These 4 legit health benefits of going sober might actually convince you to put down that drink.
Notice more mocktails on the menu? There’s a reason—sobriety is trending. According to research, alcohol is on the rise among young women and the number of young adults dying from alcohol-related liver disease is soaring.
While it sounds a bit extreme, there are tons of health benefits to ditching booze. Here are 4 perks of going sober for good (or at least temporarily) without feeling all the FOMO. Move over Friday night wine and make room for mocktails.
Perk #1: Better Fitness Performance
Alcohol impacts hydration, motor skills, muscle recovery and a bunch of other things.
But a few rounds after hitting the gym won’t hurt, right? Wrong! Research indicates that consuming alcohol following a strenuous workout magnifies delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMs) by increasing muscle pain and slowing down recovery.
Or maybe you’re known to throw a few back before a workout? You might want to reconsider. During a workout, your body metabolizes alcohol over carbohydrates and fats, which leads to a higher body composition and increased fat storage.
And if you’re one to work out following a late-night binder, watch out! Studies show training with a hangover can reduce your fitness performance by up to 11.4 percent.
Related: Dear Alcohol, Why Are You Messing With My Fitness?
Perk #2: Better Skin
While everyone knows that sun is the number one factor in premature aging, most people don’t realize that alcohol falls closely behind.
Because alcohol is dehydrating, it causes your wrinkles and pores to be more visible. And if you suffer from visibly red skin, alcohol exacerbates rosacea and other skin conditions. So, removing alcohol from your diet can drastically improve your skin—just ask J-Lo. One study found that 54 percent of Dry January participants reported having better skin.
Related: 5 Must-Try Skincare Routines
Perk #3: Better Chances of Coping With Anything
Got issues? Don’t we all! Using alcohol as a coping mechanism actually keeps you from learning how to deal with difficult or painful emotions. But when alcohol is removed as an option, you can take back the reins on your mental health and learn healthier ways to cope with stress.
If you’re unable to ditch alcohol for good, even short term sobriety can shed some light on how you use alcohol to cope. According to research, 82 percent of people who quit alcohol thought more deeply about their emotional state and learned more about when and why they drank.
Perk #4: Better Way of Taking in Fewer Calories
While calories aren’t the enemy—they give us energy and fuel that our body needs—alcohol contains a lot more than expected. A glass of wine contains roughly 120 calories, a beer has around 150 calories and a White Russian has a whopping 425 calories.
And let’s face it, calories from alcohol are easy to over-consume since they’re liquid and drinks don’t fill you up the way food does. So, if you’re drinking your calories, you’re still most likely going to be hungry.
As we all know, cravings after a hangover usually don’t consist of the healthiest choices. Cutting out alcohol simply means you’re taking in way fewer calories and won’t make poor choices when it comes to food.
Takeaway
Bottom line: Going sober has some great health benefits. From better workouts to glowing skin, think of sobriety as a springboard to revisit your overall health and well-being.
Whether you try it out for a month, a year or make it a life-long commitment, use what you learn about your relationship to alcohol to approach your own personal growth. Just remember: Balance is key!
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