Giving up alcohol can be a daunting task, but the benefits are worth it. You’ll sleep better, have more energy, lose weight, and save money. Plus, you’ll avoid health risks such as liver disease and cancer. So ditch the drink for good and start reaping the benefits!
10 reasons to give up alcohol
1. Heart becomes healthier
When you stop drinking alcohol, your heart will thank you. Alcohol has been shown to increase the risk for high blood pressure and hardened arteries, both of which can lead to heart disease. If you’ve ever experienced chest pains after binge drinking at a party, it’s no coincidence. Drinking can also cause irregular heartbeat and lower your good cholesterol (HDL).
2. Helps with losing weight
If you’re constantly reaching for an alcoholic beverage or hosting cocktail hour with friends, it might be time to reevaluate your habits. Most drinks are filled with empty calories that don’t do much for you aside from adding extra pounds to your frame. After giving up alcohol, your liver doesn’t have to work as hard and gets rid of fat more efficiently. You’ll also feel fuller faster when you drink water instead, which can help you avoid unnecessary snacking and overeating.
3. Skin attains a youthful hue
When your liver isn’t busy breaking down alcohol, it can work on other jobs like improving the look of your skin! Alcohol has been shown to increase the rate at which skin cells die and decrease collagen production, which leads to wrinkles and sagging skin. Plus, alcohol dehydrates your body and causes your pores to enlarge — yuck! Once you stop drinking, your skin should improve rapidly in a matter of weeks.
4. Better sex life
Drinking can decrease your sex drive and make you impotent, but giving up alcohol can reverse those effects. Studies have shown that men who drink excessively tend to have more sexual dysfunction than those who don’t, which can lead to sexual problems such as premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. And alcohol has been linked to decreased levels of estrogen and testosterone in women — both of which are important for a healthy (and enjoyable) sex life!
5. Better sleep
Trying to get a good night’s sleep after a night of drinking is nearly impossible. Alcohol causes you to feel drowsy and have trouble staying awake, but it actually interrupts your quality of sleep. After giving up alcohol, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated so you can tackle the day ahead!
6. Helps lower your blood pressure
Many people with high blood pressure drink alcohol to keep their levels down, but this is a bad strategy. Alcohol actually increases sodium retention and blood volume, which means your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body. Not only that, but it can cause sleep apnea and other breathing problems as well as lower your good cholesterol (HDL). After giving up alcohol, your blood pressure should go back down in a matter of days!
7. Positive impact on relationships
Alcohol consumption is often viewed as socially acceptable, so it’s easy to overdo it without realizing what you’re doing. After giving up alcohol, your ability to connect with a partner and make a relationship work will improve dramatically. Plus, if you have kids, they’ll benefit from seeing their parents set a good example.
8. Your liver may heal
Your liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol so it can be removed from your system. While the liver has an incredible ability to regenerate itself, drinking too much over time can cause serious damage. After giving up alcohol, your liver will start repairing itself and may even completely heal in as little as six months!
9. You’ll have more energy
Now that you’re not spending all your energy processing alcohol, you’ll have more of it to use throughout the day. That means no more afternoon naps or crashing on the couch after work — who wouldn’t love that? So, ditch those drinks with dinner and try staying up past bedtime for once!
10. You’ll get sick less often
Most colds and infections are caused by viruses, but alcohol actually prevents your body from generating the antibodies you need to ward them off. After giving up alcohol, you’ll get sick less often overall and when you do, it will be for a shorter time period.
