Alcohol is a very common staple in any household and for many, having a glass of wine or a beer every evening is the norm.
While everything is okay in moderation, drinking too much alcohol or binge drinking can have many downsides.
If you were considering an alcohol detox, here are 10 reasons that might convince you.
No More Hangovers
One of the best reasons to quit alcohol is to avoid hangovers. We’ve all had them, and they are not fun, but there is a lot more at stake than a banging headache.
Hangovers are bad for our bodies and brains, and it can take a few days to get back to normal after a heavy night or weekend of alcohol.
Hangovers do not need to be a sign of a good weekend, since there are plenty of other ways to enjoy your time.
Better Mental Health
Alcohol is bad for your mental health, especially when used as a coping mechanism.
When we drink to avoid something, we do not deal with what is happening in our lives.
This can lead to alcohol dependency, which will affect your mental health further.
Alcohol can also damage parts of your brain, which could cause mental illnesses like depression or anxiety.
Reduced Risk of Cancer
Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of cancer and not just in the liver. Alcohol can also cause cancer in your mouth, breast, colon, rectum, throat, and voice box, as well as a few other places.
If you want to learn more on how to prevent cancer, Ezra has a helpful guide on diet and things to avoid, including alcohol.
They also offer scans, for you and your family to have peace of mind. For more information, check out these steps to prevent cancer.
Improved Liver Function
Your liver is the organ that is responsible for breaking down alcohol in your body so that it can be metabolized and removed as waste.
If you drink daily, or you binge drink, your liver has to work hard to get rid of the alcohol, making it difficult for it to do its normal job.
If you drink a lot, you may get liver damage or liver disease. This can cause further health issues. Even reducing the amount of alcohol you drink will have a positive effect on the liver.
Clearer Skin
Alcohol can damage your skin and cause inflammation, jaundice, loose or saggy skin, and dehydration.
This can cause your skin to look damaged, dry, or wrinkly, no matter what your age. If you want to keep the elasticity and hydration in your skin, quitting alcohol can help you with this.
Alcohol can also disrupt your blood sugar levels, which will affect your hormones.
This can include the ones responsible for the amount of oil you produce on your skin called sebum.
If you produce too much sebum, you are more at risk of developing spots or acne. Once you quit alcohol, your skin should become smoother and clearer.
Lose Weight
Alcohol is full of empty calories, which can increase weight. If you are looking to lose weight and you drink beers or ciders which are full of sugar, this could be a reason for your weight loss journey not going as well as it should.
Losing weight can also help with other health problems and improve your overall health.
Even just a glass of wine each day could tip you over the number of calories you should be consuming in a day.
Improve Heart Health
Alcohol is not only tough on your liver but also on your heart. When you drink, your heart has to work harder to get rid of the alcohol in your body.
This may sometimes give you the feeling that your heart is beating out of your chest. Those who drink often (more than 14 drinks in a week) are more likely to develop heart disease.
With other issues such as weight gain from alcohol, the risk of heart issues can increase.
Sleep Better
If you don’t feel rested after a few drinks or a night at the bar, this is likely due to alcohol. When you sleep after a night of drinking, your body is still working throughout the night to metabolize and get rid of this alcohol, which means you aren’t fully resting, even though you’re sleeping.
Alcohol can also make it harder for your body to fall asleep or stay asleep. Even if you find alcohol makes you fall asleep easier, it damages your REM sleep cycle, so you are never getting the most restorative sleep.
If you feel tired all the time and struggle to get up in the mornings, quitting alcohol may help.
Improved Mood
Even for those who have no mental health issues, alcohol can cause changes in mood. For some, alcohol causes feelings of anger or frustration.
This is usually due to something that is being repressed while sober. Alcohol can cause mood swings that are not fun for you or the people around you.
While one beer may not be an issue, a heavy night of drinking could cause you to have violent outbursts or you may become impulsive, taking part in things you wouldn’t normally.
This can cause guilt and shame the next morning, as well as an increased risk of depression and anxiety.
More Alert
As alcohol causes your brain to become foggy, it can have an impact on how alert you are. This doesn’t just meanwhile you are drinking it either.
As your body is working to get rid of it the day after, you may feel as though you are not alert or cannot focus on the task at hand.
This can have an impact on the rest of your day and may make it difficult to get work done, do some chores, or get groceries.
Despite popular belief, alcohol causes more harm than good. If you don’t feel as though alcohol is serving you, it may be time to get rid of alcohol from your life, for a happy, healthier mind and body.
Additionally, for individuals seeking professional assistance and guidance throughout their alcohol detox journey, Quest2Recovery is a trusted rehabilitation centre that can provide valuable support.