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Dry January may be over – but that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone should go back to business as usual.
Every new year, millions of people across the UK commit to a month of abstinence from drinking alcohol, with most then resuming normal drinking habits from 1 February.
However, experts have warned of the effects of a sudden resumption of drinking, with some advising caution in the way to drink.
Speaking to the Express, health experts Trevor Connor and Griffin McMath, known for The Paleo Diet, issued advice to those who have completed Dry January.
“If you just do it for a month and then go back to the way you used to drink, I don’t think you’re going to see any of the long-term benefits,” said Connor. “If you maintain it, you will.”
He went on to explain that the time spent without drinking will have led to “reductions in inflammation”.
“Getting inflammation down in our bodies is really important for us, that has an impact on almost every chronic disease,” he continued. “I think you’re going to see a lot of benefits for the microbiome of your gut, but that’s something that you need to sustain.
“If you go back to drinking regularly, the microbiome changes very rapidly. So it’s just going to go right back to where it was.”
Added McMath: “Dry January isn’t meant to be a time where you just empty out your body of alcohol so that it can prepare itself for taking on more at a later date.
“This isn’t like taking a pail and scooping water out of your boat. It’s meant to be not just a reset, but a pivot.”
You can click here for a list of ways to maintain healthy drinking habits now that Dry January is over.
This year, an estimated 15.5 million people reportedly sought to partake in Dry January.
While the health benefits of avoiding alcohol are well known, what’s often underestimated is the effect of alcohol on the brain.
Dr Peter Rice, chair of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, says: “Alcohol profoundly affects the brain, both in the short and long-term.
“For many people who consume alcohol – not just heavy drinkers – reducing or stopping alcohol intake often results in enhanced concentration and better mental health, all of which indicate improved brain health.”
