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" Before the new year begins, many of us make resolutions that we vow to stick to for the next 12 months ahead - from making healthier food choices to increasing our fitness levels.  Year-long resolutions aside, the first month of the new year brings with it one campaign that challenges people to give up alcohol for 31 days.  Alcohol Concern&amp;#039;s annual Dry January campaign encourages people to stay teetotal in return for sponsorship.  Not only does it help raise money for a good cause, it does a whole lot of good to your body.  Let&amp;#039;s discuss how\u2026  Weight loss You&amp;#039;re all familiar with the term &amp;#039;beer belly&amp;#039;.  That&amp;#039;s because alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer have a high calorie content, which in turn can lead to weight gain.  Going alcohol-free for a month will save you from consuming empty calories, therefore preventing unnecessary weight gain.  A study carried out at the Royal Free Hospital in London found that after going teetotal for 31 days, participants lost an average of 3 lb and reduced their blood glucose levels by 16 per cent, while cholesterol levels decreased by five per cent.  High blood glucose and cholesterol levels can lead to serious health implications, such as heart disease and stroke.  So by going alcohol-free, not only are you reducing your risk of weight gain, you&amp;#039;re lowering your chances of developing life-threatening health conditions too.  No hangovers If you&amp;#039;ve been drinking heavily, you&amp;#039;ll know what it feels like to experience the dreaded hangover the next morning.  In most instances, you won&amp;#039;t feel like getting out of bed and might find yourself spending more time with your head over the toilet seat than actually having a productive day.  Without a hangover, you&amp;#039;ll be able to make the most of your day without it being a complete write-off.  However, just because you&amp;#039;re not drinking doesn&amp;#039;t mean you can&amp;#039;t enjoy going out.  Alcohol can be substituted with non-alcoholic counterparts. So if you&amp;#039;re in a bar or restaurant, order an alcoholic -free mocktail that&amp;#039;s made up of a tasty concoction of natural fruit juices.  Clear skin Alcohol has been known to take its toll on our skin, resulting in dark circles around our eyes and an almost sallow complexion.  Not just this, but it can create unsightly breakouts that can cause a person&amp;#039;s confidence to shatter.  Giving up alcohol will reap rewards for your skin, leaving it looking noticeably glowing and clearer.  Remember to drink plenty of water too, as dehydration can have similar effects on the skin to alcohol.  Improved sleep pattern Some people hold the thought that drinking a few glasses of alcohol will help them to fall asleep quicker.  While this might be true to some extent, Irshaad Ebrahim, director of the London Sleep Center, explained: &amp;#039;The effect of consolidating sleep in the first half of the night is offset by having more disrupted sleep in the second half of the night.&amp;#039;  So although you&amp;#039;ll fall asleep sooner at first, you&amp;#039;ll in fact feel worse when you wake up after having a drink than if you&amp;#039;d stayed dry.  Other people also read: Gallbladder disease: Gallstones are seen in all age groups, but they are rare in the young.  Alcoholic liver disease: Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause liver disease, as well as harming many other body organs.  Cirrhosis of the liver: Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver that involves the formation of fibrous (scar) tissue. Last updated 20.01.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/a3036/dry-january-health-benefits-of-quitting-alcohol/>