By: Dr. Riffat Sadiq, CEO of WNY Medical PC, Channel Creator

When it comes to the New Year, a lot of people set goals and resolutions to better themselves in a variety of ways. A popular trend in recent years is Dry January, also known as quitting alcohol for the first month of the New Year. It is estimated that 54% of adults consume alcoholic beverages. This is the lowest rate in the 90 years of alcohol consumption tracking. Quitting alcohol, for both the short-term and the long-term, will provide many benefits to your health.

There are a vast variety of health benefits that come with removing alcohol from your daily routine. Within the first week of quitting alcohol, our bodies are able to relax and unwind easier than before, showing normal sleeping patterns. As your body rebalances, you will feel more alert and energized. You will experience less bloating and more skin hydration. As we move into the second week of Dry January, you may notice increased mental clarity, improved gut health, and a decreased chance of acid reflux. Better work performance may benefit you, too, due to the brain’s gray matter recovering.

As you reach the end of Dry January, you should notice a rejuvenation in your health. Upon further discussion with your doctor, they may notice a more normal blood pressure level. If you were previously experiencing liver issues, you should feel improvements in liver fat levels and overall liver function. Your body has thanked you for all you’ve done to help it this month, and maybe the dryness will continue for a few more months, to come.

Overall, it is wonderful to point out that individuals around the world are consuming less alcohol these days. There are endless health benefits that come with eliminating alcohol consumption from your lifestyle. Whether your decide to take one month or one year off from drinking alcohol actively, your body will certainly thank you for doing so.