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So maybe its time to see for yourself what happens when you stop drinking.
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Or on a particularly stressful Tuesday.
So, SELF connected with experts to find out what actually happens to your body when yougo sober.
Heres what they had to say about what to expect and when.
What happens in the first week without alcohol?
So youve decided to ditch the booze for the foreseeable future, now what?
Remember, calories are not the enemy.
Calories give us energy and feed our bodies.
But alcohol can contain a lot of unexpected caloriessome drinks more than others.
How fast youd potentially lose weight ultimately depends on how much you were drinking beforehand.
Alcohol is a sedative, so youd think it would help yousleep better.Unfortunately, thats not the case.
So youve made it through the first week without a drink.
Maybe youre already feeling lighter and more rested.
So what positive changes can you anticipate next?
Its hardly a secret that having a few drinks alters the way your brain works.
Some gaps in memory.
And maybe a few highly questionable decisions.
Even a short period of abstinence can help your brain bounce back.
Their brains recovered a lot of volume in just two weeks.
That extra gray matterwell, it matters.
Basically, itll help you remember the little things.
Alcohol has some pretty profound effects on your gastrointestinal tract.
Those good bacteria help keep you healthy.
Which brings us to the next benefit…. the efficient immune system you should have had before you started drinking.
What will happen to your body after a month without alcohol?
Those initial disturbances should calm within two weeks.
When your body breaks down alcohol, it triggers the release of hormones like estrogen and histamine.
It can also enlarge or damage blood vesselsall of which have the ability to impact your skins appearance.
Drinking also accelerates other signs of facial aging.
Exactly how much time may vary according to the condition and the individual.
Some conditions might improve right away after the drinking stopsif theyre triggered by alcohol, Dr. Genebriera says.
What might you see a few months down the line?
Even so, you may notice that:
Drinking regularly has powerful effects on your hormones.
When your body breaks down alcohol, your liver has to wipe the metabolic byproducts, Dr. Leavey says.
This condition may be reversible.
Cutting out alcohol should help your liver to function better, Dr. Galligan says.
But liver function doesnt improve as fast as, say, your G.I.
What are the long-term health benefits of not drinking alcohol?
And the benefits of sobriety might be years, not months, down the road.
Still, its good to know that the protective effects can be both fast-acting and long-lasting.
Just note that you might overdo it if you start drinking again.
If your vacation from alcohol is temporary, proceed with caution when you start drinking again.
