After the joyous month of December, everyone has the intention to stop or reduce alcohol; no wonder the first month of the year is called “Dry January.” But what actually happens in the body when we stop drinking? Are the effects felt immediately?

The benefits can be a great incentive to stop drinking. Of course, the effects depend on the amount of alcohol you drank before you decided to stop. What happens in your body 24 hours, 1 week, or 3 months after your last alcoholic drink?

After 24 hours

This is the most challenging period. The most significant effects occur 24 to 72 hours after drinking. Your body has recovered from the night before, and at this point, you are experiencing only adverse effects, i.e., hangovers. You may feel exhausted and nauseous during this time. Depending on how much and how often you drink, most of the discomfort will disappear after 72 hours. If the hangover is cured and you abstain from alcohol the next day, then the benefits become apparent.

After 2 weeks

After two weeks of not drinking alcohol, you will sleep better. After drinking, one sleeps more easily, but sleep quality is not improved. Alcohol does not provide deep sleep. Sleeping well, on the other hand, is a benefit. You will be more energetic, have better concentration, improve your immune system, be less susceptible to illness, sleep better and maintain a healthier weight.

After 1 month

Immune system recovery: do you drink more than 14 cups a week? Or do you drink a lot, sometimes as much as 5 cups or even more? If so, you will get sick more quickly. Alcohol lowers your resistance. Do you want to stop drinking? If you do, you will be less likely to get sick, and if you do get sick, you will recover faster.

Your skin will glow; after a month, your skin will be brighter. Alcohol dehydrates the body and makes skin wrinkles more visible. Alcohol can also make your skin dull and more prone to acne. Alcohol also increases blood flow, making small red blood vessels on the face more visible. When you stop drinking, these blood vessels will become less visible, and the skin will acquire a healthy glow.

You will lose weight: a glass of alcohol contains many calories, and alcohol increases hunger for unhealthy foods. Do you drink about five glasses of wine in one night? Then you will quickly reach five hundred calories. Add to this the high-calorie hamburger you suddenly crave after a night of drinking, and you can imagine how much weight you can gain. If you stop drinking and stop taking in this “extra” amount of calories every week, you will quickly lose weight.

Improved sports performance: the connection between music, mind, and muscles not only improves sports performance. Alcohol causes a loss of muscle mass. If you don’t drink alcohol, your workouts won’t be as effective, even more so. Your stamina and muscles will thank you. Plus, you will be less prone to muscle soreness and burn more calories during post-training recovery.

After 3 months

It is not a moot point that drinking a lot of alcohol has much to do with your liver. The liver plays a vital role in the breakdown of alcohol. It is responsible for 90% of the breakdown of alcohol. In addition, the substances released during this breakdown are harmful to the liver. Therefore, it is only natural that the liver needs time to recover correctly; after three months of abstinence from alcohol, the liver is fully recovered. Blood circulation and blood pressure also return to normal after this period. It takes three months for all blood cells to be renewed. Finally, quitting drinking promotes reproductive function. This applies to both men and women.