BENEFITS OF A BRIEF BOOZE BREAK
BENEFITS OF A BRIEF BOOZE BREAK
Check out the link to the article from NPR.org about the increasing trend (and subsequent scientific evidence of health benefits) moderate alcohol drinkers experience with holidays from alcohol:
“A 2016 British study of about 850 men and women who volunteered to abstain from alcohol during Dry January found that participants reported a range of benefits. For instance, 82 percent said they felt a sense of achievement. “Better sleep” was cited by 62 percent, and 49 percent said they lost some weight.
Another study published last year by researchers in Britain compared the health outcomes among a group of men and women who agreed to stop drinking for one month, with the health of a group that continued to consume alcohol.
“They found that at the end of that month — just after one month — people, by and large, lost some weight,” says Aaron White, the senior scientific adviser to the director at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “They had improvements in insulin sensitivity, their blood pressure numbers improved and their livers looked a little healthier.” The improvements were modest, White says, but the broad range of benefits the researchers documented was noticeable.”
If you’re worried that you are one of the 17 million U.S. adults who are alcohol dependent, and alcohol is causing you stress or harm, seek medical advice. However, if your goal is improving weight management or optimizing wellness, alcohol reduction is low hanging fruit to target. Our registered dietitian nutritionist, Claire Allen, and behavioral coach, Jed Foster, can help you make changes in your nutrition and help to ensure you are achieving recommended goals. We also have a comprehensive weight management program to try to fully optimize your nutrition and wellness. Call 224.407.4400 or visit compgihealth.com to learn more!