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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? October is over. For many people, this means the conclusion of Sober October<\/a>, or a month without drinking alcohol<\/a>. <\/p>\n Some might be excited for their first drink back. Others may be weighing up the pros and cons of extending this dry spell. But what actually happens to your body<\/a> when you ditch drinking for 31 days?<\/p>\n There are the obvious, objective perks: no pounding head the morning after a few drinks, and potentially a healthier bank balance too, given the price of a pint nowadays. But there are also less obvious benefits going on beneath the surface<\/a>. <\/p>\n Below, scientists reveal the benefits you might feel from a month without drinking<\/a>. <\/p>\n What happens to your body after a day of not drinking?<\/p>\n The time it takes to clear alcohol<\/a> from the body will depend on your metabolism and, of course, how much you drank. But by the 24 hour mark, it has usually left your body. As a result, you may experience some positives after just one day<\/a> of not drinking.<\/p>\n Alcohol reduces the liver\u2019s ability to regulate blood sugar<\/a>, according to Nicole Lee<\/a>, an adjunct professor at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University. \u201cOnce alcohol leaves the system, blood sugar begins to normalise,\u201d she writes. <\/p>\n However, Lee continues, if you are a regular drinker<\/a>, then a day without alcohol might take some adjusting to, leaving you feeling slightly worse to start with. <\/p>\n \u201cYou may initially notice disrupted sleep, mood<\/a> changes, sweating or tremors. Most symptoms usually resolve in about a week without alcohol.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more: How to start strength training and see results at any age, according to a top muscle growth expert<\/a><\/p>\n What happens to your body after a week of not drinking?<\/p>\n Seven days into Sober October, more benefits come into play. Most health and fitness experts I speak to stress the negative impact alcohol has on your sleep. <\/p>\n It might make you feel sleepy and help you drift off, but it dampens the quality of your slumber. After a week of alcohol-free sleep, it is likely your energy levels will feel higher and more consistent. <\/p>\n Alcohol also hampers brain function, with knock-on effects on your mood and mental health<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cWe know inflammation is associated with low mood when you get a cold; when people had Covid<\/a>, a lot of them had severe depression and anxiety, and that\u2019s through inflammation,\u201d says Professor David Nutt, head of the neuropsychopharmacology unit at Imperial College London<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cAlcohol produces the same kind of inflammation in the brain. The hangover is partly due to neuroadaptation \u2013 the brain adapting to try and offset the effects of alcohol \u2013 and partly through the toxicity of alcohol leading to inflammation. <\/p>\n \u201cThat inflammation leads to a sense of lowness, flatness, irritability and not enjoying life. This can be mistaken for depression.\u201d<\/p>\n By not drinking for a week, you can remove this effect, leading to improved mood and benefits for your brain health. <\/p>\n A week away from alcohol could be enough to see some improvements in your liver health too, says Katinka van de Ven<\/a>, an alcohol specialist at the University of New South Wales. <\/p>\n \u201cThe liver is important for cleaning blood, processing nutrients and producing bile that helps with digestion,\u201d she writes. \u201cBut it can also regenerate quickly. If you have only mild damage in the liver, seven days may be enough to reduce liver fat and heal mild scarring and tissue damage.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more: Longevity expert reveals the behaviours that could add \u201815-20 years\u2019 to your life<\/a><\/p>\n What happens to your body after a month of not drinking?<\/p>\n A 2018 study published in the British Medical Journal<\/a> took two groups of moderate-heavy drinkers (those consuming roughly 250g of alcohol per week \u2013 around 31 units or 18 standard drinks). One group carried on as they were, while the other abstained from alcohol for a month. <\/p>\n The findings supported the idea that alcohol consumption can increase your risk of cancer and metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. Meanwhile, researchers found that one month of abstinence \u201cimproves insulin resistance, weight, blood pressure and cancer-related growth factors\u201d. <\/p>\n In other words, post Sober October, it is highly likely that your liver will be healthier, your blood pressure will be lower, your diabetes risk will be down. The positive impact on blood pressure may also improve your heart health. <\/p>\n \u201cYou might lose a bit of weight from giving up alcohol,\u201d adds Professor Nutt. \u201cAlcohol is quite calorific. <\/p>\n \u201cThere are some people currently consuming 50 per cent of their calories from alcohol, and then they\u2019re not eating because they don\u2019t want to put on weight. But if you don\u2019t eat, alcohol levels rise faster, so you get into more trouble if you just drink without food.\u201d <\/p>\n Your skin may also be \u201csoft, plump and healthier-looking\u201d by the end of the 31 days, according to a spokesperson for Alcohol Change UK<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cAlcohol reduces the production of anti-diuretic hormone, so you lose water and sodium more quickly,\u201d they explain. \u201cA low tissue water content, courtesy of your daily tipple, is the sworn enemy of soft, plump, healthier-looking skin.\u201d<\/p>\n On top of this, your immune system is more likely to be firing on all cylinders by the end of the month, the spokesperson adds \u2013 handy as we plunge into the depths of flu season. <\/p>\n \u201cBooze suppresses your body\u2019s immune system, so when you\u2019re free and clear of it for a few weeks you\u2019ll notice you are less likely to succumb to every little cold or virus that hits the office. And even if you do come down with something, your recovery time will be reduced.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Alcohol produces inflammation in the brain, which can lead to low mood (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/A-woman-stretching-in-bed-after-waking-up-in-the-morning.jpeg\")
An extended spell without alcohol can improve your sleep quality and leave you with higher energy levels (Nattakorn – stock.adobe.com)<\/p>\n