5 Benefits Of Participating In Sober October
Brett Macdonald By Karishma Desai/Sept. 30, 2022 6:33 pm EST
From carving pumpkins to munching on chocolates, October is known for a lot of traditions. However, there’s one fundraiser you may want to consider adding to your list of October traditions — Sober October. The fundraiser involves pledging to go alcohol-free for the entire 31 days in October and raising money toward SMART Recovery — a non-profit organization that provides self-help and mutual-aid services based on Cognitive Behavior Therapy to people who are dealing with addiction behaviors related to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, shopping, etc. Friends, family members, and co-workers can sponsor Sober October participants by making a donation at this link.
However, the cause doesn’t only help those who are in recovery. Going without alcohol for a month can also benefit Sober October participants in numerous ways. According to the American Psychological Association, 23% of Americans reported increasing alcohol consumption during the pandemic. In a July 2022 Gallup poll, 53% of respondents said they have one to seven drinks per week, and 12% said they drink eight to over 20 servings. The average American drinks nearly four drinks a week. Luke Frazier, who serves as the director of marketing and communications at SMART Recovery told PR Newswire, “Social drinkers who take a month away from alcohol may be surprised by the positive health effects, especially given the compounding emotional impact of the pandemic.” George F. Koob, director of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also recommends Sober October, stating that the benefits from taking a break from alcohol can also detoxify and strengthen the liver.
Get more restful sleep by giving up alcohol
Rido/Shutterstock
While alcohol can cause a drowsy effect, you might get better sleep at night by abstaining from drinking. According to WebMD, alcohol can help you sleep quicker and can even induce more deep sleep. However, it can also decrease the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep you get. REM sleep is when you dream and has restorative effects, which is why it’s important. When you don’t get enough REM sleep, you may find yourself having a more difficult time concentrating.
Irshaad Ebrahim, the medical director of The London Sleep Centre, told WebMD, “Alcohol also suppresses breathing and can precipitate sleep apnea” The Sleep Foundation found that even “low amounts” of alcohol can reduce sleep quality by 9.3%. Overall, by not hitting the booze by participating in Sober October, it can help you in not hitting the snooze button in the morning.
Feel more energized by eliminating alcohol
Brett Macdonald
Having a restful night of sleep is key to feeling energized throughout the day. Cutting down on alcohol can go a long way in helping you get better quality sleep that can help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. That’s because during your sleep, alcohol causes epinephrine levels to increase (via Harvard Health). Epinephrine is a stress hormone and elevated levels can lead to a stimulation effect, which includes a higher heart rate. Thus you’re more prone to waking up in the middle of the night.
According to Well + Good, abstaining from alcohol can also increase your energy levels as it can help restore your natural gut bacteria levels. Drinking too much alcohol can kill off “good bacteria” that is needed to keep your gut biome in check. Alcohol can also wear away at the lining of your gut, which can lead to the improper absorption of key nutrients. Research published in the journal “Nutrition in Clinical Practice” stated, “Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the harvest, storage, and expenditure of energy obtained from the diet.”
5 Benefits Of Participating In Sober October
Brett Macdonald
By Karishma Desai/Sept. 30, 2022 6:33 pm EST
From carving pumpkins to munching on chocolates, October is known for a lot of traditions. However, there’s one fundraiser you may want to consider adding to your list of October traditions — Sober October. The fundraiser involves pledging to go alcohol-free for the entire 31 days in October and raising money toward SMART Recovery — a non-profit organization that provides self-help and mutual-aid services based on Cognitive Behavior Therapy to people who are dealing with addiction behaviors related to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, shopping, etc. Friends, family members, and co-workers can sponsor Sober October participants by making a donation at this link.
