ARTICLE
It is well documented that Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that when it comes to alcohol consumption, any amount of alcohol can harm your health. For decades, alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer with ability to cause at least 7 types of cancer, including the most common cancer types such as bowel and female breast cancer. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer when the compound breaks down in the body – any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of price and quality, can pose a risk of developing cancer. With the link between alcohol and cancer so significant to our health, why not give the Dry January Challenge a try to give your body a chance to rest after holiday cheer, improve your mental clarity, and establish healthier habits for the new year! Dry January is a time when people take a break from drinking alcohol. There are many reasons to take advantage of this time to examine your relationship with alcohol – maybe as part of a New Year’s resolution to incorporate healthy behaviors into your routine or perhaps to find alternatives for relaxing, socializing, or coping with stress. Monitor how this change impacts your quality of life. Whatever the reason you may want to try Dry January, here are some tips to help keep you on track: * Think about why you choose to drink – is it to have fun, or deal with stress and anxiety? Try alternative ways to accomplish these objectives such as playing games at a party, meeting friends for a hike, taking a walk, or trying yoga. Have a polite “no thanks” ready for when you may be offered an alcoholic drink. * Let friends and family know that you plan to participate in Dry January. Ask them to join you and support each other throughout the month. * Make sure alternative alcohol-free beverages are available at gatherings you attend. Good choices may be “mocktails,” chilled bottled water, sparkling seltzer, or sparkling cider or grape juice. Avoid alcoholic punches that may hide the alcohol taste and cause people to drink larger quantities. To be on the safe side, bring non-alcohol beverages with you! *Notice how you feel. Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy? Make note of benefits to help you keep the momentum going. Remember to listen to your body. If you feel better when you are not drinking, or when you decrease drinking, your body is telling you something. Don't give up - if you slip, don't feel guilty...just begin again the following day! Oar Health shared 15 good reasons to give Dry January a try at https://www.oarhealth.com/alcohol-use-disorder/health/15-reasons-embrace-dry-january. For information on how to recognize drinking patterns, acknowledge signs of a problem, and find tools to help make a change, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. NIAAA conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health Contact: InnerAct Alliance 863- 802-0777
It is well documented that Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that when it comes to alcohol consumption, any amount of alcohol can harm your health. For decades, alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer with ability to cause at least 7 types of cancer, including the most common cancer types such as bowel and female breast cancer. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer when the compound breaks down in the body – any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of price and quality, can pose a risk of developing cancer.
With the link between alcohol and cancer so significant to our health, why not give the Dry January Challenge a try to give your body a chance to rest after holiday cheer, improve your mental clarity, and establish healthier habits for the new year!
Dry January is a time when people take a break from drinking alcohol. There are many reasons to take advantage of this time to examine your relationship with alcohol – maybe as part of a New Year’s resolution to incorporate healthy behaviors into your routine or perhaps to find alternatives for relaxing, socializing, or coping with stress. Monitor how this change impacts your quality of life. Whatever the reason you may want to try Dry January, here are some tips to help keep you on track:
* Think about why you choose to drink – is it to have fun, or deal with stress and anxiety? Try alternative ways to accomplish these objectives such as playing games at a party, meeting friends for a hike, taking a walk, or trying yoga. Have a polite “no thanks” ready for when you may be offered an alcoholic drink.
* Let friends and family know that you plan to participate in Dry January. Ask them to join you and support each other throughout the month.
* Make sure alternative alcohol-free beverages are available at gatherings you attend. Good choices may be “mocktails,” chilled bottled water, sparkling seltzer, or sparkling cider or grape juice. Avoid alcoholic punches that may hide the alcohol taste and cause people to drink larger quantities. To be on the safe side, bring non-alcohol beverages with you!
*Notice how you feel. Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy? Make note of benefits to help you keep the momentum going. Remember to listen to your body. If you feel better when you are not drinking, or when you decrease drinking, your body is telling you something.
Don't give up - if you slip, don't feel guilty...just begin again the following day! Oar Health shared 15 good reasons to give Dry January a try at https://www.oarhealth.com/alcohol-use-disorder/health/15-reasons-embrace-dry-january. For information on how to recognize drinking patterns, acknowledge signs of a problem, and find tools to help make a change, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. NIAAA conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health
Contact: InnerAct Alliance 863- 802-0777