How to Succeed at Dry January

[View this email in your browser]( Dry January is an appealing concept to many... CivicScience, a consumer analytics platform, reports that right before January 2023, 41% of adults surveyed said they would give abstinence a try. But follow-up found only 16% of folks actually made it through the month without having any alcohol. So, is it healthy to abstain—for a month or completely? Or is it to your benefit—both socially and in terms of your health—to have a moderate amount of alcohol? Let’s look at the pros and cons. On the pro side: There is the sense of social connection that comes from toasting a friend’s birthday or celebrating a major achievement with a glass of bubbly. And there is some indication that moderate or occasional imbibing may be heart-healthy. According to Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system.” But, they caution, “heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable death in most countries.” Mayo Clinic adds: “Moderate alcohol use has possible health benefits, but it's not risk-free.” On the con side: The World Health Organization has determined that no amount of alcohol is healthy and that alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including … bowel cancer and female breast cancer—and the more alcohol you drink the greater your risk of developing cancer.” Why does any alcohol increase your cancer risk? While being metabolized, alcohol is converted to a toxic intermediary called acetaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen even in small amounts. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that the risks associated with alcohol go far beyond cancer. They include short-term risks such as accidents, acts of violence and risky sexual behavior. Long-term health hazards include heart, liver, immune, and digestive problems, as well as depression, anxiety, and conflicts with family and employers. So, if you’re going to continue to sip the light fantastic, how can you stay as safe as possible? [Download Dr. Oz’s 9-Step Daily Wellness Routine]( How to Help Mitigate the Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol If you are healthy—without any heart disease, cancer, liver or kidney problems—and you want to continue to drink occasionally: - Occasionally swap alcohol for a non-alcoholic beverage—but make sure it isn’t loaded with added sugars. Mocktails are exploding in popularity so there are lots of choices. And check out our nourishing smoothie recipe below! - Practice mindful drinking: Set a goal for how many drinks you will have (with max of two on any day), drink seltzer or water in between alcoholic drinks. Eat food while you are drinking. - Stick with organic wines, free of pesticides, and avoid sugar-heavy rums, whiskies, and bourbons, as the darker colored distilled alcohols are associated with more hangovers. - Stop drinking at least an hour before heading to bed so your body has a chance to metabolize the alcohol before you try to sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation when alcohol is in your system it can worsen sleep apnea, disrupt REM sleep and cause you to wake up and not be able to go back to sleep. - Make sure your nutrition—through food and supplements—supports a healthy liver, gut, and immune system. That includes foods high in B vitamins, such as salmon, leafy greens and legumes and vitamins C (citrus fruits) and E (in almonds, beet greens and peanuts), plus supplements of liver-loving milk thistle. alpha lipoic acid and NAC—aka N-acetyl cysteine. Tip: Although those last two are found in broccoli, spinach and Brussels sprouts and turkey, chicken and fish, respectively, it’s tough to get enough from food alone. Also, consider a daily probiotic to help counter alcohol’s negative effect on your microbiome. [Dr. Oz’s 9-Step Daily Wellness Routine]( Skip the Alcoholic Drink & Try a Nut Butter Smoothie! [Get the Recipe Here]( This newsletter is not a substitute for your physician’s advice and the claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Please share it with them! [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Copyright © 2024 ZoCo Productions LLC, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you signed up for a ZoCo Productions newsletter. Our mailing address is: ZoCo Productions LLC 555 W 57th St.New York, NY 10019 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.