The 8 most important benefits of quitting alcohol

Alcohol is a socially accepted drug, and whether we are addicted to it or not, our body and mind suffer from the effects of this substance.

That is why in this article We will see the main benefits of giving up alcoholalthough there are more.

• Related article: "Alcoholism: these are the effects of drink dependency"

The effect of alcohol on the body

Before knowing the advantages of giving up alcoholic beverages, we will see what alcohol is and how it acts on our brain, to later talk about alcohol addiction and the benefits of stopping consuming it (whether or not you addicted to).

alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant substance. On a chemical level, it is an acetaldehyde metabolite; It is a simple, lipid and water-soluble molecule that acts by disrupting neuronal membranes.

Specifically, its mechanism of action consists of agonizing GABA-a and antagonizing the glutamate. These two substances are neurotransmitters; GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS, and glutamate, the main excitatory.

So alcohol is actually a drug; in fact, it is a socially accepted drug, and being legal, many experts consider it one of the most dangerous drugs, especially due to its easy access that we have her

The benefits of giving up alcohol are numerous, and taking them into account can help us to stop consuming it, or at least reduce its consumption.

alcohol addiction

The alcohol, Like any drug, it can cause different disorders.. His addiction is dangerous, and according to the figures of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders), up to 4.6% of the population between the ages of 12 and 17 suffer from an alcohol use disorder (addiction). This figure increases to 8.5% if we place ourselves in the older population. Regarding the distribution by sex, 12.2% are men, compared to 4.9% of women.

The development of an addiction to alcohol (popularly called alcoholism) entails a series of very harmful consequences for the person, in all spheres of his life and in his own body, with the added risk of suffering complications of different nature. So, stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, colon, breast problems may appear...

It is important to note that it is not necessary to have an addiction to alcohol, or a very frequent consumption of it, to develop all these types of problems, since the mere fact of drinking is harmful to health (logically, the more we drink, worse).

8 benefits of giving up alcohol

What are the benefits of giving up alcohol? Here you will find several of them.

Overcoming an addiction to this substance is not an easy task, the people who suffer from it know it well, but if it is achieved, The benefits of giving up alcohol are numerous, both physiologically and psychologically and socially (In this article, we will focus on the physiological and psychological benefits.)

These benefits are also given by the simple fact of stopping drinking, even if we have not been diagnosed with an addiction. In other words, such health advantages are applicable to any person who consumes alcohol to a greater or lesser extent, and who decides to stop doing so. They are next.

1. improvement in mood

The first of the benefits of giving up alcohol is the improvement at the psychological level, especially in the state of mind. The person who has overcome an addiction can undertake a freer path, where no substance dominates or controls your life and your emotions.

In addition, alcoholics often show irritability and mood swings, either in the phase of binge or withdrawal, seriously damaging your emotional health and that of those around you around.

2. Avoidance of stomach and/or liver diseases

It is a fact that alcohol consumption, especially in the long term, carries a great risk of develop different types of diseases, the most frequent being those that affect the stomach and liver.

Thus, abandoning this practice entails reducing the risk of developing this type of disease (for example cirrhosis, hepatitis, stomach cancer, esophagitis...). In the case of the liver, for example, this is so because, when you stop drinking alcohol, it has to process less fat, and therefore works better.

• You may be interested in: "The 14 most important types of addictions"

3. Immune system enhancement

People who drink alcohol frequently have a higher risk of developing almost any type of illness, especially one caused by viruses or bacteria. This is due to the immune system is weakened, as alcohol inhibits cytokines, proteins that coordinate the response of the immune system.

Therefore, another of the benefits of giving up alcohol is greater immunization against different pathogens that can make us sick.

4. sleep improvement

Alcohol is a substance that can also disrupt our sleep patterns (circadian sleep-wake rhythms). That is why he stopping drinking will help us regulate these patterns and by extension, our sleep will improve substantially. Thus, for example, we will have a more restful and less fragmented sleep.

• You may be interested in: "Tips to sleep well and beat insomnia"

5. Weightloss

Another of the benefits of giving up alcohol is that it helps to lose weight. This supposes, either a benefit at the health level, or at the aesthetic level (for certain people).

Why do we lose weight when we stop drinking? For two reasons: because you avoid the intake of calories that alcohol contains, and because alcohol stimulates other senses, increasing appetite many times. In addition, many times we associate the glass of wine or the glass of beer with a lid.

6. Improves the appearance of the skin

The pancreas, liver and stomach are not the only organs that improve when we stop drinking alcohol: the skin does too (yes, the skin is an organ too!).

This is so because, by consuming alcohol, we eliminate more urine and the body becomes dehydrated. So, the fact of abandoning this practice, improves the hydration of our skin and therefore also its appearance. In this way, the skin looks brighter and healthier.

7. Prevention of some types of cancer

On the other hand, experts like Dr. Blai, as well as some studies, suggest that not drinking alcohol prevents some types of cancer, such as mouth cancer, breast cancer and laryngeal cancer.

8. Improvement of cognitive processes

The benefits of giving up alcohol also affect the person's psyche, such as through cognitive processes such as memory and attention.

It is a fact that people who drink frequently (and especially those who are addicted) end up having more difficulties concentrating or retaining certain information (Also, they may seem slower when it comes to speaking or reasoning); that is, they have a less clear mind.

Therefore, stopping drinking alcohol will help you to have a clearer mind, to think faster and to memorize better.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association –APA- (2014). DSM-5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Madrid: Pan American.
• Berrios, G. (1990). Organic disorders in psychiatry. In Fuentenebro, F. and Vazquez, C. Medical psychology, psychopathology and psychiatry. Interamericana McGraw-Hill, Madrid.
• Guzman, R.G. and Ramírez, J.A. (2006). Alcohol consumption and public health. Magazine of the Faculty of Medicine, UNAM.