We don’t like to go without a glass of wine with dinner or a beer after work – for some, a whole month without alcohol is unthinkable. This could work wonders! We’ll tell you what happens in the body if you don’t drink alcohol for 30 days.
Table of Contents
No more alcohol: This is what happens to your body after 30 days
1. The liver recovers
Cirrhosis of the liver can develop over time in people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol . “Excessive” in this case means two drinks or glasses a day for men and one drink for women. While it’s true that the liver grows with its tasks, an enlargement is not good for the organ or your body – alcoholic fatty liver can lead to potentially fatal cirrhosis. However, the liver is a very tolerant organ – if you stop drinking, it quickly changes for the better. Also, during abstinence she can turn to more important things like eliminating other toxins produced by the body or metabolizing fats.
Important: Have your doctor check your liver values regularly in order to be able to detect the development of liver disease at an early stage. Because, in addition to complete alcohol withdrawal in the case of an existing addiction, people without alcohol addiction also benefit from temporary abstinence or a reduction in alcohol consumption. This allows the liver, like almost all other organs, to recover. abstaining from alcohol for a month can improve liver values by up to 15 percent.
2. Weight Loss: You Lose Weight Automatically!
Alcohol is high in calories and sugar. It also inhibits the digestive enzymes and slows down the entire metabolism . Fat burning is therefore demonstrably inhibited. So, giving up alcohol can make your metabolism more efficient and help you lose weight.
3. Brain power increases
Alcohol consumption can lead to memory loss and impaired brain development. In fact, alcoholics have some specific brain disorders that result from excessive alcohol consumption. On the one hand, alcohol inhibits the absorption of important B vitamins . On the other hand, alcoholics tend to eat less healthily. The vitamin deficiency is therefore pre-programmed and damages the brain in the long run.
4. The stress level decreases
That alcohol is a soul comforter is a long-held myth that you should quickly forget. When worried, it can even have a negative impact on mental health. Many people tend to get nervous and irritable after drinking alcohol. Anyone who does not drink alcohol can look forward to a significantly higher resilience . In addition, you are much more resistant to stress.
Excursus: This is how the liver breaks down alcohol
Alcohol has to be broken down by the liver : the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase diligently breaks down alcohol. However, this creates the cell toxin acetaldehyde, which is also the main culprit for hangovers after a boozy night of partying. The liver converts acetaldehyde into acetic acid (acetate), which is then excreted in urine , sweat and breath.
Alcohol also dehydrates the body because it inhibits the release of ADH. The so-called antidiuretic hormone actually ensures that we retain fluid in the body and send it to our cells. If it is inhibited by ethanol, more water is excreted via the kidneys. As a result, the body not only loses fluid , but also electrolytes , which are crucial for the sodium-potassium balance and thus for cell health. The increased elimination of water after alcohol consumption should therefore not be taken lightly.
Breaking down alcohol is a heavy burden on your body, so dry periods of complete alcohol withdrawal are a real boon to your body. Your liver in particular recovers: your liver values can already improve significantly if you stop drinking alcohol for a month.
5. The small intestine absorbs more nutrients
Alcohol consumption attacks your gut lining , making it less able to absorb nutrients. Avoiding alcohol regenerates the intestines and means that more vitamins and minerals can be absorbed, processed and used again. This is how you effectively prevent nutrient deficiencies .
6. The complexion improves
Alcohol removes water from our body. This dries out the skin and makes it more susceptible to damage and external germs. Even pimples and blackheads have an easy job. Avoiding alcohol will rehydrate your skin , making it cleaner and better protected, especially on the face. You and those around you will quickly notice the purity of your skin and, above all, the change in your face. The glass of wine with food should therefore not be a daily habit, but rather an enjoyable exception.
7. You sleep better
You should stay away from the glass of alcohol, popularly known as a nightcap, which is supposed to help you fall asleep . Because, while it’s true that alcohol can help you fall asleep, alcohol messes up our sleep phases and suppresses REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is so important for sleep quality. Among other things, this ensures that we store information and can concentrate better during the day. Therefore, avoid alcohol and enjoy better sleep.
Video: Desire to have children? Hands off the alcohol!
8. Blood pressure drops
Alcohol stresses the body and causes hormones that increase blood pressure to be released. The blood is then shot through the body from the heart at a higher pressure, causing the blood vessels to become stiff and inelastic more quickly. If you reduce your consumption or completely abstain from alcohol for weeks or months, your blood pressure will also drop. Omitting or switching to non-alcoholic drinks can therefore be a tried and tested remedy for patients with high blood pressure .
9. Your risk of cancer decreases
Dry living reduces the likelihood of developing cancer . Unfortunately, the popular belief that small amounts or a glass with a meal are healthy is not true either. In order to minimize your risk of cancer, you should avoid alcohol completely, because according to the German Cancer Society , “the risk of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus increases from as little as one glass a day (10 g). The risk of breast cancer increases with three to six glasses of alcohol per week.”
10. Your love life will get better
Alcohol makes it easier for some people to be more relaxed and uninhibited during sex. However, this is not good for your health in the long run. On the one hand, stimulants such as alcohol, but also cigarettes, can reduce your libido – i.e. your desire for sex. On the other hand, according to the Federal Center for Health Education , male potency decreases from a blood alcohol level of 0.4 per mil (depending on body weight 0.5 to 0.75 liters of beer), which can lead to erection problems. For good and satisfying sex, it is therefore advisable – for both sexes – to be sober.
11. You experience initial withdrawal symptoms
If you drink alcohol multiple times or even daily—whether to relax, party, or just eat with your meal—you may experience noticeable symptoms of withdrawal. In addition to psychological symptoms such as restlessness, tension, concentration problems and sleep disorders, alcohol withdrawal can also have physical side effects. These include headaches, circulatory problems, dry mouth, nausea, tachycardia or even sweating. Such symptoms usually disappear after two to a maximum of seven days of alcohol withdrawal. The occurrence indicates excessive previous alcohol consumption and possible alcohol dependence, which is why it is recommended to consult a doctor or an addiction help .
12. Your risk of cardiovascular disease decreases
Not only your liver is happy about less alcohol, but also your heart . In fact, by not drinking alcohol, you reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac insufficiency, atrial fibrillation or even heart attacks. This is due on the one hand to the blood pressure-increasing effect of the hard liquor and on the other hand to the fact that alcohol has an inflammatory effect and thus promotes arteriosclerosis.
Tip: Non-alcoholic drinks as a substitute
If you simply like the taste of beer and wine and don’t care too much about the alcohol content, you might be interested in non-alcoholic alternatives to the most popular alcoholic beverages . They usually contain significantly fewer calories and a maximum of 0.5 percent alcohol. However, they are also stimulants, which is why moderate consumption is advisable here as well. However, non-alcoholic drinks can make abstinence easier and more enjoyable for you. The following substitute drinks are now commercially available:
- non- alcoholic beer (e.g. Heineken 0.0% or Beck’s Blue )
- non- alcoholic craft beer (e.g. non- alcoholic craft beer package with 12 varieties or Uwe Summer Ale )
- non-alcoholic wine (e.g. Michel Schneider Cabernet Sauvignon (red wine), JP Chenet Chardonnay (white wine), Schloss Sommerau (rosé))
- non- alcoholic gin ( e.g. Sigfried Wonderleaf or outlaw )
