With the increasing trends of “Dry January” & “Dry July”, whereby participants abstain from alcohol for 1 month has lead people to ask if 4 weeks can result in significant changes in people health?
A study has been undertaken & overseen by Kevin Moore, professor of hepatology and head of the alcohol liaison service at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Over the course of the study 3 groups of women were followed.
The women were divided into groups based on the volume of alcohol they drank per week prior to the commencement of the study. Either approximately 14 units, 28 units or >36 units of alcohol per week.
The markers used to assess the volunteers health were blood pressure, liver stiffness & blood cytokine levels.
After 4 weeks, women in all groups reported looking healthier, sleeping better, feeling less agitated, most had lost weight and noticed improvements in their concentration, but did that reflect on their health markers?
Yes. In all 3 groups women.
“Among the women who drank up to 14 units a week, liver stiffness reduced by on average 14 per cent, their level of cytokines by 14 per cent and systolic blood pressure – the top number that is the most important of the two readings – by 6mmHg, enough to take a reading out of the ‘high’ danger zone of 140 into safer territory.
Of the women who drank up to 28 units a week, their cytokines reduced by 36 per cent and their blood pressure fell by 9mmHg, yet their liver stiffness didn’t change.
And among the heavy drinkers, consuming about 36 units a week or more, cytokines reduced by 40 per cent, liver stiffness reduced by 15 per cent and blood pressure fell by 10mmHg on average.”
So a habit change of 4 weeks can show significantly positive results to your health.