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   8 things that happen when you stop drinking alcohol   
   Prevention Magazine   
   Published September 25, 2015   
      
      
   Add Sleep As Your New Year's ResolutionMan comfortably sleeping in his bed   
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   Maybe your nightly glass of vino has turned into two or three. Or you're   
   overdoing it on the beer and have the paunch to prove it.   
      
   Whether you want to clean up your diet or you're trying to nip a potential   
   issue in the bud, giving up alcohol can be tough--but the benefits make it   
   worth the effort, said Dr. Damon Raskin, a Los Angeles-based physician who is   
   board certified in    
   addiction medicine.   
      
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   MORE: Top 10 Cholesterol-Fighting Foods   
      
   "Taking a break from drinking alcohol--even if it's just for a couple of   
   weeks--is a good idea, especially if you're regularly consuming more than the   
   recommended daily limit," Raskin said. (By the way, that limit is generally   
   defined as a drink a day    
   for women and two for men.)   
      
   Also, if your drinking seems to be affecting your work or personal   
   relationships--regardless of how much hooch you're knocking back--it's time to   
   consider taking it easy, he adds. (Lose up to 13 pounds in just 2 weeks with   
   this 12-day liver detox for    
   total body health!)   
      
   Here's what you can expect to happen, both short- and long-term, if you give   
   up alcohol:   
      
   1. You'll sleep more soundly.   
   One recent study in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research   
   found drinking before bed increases alpha wave patterns in the brain--a kind   
   of cerebral activity that usually occurs when you're awake but resting. The   
   result? Disrupted sleep.    
   Another review of 27 studies found that while alcohol may help people fall   
   asleep more quickly and deeply at first, it seriously screws with sleep   
   quality after that initial restful period. You may toss and turn a bit at   
   first, but give up alcohol and    
   the sleep you get will likely leave you feeling more refreshed and sharp the   
   next day. The byproducts of better sleep: improved mood, concentration, and   
   mental performance, Raskin said.     
      
   2. You'll consume less at dinner.   
   According to a study published in the American Journal of Nutrition, alcohol   
   is one of the biggest drivers of excess food intake. That may be because   
   alcohol heightens our senses, according to a new study published in the   
   journal Obesity. Researchers    
   found some women who'd received an alcohol "infusion" equivalent to about two   
   drinks ate 30% more food than those who'd received a saline solution. Even   
   mild intoxication increased the women's brain activity in the hypothalamus,   
   making them more    
   sensitive to the smell of food and prompting them to eat more.   
      
   MORE: 8 Things That Happen When You Stop Drinking Diet Soda   
      
   3. You may feel new sugar cravings.   
   Sugar boosts levels of the "reward" chemical dopamine, which fuels feelings of   
   pleasure, Raskin said. Alcohol does the same thing. So it's very possible that   
   when you give up one substance that causes happy-making chemicals to float   
   around your brain,    
   you'll be more likely to reach for the other. "Don't be surprised if you try   
   to get that same enjoyment or rush you used to get after a drink from   
   something sweet," he said.   
      
   4. Pounds will start to fall off.   
   Alcohol has a sneaky way of increasing your daily calorie intake without you   
   realizing it. One margarita may contain 300 calories or more--mostly from   
   sugar. (A delicious piña colada might have 450 calories!) One study found men   
   consume an additional 433    
   calories on those days they drink a "moderate" amount of alcohol. For women,   
   it's 300 calories. Cut those from your diet--and don't replace them with   
   desserts--and you'll start to lose weight without much effort.     
      
   5. Hello, clear complexion.   
   Within a few days, you'll notice your skin looking and feeling more hydrated.   
   That's because alcohol is a diuretic, causing you to urinate more, Raskin   
   said. Alcohol also decreases the body's production of antidiuretic hormone,   
   which helps the body    
   reabsorb water. (Less water in the body equals parched-looking skin.)   
   Ruddiness in your cheeks and around your nose may also start to fade, and   
   other skin conditions--such as dandruff, eczema, or rosacea--may also improve,   
   Raskin said.   
      
   6. You'll have more money.   
   Drinking--especially a fine wine or scotch habit--is an expensive undertaking.   
   Take a moment to crunch the numbers, adding up what you spend for drinks both   
   at home and out on the town (factoring in tax and tip). It can be an   
   eye-opening--and motivating--   
   exercise.   
      
   MORE: 5 Reasons It Hurts Down There   
      
   7. Envy will overcome you when you're around others who are drinking.   
   It's important to understand that there will be times when you feel like   
   you're missing out--and it can make you pretty testy, Raskin said. "People   
   often use alcohol as a lubricant for emotions, and when they stop drinking   
   they may feel agitated and    
   restless," he adds. (Do you have a problem? Check out these sneaky signs   
   you're drinking too much.)   
      
   8. Your risk for cancer falls, though your heart disease risk may creep up.   
   According to the National Cancer Institute, alcohol use has been linked to an   
   increased risk for cancers of the mouth, liver, breast, colon, and rectum. The   
   risk increases the more you drink. On the other hand, multiple studies have   
   shown moderate    
   alcohol consumption may lower your odds of heart trouble. More research   
   suggests your risk for stroke, diabetes, and mortality may all rise slightly   
   when you give up booze--assuming you were a light drinker before you quit.   
      
      
      
      
   http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/25/8-things-that-happen-wh   
   n-stop-drinking-alcohol/   
      
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