People know that drinking can be quite injurious to health, but they are not sure of exactly what benefits they get when they do the hard work to quit drinking. You may want to believe that the moderate consumption of alcohol is actually good for your health, but a complete break from alcohol gives you more benefits than you might think. If you have been a regular drinker for years, you may need to know about the benefits to find the motivation you need to break this habit.
10 Benefits of Quitting Drinking
You may already be thinking of quitting drinking because of certain issues it causes. Even if you think you are healthy, you may still consider taking a break for the following reasons.
1. Enjoy a Better Sleep
One of many benefits of quitting drinking is that you will be able to sleep better. Drinking alcohol too close to bedtime increases alpha wave patterns in your brain, which disrupts sleep. While you may be able to fall asleep quickly after drinking, you will have trouble maintaining a good quality sleep throughout the night. Quitting drinking will help you sleep better and wake up fresh the next day. It also improves mental performance, concentration, and mood.
2. Maintain a Healthy Weight
You may not know it already but drinking can lead to weight gain. There may be about 300 calories in one margarita, which means that you may be consuming about 400 calories even on days when you think you are drinking a moderate amount of alcohol. Quit drinking and you will lose weight without having to engage in strenuous exercise activities.
3. Get Fair Complexion
You will notice a glow on your skin within a few days of drinking no alcohol. Your body will no longer be dehydrated when you quit drinking, and this shows up on your skin as well. Alcohol makes you urinate more and leaves you dehydrated, which in turn makes your skin look dull and dry.
4. Get Protection from Cancer
Regular drinking increases your risk for cancers of the liver, mouth, colon, breast, and rectum. It is therefore a good idea to take a break from alcohol.
5. Reduce Cholesterol
Alcohol itself does not contain cholesterol, but it is present in trendy alcohols such as cotton candy flavored vodka. Similarly, beer contains carbohydrate that may raise levels of triglycerides in your blood and contribute to heart disease. Binge drinking may also increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
6. Regulate Blood Sugar
One of many impressive benefits of quitting drinking is that you will be able to control your blood sugar. Your body processes alcohol before food. It means it will not process blood sugar effectively once alcohol enters your system. Regular drinking makes it difficult for your body to use insulin efficiently, which makes your blood glucose levels go haywire. Quitting drinking will take pressure off your body and allow it to regulate blood sugar levels properly.
7. Enhance Your Brainpower
As mentioned already, quitting drinking improves sleep quality, and better sleep will enhance focus, concentration, and overall brainpower. Drinking regularly affects the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, which makes you feel agitated, groggy, and forgetful.
8. Boost Immunity
Heavy drinking weakens your immune system and makes you more susceptible to germs and illnesses. If you wonder why you always end up dealing with flu or cold, excessive drinking may well be the culprit here.
9. Improve Fertility
Men think alcohol can help them get in the mood, but regular drinking leaves serious negative effects on your reproductive system. If you drink regularly, you have about 70% chance of suffering from different sexual problems, including erectile dysfunction. Leaving alcohol may help resolve these issues.
10.Improve Overall Health
When you quit drinking, you will probably start drinking more water. Water keeps your body hydrated and improves your appetite. If you pay attention to your diet and exercise as well, you will notice considerable improvement in your overall health.
How to Stop Drinking
The benefits of quitting drinking will inspire you to stop drinking right away, but it is easier said than done, especially if you have been drinking for quite some time now. Here are some suggestions to make it happen.
- Make conscious efforts to avoid temptations. It is never easy to quit, so it is important that you do not put yourself in situations where you may get a chance to drink. Go out with friends but go to restaurants where they do not sell alcohol. Also, identify your triggers and avoid them to quit drinking.
- Let others know that you are trying to quit. Share some benefits of quitting alcohol with your friends and be an inspiration. Once they know your intentions, they will not force you to drink while socializing.
- Do not try to quit drinking all of a sudden; you will fail miserably. The best thing is to gradually reduce your drinking. This will also help reduce withdrawal effects.
- Be sure to acknowledge the fact that you are making progress. Set small goals like having an alcohol-free week for the first few months, and then an alcohol-free month. Reward yourself once you achieve these goals, but not by drinking alcohol. You can set aside the money and buy something nice at the end of the month.
- It will be difficult in the beginning, but you will soon become used to not drinking. Find a friend who is also interested in quitting alcohol to make things easier. Enjoy the benefits of quitting drinking as they come to inspire you to be on the same path.