- Quitting alcohol for January can improve sleep pattern, says new study
- May also lower cholesterol, aid weight loss and help liver to recover
- Research was carried out on 13 ‘moderate’ drinkers over five-week period
By
Stephen Adams
17:03 EST, 4 January 2014
|
17:03 EST, 4 January 2014
Swearing off the booze after the excesses of the festive season has become almost as much of a tradition as taking down the Christmas decorations.
But, surprisingly, no medical study has ever been conducted into whether a dry January – or ‘Janopause’ – has health benefits for moderate drinkers… until now.
New research has shown that quitting alcohol for a month can lower cholesterol, help you lose weight and improve sleep patterns and alertness – as well as giving the liver a chance to recover.
Health benefits: Swapping alcohol for soft drinks for just a month is good for you, a new study has revealed
‘If someone had a health product that did all that in one month, they would be raking it in,’ liver health consultant Kevin Moore said.
On average, volunteers who abstained from drinking for just over five weeks shed 3.3lb and cut cholesterol levels by five per cent and blood glucose levels by almost a quarter – indicating their fitness had improved significantly.Â
Positive: A dry January can improve sleep patterns and alertness, as well as lowering cholesterol, aiding weight loss and helping the liver to recover
The research was prompted by New Scientist journalist Andy Coghlan, who regularly did the ‘Janopause’.
He asked an expert what evidence there was of the benefits, and was told: ‘None.’
Liver experts have traditionally ignored the benefits of abstinence among moderate consumers, concentrating on problem drinkers.
Coghlan persuaded nine of his colleagues – all of whom described themselves as ‘normal’ drinkers – to abstain while four others graciously agreed to keep drinking to act as ‘controls’.Â
All had fasting blood tests at the start and end of the period, while doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London found liver fat levels fell by 15 per cent on average, showing the organ had recovered.
In addition, volunteers slept better and felt more alert at work.
The results suggest that tens of thousands of people who have signed up to a ‘Dry January’, as promoted by the charity Alcohol Concern, will see health benefits.Â
What is not yet known is how quickly all the good work can be undone, said Professor Rajiv Jalan of University College London, who helped with the study.
But he said a period of abstinence would enable the liver to ‘tolerate future insult better’.
Coghlan confessed: ‘Of course that’s the wrong message – that giving your liver a month-long holiday means you can go crazy for the rest of the year.’
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wampum,
Springfield,
moments ago
Want to increase your odds of living healthier longer? Do not consume alcohol for “funâ€.
Jimbo,
Houston, United States,
51 minutes ago
Do me a favor DM. Please restrict these articles to test that ‘will’ do something, instead of those that ‘can’ or ‘may’ do something.
kathleen,
Doncaster,
1 hour ago
who would of known!?..
yobbie,
Gold Coast, Australia,
2 hours ago
We all know alcohol is a toxin and not drinking would be good for you. Didn’t need a study to tell me that!
Bchbtch,
East Coast,
2 hours ago
I’m no doctor (I just play one on tv), but I don’t think swapping alcohol for soft drinks is any healthier! As a matter of fact, it would probably make you gain more weight. Maybe they meant to say water??
Ellery,
USA,
1 hour ago
EricovM,
Northeast US,
2 hours ago
Does this work in any month? I’d give it a shot, but January isn’t a good month for me in which to halt drinking for a while.
Skylor,
USA,
3 hours ago
Better yet never drink alcohol. You sleep better and be more alert during the day. There is good reason marijuana is now medically approved in 18 states and 2 states is legal for all adults.
ladyjbritish,
NC,
24 minutes ago
themajoritynottheminority,
Manchester,
3 hours ago
switch to weed you lucky people. .
hopefully our toff government will soon follow.
perhaps pot cookies if you dont wanna smoke. .
Stephen,
Los Angeles, United States,
3 hours ago
Hmmm 13 people? What a huge sampling.
Heisenberg,
Albuquerque, United States,
3 hours ago
You’ll also have less fun.
Skylor,
USA,
2 hours ago
Lily,
Cardiff, United States,
1 hour ago
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