How Does Quitting Alcohol Affect the Body of an 'Average' Drinker?

For those who are average alcohol drinkers, what happens to their bodies when they stop drinking altogether?

Alcohol Intake

When it comes to alcohol intake, it is hard to set the standard for what an "average" drinker is. Nevertheless, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that moderate drinking involves having no more than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men. This is for days when either drink alcohol.

As for binge drinking, it refers to the consumption of at least four drinks in 2 to 3 hours for women and at least five drinks for the same period for men. On the other hand, binge drinking refers to taking at least eight drinks a week for women and 15 drinks a week for men.

A typical drink is roughly equivalent to 0.35 liters of beer with a 5% ABV (alcohol by volume) or 0.14 liters of wine with a 12% ABV.

Quitting Alcohol

In the last twenty years, the number of undergraduate students from America who have reported alcohol abstinence has gone up by 8%. In the UK, adults from ages 16 to 24 were also likely to be teetotal, with 26% of them reporting never drinking alcohol.

There are various reasons as to why individuals may quit alcohol. For one, it could be the caloric content of the drink, while others may be at risk of liver damage, high blood pressure, or even cancer due to alcohol consumption.

Effects of Quitting Alcohol

As part of a 2018 study, scientists gathered 94 volunteers with a mean age of 45 years and asked them to stop alcohol consumption for a month. Prior to the challenge, participants were noted to be moderate-to-heavy drinkers. All of them did not have any known history of alcohol dependence or liver disease.

After the one-month period, those who refrained from alcohol consumption yielded various positive health benefits that were not observed among individuals who kept on drinking. For one, the average blood pressure of the abstainer group went down by 6%. Moreover, this group also lost roughly 1.5 kilograms, while their insulin resistance dropped by 25%.

Dr. Kevin Moore, an author of the study and a hepatology professor from the University College London, explains that they did not note it in the report but the participants also had better feelings, improved concentration, and better sleep. These results were seen after smoking, exercise, and diet factors were accounted for, showing that these changes could be linked to alcohol use.

Moreover, the researchers also observed that cancer-growth-promoting blood proteins went down significantly by 73% and 41%. These were epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), respectively. Dr. Moore hypothesized that, rather than leading to cancer development, the findings could suggest that alcohol boosts cancer growth when it reaches the body.

While it remains a mystery if these positive effects go on after a one-month period, Dr. Moore speculates the possibility of such a case. Dr. Moore also adds that those who have cancer and are concerned about growth should stop alcohol consumption.

Another 2023 study also discovered that the outer brain layers of those with AUD (alcohol use disorder) regained thickness after abstaining from alcohol for around seven months. This is a notable finding, as alcohol abuse could lead to the thinning of this layer. Prior to the period of abstinence, the participants drank roughly 13 drinks a day for more than 12 months.

It is crucial, however, for individuals with AUD to be extra cautious when it comes to significantly decreasing or altogether quitting alcohol intake, as they may experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. In such a case, the central nervous system becomes so dependent on alcohol's depressant effects that the brain remains in a hyperactive state when the person stops drinking. Symptoms may include irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and even seizures, hallucinations, or even death. In such serious cases, seeking advice from a healthcare provider and getting appropriate withdrawal medication could be helpful.

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