Dry January is a rising popular challenge for those who want to start the new year off pursuing the New Year’s resolution of eventually becoming sober.
According to Sunnyside, the phenomenon originated with Alcohol Change UK in 2013. There was also a “January without a drop” campaign around Finland in 1942 to help the Finnish War. The No. 1 reason people volunteered to participate in the challenge is to feel healthier overall.
Some health benefits include lowering the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, liver problems, better sleep, skin, energy levels, weight loss, and ultimately, more money.
A group of studies found that people who cannot control or stop their drinking habits often have an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in their guts, The New York Times reported. The official term for the condition is dysbiosis, and it’s usually associated with greater inflammation and disease compared to having a healthier microbiome, which helps keep your body well.
Previous research has also proven binge drinking is associated with inflammation.
A 2020 British study published by Gastroenterology showed that women who drank two or fewer drinks of red or white wine daily had greater gut health than those who did not. In general, consuming various plant-based foods and foods like yogurt, kombucha, and kimchi can also improve gut health.
For those who consume two or more alcoholic drinks a day, participating in a challenge like Dry January would indeed improve your gut health and specifically decrease the amount of leaking from gut linings. According to Nebraska Medicine, the lining of your gut plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. The lining is supposed to absorb water and nutrients from our food into our bloodstream. Some people have more water, and nutrients go through this body part, known as “leaking,” instead of absorbing.
It’s also worth mentioning alcohol can also cause acid reflux and gastrointestinal bleeding and can increase your chances of getting esophagus, colon, or rectum cancer.
