How your health benefits from the pubs being shut: GP reveals you’ll consume 2,000 calories less in two weeks, reduce liver fat by 15% in ONE month and boost your immune system (as long as you’re not boozing at home)
- Exclusive: Dr Ross Perry told FEMAIL how no longer going out for drinks during the lockdown, and giving up drinking at home, could result in a flatter stomach
- Said could get clearer skin and a stronger immune system should you get sick
- Alcohol consumption within the government guidelines of up to 14 units per week for both men and women can provide almost 3,000 extra calories per week
A GP has revealed how not drinking during the lockdown could reduce your calorie consumption by as much as 2,000 calories in just two weeks, while your liver will enjoy a 15 per cent fat reduction after a month of not drinking.
Dr Ross Perry, GP and Medical Director of cosmedics.co.uk, told FEMAIL how no longer going out for drinks during the lockdown, and giving up drinking at home, could result in a flatter stomach, clearer skin and a stronger immune system should you get sick.
Meanwhile Dr Selena Langdon, and Dr Diana Gall at www.doctor-4-u.co.uk, told how in some cases giving up alcohol could result in the liver seeing a 100 per cent recover from years of drinking alcohol.
Nutritionist Tamara Willner of Second Nature explained that alcohol consumption within the government guidelines of up to 14 units per week for both men and women can provide almost 3,000 extra calories per week.
Dr Ross Perry, GP and Medical Director of www.cosmedics.co.uk, told FEMAIL how your liver will enjoy a 15 per cent fat reduction after a month of not drinking
Speaking to Femail, Dr Ross Perry explained: ‘After your last drink the liver starts working overtime and the pancreas starts producing extra insulin. It’s important to drink lots of water to keep your skin and body hydrated.
‘If you haven’t drunk any alcohol for a couple of days your body goes into detox mode, headaches, grogginess will have subsided and you start to feel more refreshed in general, but it’s actually takes up to 72 hours before you mentally and physically feel back to normal.
‘After one week of not drinking, your sleep pattern becomes more regulated, you wake up with more energy and skin looks clearer.’
He continued: ‘If you don’t drink any alcohol for a month, the liver fat reduces up to 15 per cent, increasing its ability to flush out toxins.
‘You’ll notice a flatter stomach and much clearer skin. Mild liver disease, like fatty liver can be reversed completely if a person stops drinking alcohol. When there is no alcohol in your blood for several months, the liver cells can return to normal.
The expert revealed how giving up drinking at home, could result in a flatter stomach, clearer skin and a stronger immune system should you get sick (stock image used)
‘Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it affects the kidneys and makes you pass water much more than you normally take in, hence why we feel so dehydrated following a night of drinking.
‘It also inhibits the kidney’s production of the hormone vasopressin, which encourages your body to reabsorb water as opposed to sending it straight to the bladder to be flushed out.
‘Once you stop drinking alcohol, and replenish the fluids, you’ll see a noticeable difference in your energy levels, sleep quality, dark circles will lessen under the eye area and the daily dry mouth and dull headaches should also go.’
Speaking as the coronavirus pandemic continues, he added: ‘Giving up alcohol will strengthen your immune system and make it easier for your body to fight off infection should you get ill.
How alcohol affects you over time
Dr Selena Langdon revealed that alcohol-related liver damage can be reversed if you stop drinking alcohol early enough in a disease process.
She explained: ‘Healing can begin as early as a few days to weeks after you stop drinking, but if the damage is severe, healing can take several months.’
1-12 Hours
- One hour after an alcoholic drink, the liver has to clear the alcohol in order to prevent alcohol poisoning. Alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde and then to acetate
- Acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance and a known carcinogen, has the potential to cause significant damage. It can cause nausea and tremors. The pancreas also produces extra insulin, which causes intense carbohydrate cravings
12 – 24 hours
- Blood sugar normalises, however glycaemic control can be difficult with sugar cravings
48-72 hours
- Tiredness and fatigue can be apparent depending on how much alcohol your body has to process. A serious alcohol problem may need medical support from your GP
72 hours
- Any hangover side effects should have settled by now
One week
- Better sleep and less headaches
- Physical and mental energy are increased
- Skin improves with restored hydration, conditions such as dandruff, eczema, and rosacea may also improve
- Better glycaemic control
Two weeks
- Reduced acid reflux
- Reduced damage to gastrointestinal lining
- Weight loss (saving roughly 2000 calories)
Three weeks
- Reduced risk of stroke and heart disease
- Improved renal (kidney) health
- Improved vision
- Reduced blood pressure
Four weeks
- Reduce liver fat by up to 15 – 20 per cent
- Improved skin quality
- Improved liver function – toxins are flushed more efficiently
- Further weight loss (reduced calorie intake of up to 5000 calories)
- Cholesterol drops by up to 5 per cent
- Glucose stabilises decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes
Three months
- Reduced risk of associated cancers
- Reduced levels of stress
- Improved immune response
- Better absorption of vitamins and minerals