Dry January
in Great Britain, Mineral Tour in Belgium… These two actions, implemented in January and February respectively, have one thing in common: to spend a month without ingesting a single drop of alcohol. Smartphone application for monitoring, daily advice, recipes for “mocktails” (these alcohol-free cocktails), no excuse not to join the four million English people participating this year (1). In France, the month without alcohol will take place for the third time in 20222.
To convince us of the merits of the initiative, a study from the University of Sussex in England (2), published on January 2, 2018 on the establishment's website, identifies the benefits of the experience.
Benefits confirmed by Mickael Naassila, president of the French Society of Alcoholics.
The professional explains to us why it is worth going without for 31 days.
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" Dry january ": everything that a month without alcohol will change on your skin
Sleep, skin, sexual function ...
"One month is enough to see beneficial effects on his physiology and his health", launches the specialist.
For its part, the study underlines a better control of its alcohol consumption, a boost of energy, an improved quality of sleep ... "If we look at the quality of life, we will observe an overall positive effect while drinking. less, comments Mickael Naassila.
Reducing or stopping drinking alcohol also has beneficial effects on blood pressure and sexual function. ”
In video, find out what happens in your body in 24 hours
According to the English study, more than one in two participants notice an improvement in the quality of the skin and weight loss after the experience. Indeed, in an article on the effects of alcohol on the skin in January 2018, Elisabeth Berrissoul, dermatologist and Epiderm medical manager, explained to us that the alcoholic drink acts as a diuretic and can thus promote a dull complexion, dark circles. and a lack of elasticity of the skin. The drink also represents calories, "seven per gram, confides Mickael Naassila. When consumed, it causes a spike in blood sugar and insulin. If you drink it continuously, it can contribute to the development of insulin resistance. This is one of the risk factors for steatosis,damage to the liver which stores energy and produces "fatty liver". "
Five recipe ideas for alcohol-free cocktails
5 recipe ideas for alcohol-free cocktails
Vegetables and non-alcoholic blond beer
In just 5 minutes, we prepare a gourmet and original aperitif.
The secret ingredients of this unusual recipe?
Carrot, pepper and bell pepper.
See the recipe for the cocktail with vegetables and non-alcoholic blond beer.
DP Spring Beer
Rainbow cocktail with grenadine and barley syrups
Colors and a taste of the sun are the ingredients of this alcohol-free cocktail with grenadine and barley syrups.
See the recipe for the non-alcoholic rainbow cocktail.
DP Teisseire Syrups
Fever syrup, cocktail with cherry and grapefruit syrups
Easy and quick to make, this alcohol-free recipe with multiple syrups will amaze your lover's taste buds on Valentine's Day, and those of your guests all the rest of the year.
See the recipe for alcohol-free fever syrup.
DP Madame Figaro
Cocktail apples, pears, raspberries
Love at first sight guaranteed with this healthy and alcohol-free fruit cocktail with honey and anise.
See the recipe for the pears, apples and raspberries alcohol-free cocktail.
IStock Photo
Alcohol-free red berry sangria
See the slideshow
5 photos
Take stock of your consumption
There is no alcohol intake without risk to health
Whether you are a small or heavy drinker: "drinking less is better," states the president of the French Society of Alcoholics.
A campaign like that of
Dry January
makes us think about alcohol consumption that would not be normal.
We must ask ourselves what was done for tobacco, because there is no alcohol intake without risk to health. "
The specialist is categorical: repeated every year, the experience "can only be beneficial".
As a reminder, and according to the Public Health Agency and the National Cancer Institute, it is recommended not to exceed two drinks per day for men and women, and up to ten glasses of alcohol per week.
(1) Figures provided by the British association Alcohol Change UK, creator of
Dry January
.
(2) The study of the University of Sussex in England published on January 2 on the site of the establishment was carried out on more than 800 English people.
* Originally published in December 2019, this article has been updated.
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