Abstain from to drink alcohol for a month can reduce the risk of potentially serious illnesses, according to a study by Prof. Kevin Moore of University College London (Great Britain).
For this study, the researchers followed 102 men and women in their forties, who agreed, a few months ago, to participate in the “January on a dry diet” experiment. Before the experiment, women drank an average of 29 units of alcohol per week and men 31 units. One unit equals less than half a glass of wine or half a pint of beer.
After four weeks of abstinence, their liver stiffness (a sign of alcohol damage) had decreased by 12.5% and their insulin levels (a measure of risk diabetes) had fallen by 28%.
“We have also seen improvements in other health parameters, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and the quality of sleep” underlined Prof. Moore in an interview with the British daily Daily Mail. “Participants also lost 6 kg on average during that month without alcohol” adds the researcher who is about to publish the results of this study showing that the risk of suffering from cancer has also been reduced. “What we cannot say is how long the benefit of these four weeks of abstinence lasts”.
The results of this study are currently being reviewed by the British Ministry of Health, which is expected to issue new recommendations on alcohol consumption. Currently, it is recommended for women not to consume more than 3 units per day or 14 units of alcohol per week and for men not to exceed 4 units per day or 21 per week. However, British health authorities believe that these thresholds should be reduced.
And you, would you be willing to abstain from drinking alcohol for 4 weeks? Talk about it on the forum.
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