However, the cause doesn’t only help those who are in recovery. Going without alcohol for a month can also benefit Sober October participants in numerous ways. According to the American Psychological Association, 23% of Americans reported increasing alcohol consumption during the pandemic. In a July 2022 Gallup poll, 53% of respondents said they have one to seven drinks per week, and 12% said they drink eight to over 20 servings. The average American drinks nearly four drinks a week. Luke Frazier, who serves as the director of marketing and communications at SMART Recovery told PR Newswire, “Social drinkers who take a month away from alcohol may be surprised by the positive health effects, especially given the compounding emotional impact of the pandemic.” George F. Koob, director of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also recommends Sober October, stating that the benefits from taking a break from alcohol can also detoxify and strengthen the liver.
However, the cause doesn’t only help those who are in recovery. Going without alcohol for a month can also benefit Sober October participants in numerous ways. According to the American Psychological Association, 23% of Americans reported increasing alcohol consumption during the pandemic. In a July 2022 Gallup poll, 53% of respondents said they have one to seven drinks per week, and 12% said they drink eight to over 20 servings. The average American drinks nearly four drinks a week.
Luke Frazier, who serves as the director of marketing and communications at SMART Recovery told PR Newswire, “Social drinkers who take a month away from alcohol may be surprised by the positive health effects, especially given the compounding emotional impact of the pandemic.” George F. Koob, director of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also recommends Sober October, stating that the benefits from taking a break from alcohol can also detoxify and strengthen the liver.
Get more restful sleep by giving up alcohol
Rido/Shutterstock
While alcohol can cause a drowsy effect, you might get better sleep at night by abstaining from drinking. According to WebMD, alcohol can help you sleep quicker and can even induce more deep sleep. However, it can also decrease the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep you get. REM sleep is when you dream and has restorative effects, which is why it’s important. When you don’t get enough REM sleep, you may find yourself having a more difficult time concentrating.
Irshaad Ebrahim, the medical director of The London Sleep Centre, told WebMD, “Alcohol also suppresses breathing and can precipitate sleep apnea” The Sleep Foundation found that even “low amounts” of alcohol can reduce sleep quality by 9.3%. Overall, by not hitting the booze by participating in Sober October, it can help you in not hitting the snooze button in the morning.
Irshaad Ebrahim, the medical director of The London Sleep Centre, told WebMD, “Alcohol also suppresses breathing and can precipitate sleep apnea” The Sleep Foundation found that even “low amounts” of alcohol can reduce sleep quality by 9.3%. Overall, by not hitting the booze by participating in Sober October, it can help you in not hitting the snooze button in the morning.
Feel more energized by eliminating alcohol
Having a restful night of sleep is key to feeling energized throughout the day. Cutting down on alcohol can go a long way in helping you get better quality sleep that can help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. That’s because during your sleep, alcohol causes epinephrine levels to increase (via Harvard Health). Epinephrine is a stress hormone and elevated levels can lead to a stimulation effect, which includes a higher heart rate. Thus you’re more prone to waking up in the middle of the night.
According to Well + Good, abstaining from alcohol can also increase your energy levels as it can help restore your natural gut bacteria levels. Drinking too much alcohol can kill off “good bacteria” that is needed to keep your gut biome in check. Alcohol can also wear away at the lining of your gut, which can lead to the improper absorption of key nutrients. Research published in the journal “Nutrition in Clinical Practice” stated, “Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the harvest, storage, and expenditure of energy obtained from the diet.”
According to Well + Good, abstaining from alcohol can also increase your energy levels as it can help restore your natural gut bacteria levels. Drinking too much alcohol can kill off “good bacteria” that is needed to keep your gut biome in check. Alcohol can also wear away at the lining of your gut, which can lead to the improper absorption of key nutrients. Research published in the journal “Nutrition in Clinical Practice” stated, “Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the harvest, storage, and expenditure of energy obtained from the diet.”
No more foggy hangover headaches
Hazal Ak/Shutterstock
No alcohol everyday keeps the dermatologist away
puhhha/Shutterstock
Alcohol can cause inflammation as it carries alcohol to the skin tissue, which can trigger rosacea flare-ups and acne. In fact, a study published in the “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” found that the women who abstained from drinking were less likely to develop rosacea than those who did. Additionally, the inability to properly absorb vitamins can also affect the skin’s vitality.
Save money by cutting down on alcohol
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