Unexpected health benefits of cutting out alcohol!
We all know the basic health benefits of cutting out alcohol, from having a healthier liver, maintaining a healthier weight, getting better sleep and being well hydrated; however, there are also a few unexpected health benefits that come with not drinking alcohol. We’re here to cover a few of them to help you understand all of the pros that come with cutting out or drinking less alcohol.
Stronger mental health
Many people talk about the physical health benefits of not drinking alcohol; however, it can be transformative for your mental health. Alcohol naturally impacts our brain chemistry, and although it can bring short-term happiness for people, there is also the risk of it increasing the risk of sadness, depression and anxiety over time. Often people will notice this short term when they drink too much; however, it can also cause “hangxiety” the next day, which are unexplained anxious feelings. Often this is then paired with a poor diet for the day with a hangover and being dehydrated, all of which adds to these feelings.
When you are repeating this every weekend or multiple times a week, it adds up to have a negative impact for many people, eventually beginning to impact friendships, relationships, work and generally how your brain processes information. Alcohol is a depressant, and whilst some people can maintain a healthy relationship with alcohol when they drink in moderation, for other people, it can really impact their mental health, particularly during a change in seasons.
So, when you take alcohol out of the equation, it can really help with your mental health, from removing hangovers and short-term anxiety to helping to keep your brain chemistry consistent.
Improved oral health
Another benefit of cutting out alcohol is improved oral health. People who regularly drink are more likely to experience oral health problems. There are quite a few reasons for this, with the main ones being that alcoholic drinks are usually acidic and/or sugary. The acidic element weakens your tooth enamel, and then the sugar content combines with bacteria in the mouth to form acid, which again breaks down the enamel. You’re more likely to experience problems with gum disease, tooth decay and loss when you regularly drink alcohol. Dentists, aesthetics and cosmetic surgeons all now ask how often you drink and during a checkup and ask for you not to beforehand, as it can have a direct impact over time.
When you’re drinking, you’re also not likely to brush and floss your teeth properly, so you won’t be removing the plaque buildup. Alcohol also inhibits our ability to produce as much saliva, which is important for maintaining the right PH and remineralising the teeth.
Improved blood sugar and blood pressure
Something else that can drastically improve when you don’t drink alcohol is your blood sugar and blood pressure. Alcoholic drinks are usually high in sugar, and so when you’re drinking them in excess, it can cause spikes in your blood sugar, and a lack of stabilisation throws off our body’s ability to produce insulin properly, therefore impacting how our body is able to use glucose for energy. Alcohol can also negatively impact liver function, which is important for many different elements of our health, including the liver’s ability to release glycogen and properly maintain blood sugar.
Regularly drinking alcohol can decrease blood pressure and increase heart rate, as blood vessels can narrow so the body has to work much harder to pump blood around the body. Also known as hypertension, over time if you consistently have low blood pressure, then it can lead to serious illnesses, from heart attacks and strokes to heart failure.
Having healthy blood pressure and effective blood cells that deliver energy around our body consistently is key, and drinking alcohol can prevent those things from happening in some people, especially when you drink a lot.
A stronger immune system
Last but not least, alcohol can impair the immune system. When alcohol is in our system, the body finds it harder to respond to pathogens in the right way, so we tend to feel more rundown and get more ill as a result. It can also impact the number of B cells in the body and inhibit T-cell proliferation. Another thing that impacts the immune system is when our gut health is disturbed. Alcohol causes an imbalance of healthy bacteria in the gut, which then has a wide variety of knock-on effects, particularly on your immune system.
A healthy gut microbiome is really important for our bodies to fight off infections and pathogens, which alcohol can inhibit. So, reducing or stopping your intake of alcohol can help to make your immune system more consistent, which can be transformative for our health.
Final thoughts
Alcohol doesn’t affect everyone in the same way; however, if you did cut it out, you’re likely to experience positive health benefits in one way or another. This all depends on how much you currently drink and how often; however, cutting out alcohol can help to improve your mental health, your blood sugar and pressure, and your oral health and also strengthen your immune system, which can add up to make you feel significantly better!
By Lucy Couser
Lucy is a freelance writer who finished her degree in creative writing in Manchester. She loves to talk and share her experiences with alcohol, top tips and healthier fun alternatives for the sober community. You can find her substack here!
