Hungover? Stressed? Try this…

I hope you had a relaxing Thanksgiving with family and friends.

And now, hopefully, you aren’t already spiraling as your mind shifts to the next big holiday.

In the current issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives, I write about 10 tips to help you feel cool, calm, and collected during this hectic month. (Subscribers can log in by clicking here. If you’re not yet a subscriber, click the red button at the end of the article to learn more about becoming one.)

Well, one tip includes staying away from too much “holiday cheer.”

And if you’re feeling hungover today, you’ll especially want to listen up…

One month “dry”

Have you heard of “dry January”?

It’s when people voluntarily kick off the new year by kicking alcohol to the curb… for at least one month. (And NO, it doesn’t only have to be during January.)

Well, there are quite a few health benefits to doing this.

In fact, in a study published in BMJ Open, researchers analyzed the effect of giving up alcohol for one month among 94 healthy men and women. A control group of 47 peers continued drinking an average of 2.5 drinks daily.

Turns out, those who stopped indulging saw significant improvements in their metabolic health…

They lost weight (about 4.5 pounds, on average), reduced blood pressure readings, and improved insulin resistance (a key marker of type 2 diabetes).

In addition, subjects experienced a financial benefit—they saved money since they weren’t purchasing alcohol as often—as well as better sleep.

And perhaps the most interesting finding of all…

Folks who willingly gave up alcohol for one month continued to drink considerably less over six months later!

A slippery slope

As you know, I’ve always been fine with enjoying sugar-free spirits or mixers in moderation. (Think vodka and club soda, with a twist of lime, or a dirty martini without the vermouth. And cut yourself off after two.)

But remember, alcohol can INCREASE your stress, especially if you fill up on sweet celebratory cocktails of the season, or wine. (Who needs more stress in their lives, especially during the holiday season?)

Not to mention, alcohol abuse is quite common. Close to 100,000 deaths are attributable to alcohol-related causes each year. And yes, overindulging is linked to many detrimental health effects.

In other words, alcohol indulgence is a slippery slope. Moderate (or light) alcohol consumption may offer protective benefits. But adverse health risks are associated with consistent overindulgence.

So, if you, or someone you love, finds the bottom of a bottle more often than not, especially during the holidays…

Consider going dry during December.

But of course, be open and honest with your healthcare practitioner—and allow them to help guide you through this tricky transition.

For additional ways to help ward off holiday stress, check out my current newsletter. If you’re not yet a subscriber, scroll down to learn about becoming one. (Just look for the red  “Click Here to Become One” button!)

Source:

“The benefits of ‘Dry January’ last longer than a month, studies show.” The Washington Post, 12/27/2022. (washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/12/27/dry-january-health-benefits/)