Are you thinking about cutting back on alcohol? Dry July is a great opportunity to reset your habits and at the same time feel you’re working towards a simple, achievable goal. Just give up alcohol for 31 days and see what happens.
Here’s just a few of the highlights in store.
1. You’ll wake up refreshed
You might think a nightcap helps you sleep soundly, but that’s fake news. While drinking before bed can help you nod off faster, it doesn’t help you stay asleep.
“It disrupts your sleep physiology through the night so you’re more likely to wake up [during the night] and not have as much good-quality sleep,” explains Professor Tanya Chikritzhs from the National Drug Research Institute.
Giving alcohol a rest equals more rest for you. In a VicHealth survey, 40% said their sleep improved during their teetotal month.
2. Feel less anxious, more happy
In the long term, drinking can dampen levels of the brain’s happy chemicals, such as serotonin. It can also worsen depression and anxiety. Cut back on booze and you may find you’re less irritable and nicer to be around, says Prof Chikritzhs.
“When you function better, you feel more energetic and so you’re more likely to exercise. That’s going to have a flow on effect on your mood,” she explains.
3. A calm, less bloated gut
Tummy trouble? Abstaining could help. “The gastrointestinal tract is one of the main systems affected by alcohol – it affects your ability to absorb nutrients, all the way up to increasing your likelihood of cancers across the digestive tract,” says Prof Chikritzhs.
“And we know the gut is central for immunity, so giving your gut a break is going to support immune health as well.”
4. A slimmer waist
In the VicHealth study, 38% of people said they lost weight in their month off alcohol. The slimming effect may relate not only to the lack of kJ-heavy bevvies (one small glass of wine has 460kJ), but also to steering clear of habits that go alongside drinking, such as mindless snacking.
The body will burn the kilojoules from alcohol first before it begins to deal with any kilojoules from food. This means alcohol prevents fat burning.
5. A sharper brain
Here’s a sobering thought: moderate drinking can shrink your brain and also damage the hippocampus, which plays a major role in learning and memory.
So, can an alcohol-free month make you sharper? Some people say they see an uptick in memory, focus and productivity. Prof Chikritzhs agrees that’s likely, but adds that more research is needed.
Smart alcohol-free swaps
If you love a glass of wine after a long day, there are now lots of options that have the taste with none of the alcohol. No-alcohol products are getting more and more popular: 31% of Australians now buy no-alcohol products, according to the IWRS drinks market analysis.
Try one of these great-tasting no-alcohol wines, picked by our nutritionist Kathleen Allaeume.
Edenvale pinot noir
This pinot noir contains 82kJ (19cal) per 100ml and moderate sugar at 4.3g/100ml
Giesen 0% sauvignon blanc
This Giesen drop is very low sugar at just 1.5g per 100ml and 35kJ (8.5cal) per 100ml – that’s one tenth of the kilojoules in regular wine.
Next Destination Barossa Valley Shiraz
This shiraz has 87kj (21cal) per 100ml and is low sugar at 2.5g per 100ml.
Tread Softly Everything Except Rose
This Tread Softly wine is both low in sugar and kilojoules. 54kJ (13cal) per 100 ml and 2.5g sugar per 100ml
Plus & Minus Prosecco
Need some bubbly for special occasions (like Fridays?) This Plus & Minus option contains 129kJ (31cal) per 100ml and moderate sugar at 3.5g per 100ml. Comes with a traditional cork, too!
If you're struggling to make the no-alcohol commitment, read our tips on cutting down alcohol.
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