What happens to your body when you give up alcohol for a month?

“Consuming more than 500 ml of alcohol daily is extremely bad for your health”, says Dr Shrey Srivastav, MD, Internal Medicine and Assistant Professor at the Department of Internal Medicine, Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida.

According to USA’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, you’re a heavy drinker if you have more than five drinks a day or 15 or more per week.

As per Dr Shuchin Bajaj, founder-director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, factors such as personal health, individual circumstances, and potential family history of alcohol-related problems should be considered if you’re a drinker.

“If someone is experiencing negative effects on their physical or mental health, relationships, or overall well-being due to alcohol, they may want to consider giving it up or seeking professional advice,” he says.

In such a situation, contemplating leaving alcohol permanently is imperative. So what happens to your body if you leave alcohol for a month? We reached out to experts to know more. Although there are benefits of quitting alcohol similar in both an alcoholic and a non-alcoholic body, some of these benefits differ for each of the two groups.

Alcohol cessation can lead to better liver function, reduced risk of liver disease. (Source: Pixabay)

In an alcoholic’s body

Alcohol cessation can lead to better liver function, reduced risk of liver disease, improved cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and decreased risk of certain cancers.

According to Dr Bajaj, for a heavy drinker, abstaining from alcohol for a month allows for a period of detoxification and can help improve liver function, reduce inflammation, and provide an opportunity for the body to heal. “It can also lead to better sleep, improved concentration, and increased energy levels,” he says.

Though, according to Dr Gupta, if you’re a chronic drinker, giving up alcohol for just a month may not have as many benefits as doctors would like, it is still better than continuing to drink even when your body is telling you not to.

Those with an acute liver or kidney condition due to alcohol may also feel an improvement after quitting alcohol. “Our liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself, so some alcohol-caused problems can be reversed,” Dr Srivastav says.

In a non-alcoholic’s body

Dr Srivastav explains that alcohol suppresses a person’s REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement sleep), and once you stop drinking it, in the first week itself, you will start experiencing mental clarity and better sleep. This will also reduce your anxiety and enhance your overall mood.

Those struggling to lose weight may experience a breakthrough after quitting alcohol as it contributes to an excessive calorie intake, Dr Gupta says.

According to Dr Bajaj, some individuals may experience psychological benefits such as a sense of achievement, increased self-control, and a fresh perspective on their relationship with alcohol.

He adds that taking a break from alcohol can “provide an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their drinking habits, reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, and potentially make long-term positive changes.”

Additionally, giving up alcohol can reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers. According to research, Dr Bajaj says, “Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for various cancers, including head and neck cancers, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer and even breast cancer.”

As men tend to be chronic drinkers, the injuries to their liver are chronic, as opposed to women who tend to be acute drinkers, and the injuries to their liver are acute, explains Dr Srivastav. Quitting alcohol in both of these cases will help increase liver function.

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