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 you are addicted or not).
alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant substance At a chemical level, it is an acetaldehyde metabolite; It is a simple, lipid and water-soluble molecule, which acts by disordering neuronal membranes.
Specifically, its mechanism of action consists of agonizing GABA-a and antagonizing glutamate. These two substances are neurotransmitters; GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS, and glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter.
So alcohol is actually a drug; In fact, it is a socially accepted drug, and since it is legal, many experts consider it one of the most dangerous drugs, especially because of its easy access that we have her.
The benefits of giving up alcohol are numerous, and taking them into account can help us stop consuming it, or at least reduce its consumption.
The alcohol, Like any drug, it can cause different disorders Its addiction is dangerous, and according to figures from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders), up to 4.6% of the population between 12 and 17 years old suffers from an alcohol use disorder (addiction). This figure increases to 8.5% if we look at the adult population. Regarding distribution by sex, 12.2% are men, compared to 4.9% 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 their life and in their own body, with the added risk of suffering complications of different kinds. So, Problems with the stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, colon, breasts may appear.
It is important to note that it is not necessary to have an addiction to alcohol, or 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, the 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 quitting alcohol are numerous, both physiologically, psychologically and socially (In this article, we will focus on the physiological and psychological benefits).
These benefits also occur in the simple act of stopping drinking, even if we have not been diagnosed with an addiction. That is to say, 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 the following.
The first benefit of quitting alcohol is the improvement on a psychological level, especially in mood. The person who has overcome an addiction can undertake a freer path, where no substance dominates or controls your life and emotions
In addition, alcoholic people often show irritability and mood swings, whether in the drunken or withdrawal phase, which seriously harms their emotional health and that of the people around them.
2. Avoidance of stomach and/or liver diseases
It is a reality that alcohol consumption, especially long-term, carries a great risk of developing different types of diseases, the most frequent being those that affect the stomach and liver.
Thus, abandoning this practice leads to reducing the risk of developing this type of diseases (for example cirrhosis, hepatitis, stomach cancer, esophagitis…). In the case of the liver, for example, this is because, when you stop drinking alcohol, it has to process less fat, and therefore it works better
3. Improvement of the immune system
People who frequently consume alcohol 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, since alcohol inhibits cytokines proteins that coordinate the response of the immune system.
Therefore, another benefit of giving up alcohol is greater immunization against different pathogens that can make us sick.
4. Improved sleep
Alcohol is a substance that can also alter our sleep patterns (circadian sleep-wake rhythms). That is why the 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.
Another benefit of giving up alcohol is that it helps you lose weight. This represents either a health benefit or an aesthetic benefit (for certain people).
Why do we lose weight when we stop drinking? For two reasons: because you avoid ingesting the calories that alcohol contains, and because alcohol stimulates other senses, increasing appetite many times. Furthermore, we often associate the wine glass or beer glass 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 because, when 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 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, breast and larynx cancer.
8. Improvement of cognitive processes
The benefits of quitting alcohol also affect the person’s psyche, such as through cognitive processes such as memory and attention.
It is a reality that People who drink frequently (and especially those who are addicted) end up having more difficulty concentrating or retaining certain information (In addition, they may seem slower when speaking or reasoning); That is, they have a less clear mind.
Therefore, stopping drinking alcohol will help you have a clearer mind, help you think faster and memorize better.
