What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Drinking

What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Drinking

One out of every eight adults in the United States is considered an alcoholic. Additionally, approximately 88,000 people die each year of an alcohol-related cause, which is twice the amount of those who die due to an opiate overdose.

Not only can alcoholism cause fatalities, but it can also affect a person’s mind and body in negative ways while they are alive. While this is true, there are some amazing things that happen to the body when an individual stops drinking.

If you have ever wondered, “what happens to your body when you quit drinking,” you are in the right place. Keep reading to learn more.

Better Sleep

When someone drinks before they go to bed, it creates alpha wave patterns in the brain. This is a type of cerebral activity that typically occurs while you are awake and resting.

Why does this matter? Because it results in disrupted sleep.

Also, even though alcohol may help a person fall asleep faster and more deeply, to begin with, it can affect sleep quality after the initial restful period. While you may toss and turn initially after giving up alcohol, you will eventually feel sharper and more rested the following day.

The by-products of a better night’s sleep include improved mental performance, concentration, and mood.

Improved Sex Life

There’s a myth that alcohol is an aphrodisiac. This simply isn’t the case.

In fact, alcohol may be what has hurt your sexual performance. There are some studies that link alcohol use to erectile dysfunction, reduced sensitivity, and vaginal dryness.

When you eliminate alcohol from the equation, you won’t make impulsive decisions, as well. As a result, the likelihood of having sex with someone you don’t know, or having unprotected sex, is reduced.

You Won’t Eat as Much

Alcohol is one of the main causes of overeating. This may be because alcohol has a way to heighten your senses.

Even a mild level of intoxication can result in increased brain activity in the hypothalamus. This makes you much more sensitive to the smell of food, which may prompt you to eat more than you normally would.

Reduced Mood Swings

As mentioned above, using alcohol can alter the chemistry of your brain. This can result in you reacting in extreme ways.

The link alcohol has with aggressive behavior also contributes to higher levels of conflict, which can damage your relationships. When you are sober, you can enjoy a mindset that is stable and focus on reactions due to reason, rather than emotion.

Weight Loss

Alcohol is full of sugar and “empty” calories. As a result, it often increases your daily caloric intake without you even really realizing it. In fact, just a single margarita may have more than 300 calories, with the majority of them being from sugar.

Also, men who drink “moderately” are adding approximately 433 calories to their diet. If you cut these out, and avoid replacing them with sweet desserts, you can begin to lose weight without putting in much effort.

Improved Brain Performance

When you drink, it takes a serious toll on your overall cognitive performance. If you go without alcohol, it will result in better productivity, a more active life, and improved concentration.

It is the frontal lobe of the brain that’s most affected by alcohol. And when you stop drinking, the recovery of brain cells can be something that goes on for several years.

With this brain boost, you can rewire some important neural pathways, leading to improved problem-solving abilities, emotion regulation, behavioral control, and improved memory.

Improved Complexion

Within just a few days of not drinking, you will begin to notice that your skin has started to look and feel more hydrated. This is because alcohol is considered a diuretic, which results in increased urination.

Alcohol may also reduce your body’s production of the antidiuretic hormone. This is responsible for helping the body reabsorb water.

Ruddiness that’s present in your cheeks and all around your nose may also begin to fade. Other skin issues, such as rosacea, eczema, and dandruff may also improve.

Reduced Risk of Developing Certain Types of Cancer

You have likely heard that if you drink small amounts of alcohol, it can help to prevent heart problems, along with cancer. However, what you may not know is that if you stop drinking alcohol, it can have the same effects.

Alcohol has been linked to several types of cancer, including neck cancers, head cancers, bowel cancer, and liver cancer.

While alcohol isn’t a carcinogen itself, it can result in the breakdown of white blood cells and alter your DNA, increasing the likelihood of certain cancers.

Improved Liver Health

If you drink liquor, wine or beer, it’s bad for your liver. This is because the human body isn’t designed to process alcohol. As time passes, and you continue to drink, your liver becomes exhausted. In some cases, you may even develop a liver disorder, such as fatty liver syndrome, cirrhosis, or hepatitis.

However, when you stop drinking, good things happen for your liver. This is an organ that is constantly regenerating itself. The goal is to fix any issues present. When alcohol is out of your system, your liver can begin to regenerate to be healthier and stronger.

For individuals who have drunk large amounts of alcohol for years, full healing of the liver could take years. However, for others, the results of a healthier liver will be seen in just a few months.

What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Drinking: Now You Know

If you are an alcoholic, or if you drink more often then you should, then you should review the benefits of what happens to your body when you quit drinking that is found here. The benefits are astounding.

If you have stopped drinking, and you are worried about a relapse, check out our article on alcohol relapse prevention and recovery. We are dedicated to helping you overcome your alcohol addiction and remain sober.

If you are ready to get your own happy sober life. Join me for a FREE quit drinking webinar today.