weight, feeling the want to exercise more, clearer skin, increased focus, and a healthier state of mind.
It’s important to note that you should not participate in Dry January if you are a heavy drinker. If you are a heavy drinker and you are looking to become sober, make sure to contact a professional, such as your healthcare provider, so they can help you come up with the best and most safe plan to do so. You could also look for a 12-step program in your area with Alcoholics Anonymous.
Join the trend this year or make it a goal for next and see how much your body thanks you!
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