(Image source from: Vice)

If you are a heavy drinker, you would have till now come across many people cautioning you about the hazard to life and urge to refrain from consuming alcohol.

But, recklessly turning a deaf ear is the only thing an alcoholic can do. The fact is that alcohol is a poison that damages all body organs.

Relishing a glass or two occasionally is entirely satisfactory, but the excessive consumption of alcohol can earnestly damage health.

The body areas that get affected by excessive intake of alcohol is liver, central nervous system, circulatory system, digestive system, pancreas, skeleton and muscles, immune system, reproductive health.

According to a recent study, an average income earner drinks 9.5 liters of alcohol every year, and this number goes up in the case of people who drink when out with friends or after a stressful day at work.

But then, people who stay away from alcohol apparently enjoy numerous benefits. A group of volunteers gave up drinking alcohol for 28 days and documented the effects of their experiment. Foremost, their physical appearance changed.

Week 1: Increased appetite and sugar cravings

When drinking, many people feel the need for a lot of food, especially late in the night. If you don’t drink alcohol, your appetite will increase initially, and you will face sugar cravings, but it will change after a month. Also, volunteers had a drop in their blood sugar levels, slept badly, and experienced headaches.

Week 2: Better sleep and overall health

During the second week, things got better. Their sleep improved, they looked healthier, and the dark circles around the eyes disappeared. Moreover, their sense of smell and taste improved, as well as the function of the urinary tract. The lower saliva production also strengthened tooth enamel and lowered the risk of cavities.

Week 3: Improvement of overall health

Human liver recovers within three weeks, so the skin complexion of volunteers improved, their wrinkles disappeared as their circulation was improved, and their digestion improved.

Week 4: Lower risk of cardiovascular disease/High confidence and better mental state

During the last week, some volunteers lost 6-8 pounds, their risk of cardiovascular disease was reduced, and their high blood pressure was lowered. Also, they turned more confident, and their brain started working more efficiently.

Thus, the benefits one experiences after quitting drinking are numerous.

According to experts at alcoholchange.org, it takes three weeks to break a habit, so taking a month to see the changes will beyond doubt convince you to never go back to alcohol.

By Sowmya Sangam