Doctor explains the changes your body may experience during first week of 'Dry January'
Many take part in 'Dry January' after indulging in a pint or ten over the past few weeks
With the Christmas and New Year celebrations well and truly behind us, many will be cutting down on the booze in the form of 'Dry January'.
For those unaware, those talking part in the alcohol detox avoid drinking a drop of booze for the whole of January following a typically boozy month in December.
According to US guidelines for drinking, adults of legal drinking age should consume alcohol in moderation.
An alcohol-free lifestyle has become more popular among Millennials and Gen Z, while celebrities such as Tom Holland have spoken out after dropping the drink.
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There are, of course, many lifestyle improvements that can be made by quitting alcohol, including reducing the risks of some serious diseases.
Quitting the booze can be the most difficult during the first week if you drink regularly, according to Dr Sally Adams of the University of Birmingham in the UK.
She told the Manchester Evening News: "If you regularly drink alcohol and perhaps drink a bit more than usual over the festive period you might actually experience poorer sleep and fluctuations in mood at the start of dry January.
"This is because alcohol impacts sleep duration and quality and interacts with numerous neurotransmitters underlying mood and anxiety and when you stop drinking the brain has to readjust to the absence of alcohol."
While some may experience some drawbacks in the opening week, health experts are urging people they will soon feel the benefit if they complete 'Dry January'.
Dr Kevin Moore, an expert who worked on a study detailing the benefits of sobriety, told Live Science 'around one in four adults would benefit from reducing their alcohol consumption and any reduction you can make is worth it'.
"Evidence also suggests that taking part in dry January can lead to sustained moderation in drinking beyond January," Dr Adams added. "Dry January gives individuals the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with alcohol and the physical and mental health effects."
The precise impact on giving up alcohol for a month is not clear, but what is clear is that there are plenty of benefits to it - including both physically and mentally.
One study showed that people who are moderate to heavy drinkers who take a break from alcohol had several health benefits.
These include weight loss, improved blood pressure and insulin resistance, as well as improved cancer-related growth factors.
People have also reported improved concentration and better sleep.
Callum Jones