It’s time to reconsider ladies night. Alcohol is classified a Group 1 human carcinogen by IARC, and is usually linked to 7 types of cancer. The more you drink, the higher your cancer risk. Drinking about 3.5 drinks a day may double your risk of developing cancer.

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It’s time to reconsider ladies night. Alcohol is classified a Group 1 human carcinogen by IARC, and is usually linked to 7 types of cancer. The more you drink, the higher your cancer risk. Drinking about 3.5 drinks a day may double your risk of developing cancer.

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A few days into January 2023 and people have already begun their Dry January journey, a month of abstaining from alcohol. There are many reasons that draw people to participating in this yearly event. It’s possible that the body is in desperate need of a break after a week of spiked eggnog and celebratory bubbles. It’s also possible that concerns are more serious.

According to research and surveys, alcohol has become more of a problem in society since the COVID-19 pandemic. Drinking to excess, including binge drinking, increased by 21% in the United States during the pandemic. Researchers project that a one-year increase in alcohol consumption will cause 8,000 deaths from alcohol-related liver disease. 

It makes sense that people resorted to alcohol during the pandemic, which was full of uncertainty. Alcohol hits the neurochemical pathways in the brain to release endorphins that make you feel good. Many researchers state that sitting down with an alcoholic beverage provides a temporary sense of ease and comfort, making it a popular go-to for people to unwind. 

Why Do People Do Dry January

January marks the start of a new year, a fresh start to wipe the slate clean. The culture has programmed everyone into thinking that it is a time to break habits that no longer support your health. If you are concerned about your use of alcohol, the New Year may be the fresh start you need. You can join the masses who participate in Dry January, especially if you notice that your drinking habits have increased. Drinking more than seven alcoholic beverages per week can lead to a slew of health issues, so a month-long break may kickstart your efforts into changing up your beverage intake. Come February, you may find that alcohol doesn’t have the same place in your life as it did previously. 

You May Reduce Bloating And Lose Weight

Depending on how much you drank prior to Dry January, you may or may not lose a few pounds this month. Boozy beverages add empty calories to your diet, meaning they don’t fill you up the same way food calories do. Because of that, you can either keep drinking, or you increase your consumption of unhealthy foods, which leads to a caloric surplus. A lot of people also feel bloated as a result of drinking alcoholic beverages, especially from beer. Research states that chronic alcohol use can inflame the gastrointestinal tract, which can wreak havoc on the body. 

You May Sleep Better

A popular reason for drinking alcohol is to help relax the body and fall asleep. The reality is that while alcohol may put you to sleep, the sleep you get after drinking isn’t the best. You often wake up more frequently during the night and cannot get sufficient deep sleep. A small study found that drinking alcohol caused decreased sleep time and sleep efficiency. Dry January may benefit your sleep and energy levels, helping you feel more clear-headed and motivated. With that extra energy, you may have more energy for other activities, such as working out. 

You’ll Save Money

It is very easy to spend too much money when you hit the bars with friends. Shelling out $10 to $16 for a craft cocktail or pour of wine can put a serious dent in your wallet. Even if you don’t go out all the time, buying alcohol from the store several times a week can also add up. When you take a month off, you’ll notice that your bank account doesn’t decrease as rapidly. Realizing that may cause you to change your drinking habits once Dry January comes to a close. 

Your May Enhance Immune Function

A 2015 study found that healthy people who had an episode of binge drinking experienced a reduction in disease-fighting immune cells. Being intoxicated can suppress immune function, which makes you more vulnerable to pathogens. Chronic drinking, on the other hand, can increase your risk of inflammatory reactions throughout the body. Even one night of heavy drinking can impair your body’s ability to fight off infections for 24 hours. All that is to say that abstaining from alcohol may improve your body’s defense against viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. 

You’ll Have A New Relationship With Alcohol

When you hit the pause button on alcohol, you may realize that you don’t have to drink every day, or even at all. Learning that you don’t need alcohol in your life can be a valuable lesson for many people. Maybe you thought you needed alcohol to fall asleep, but you found that you slept better without it. The main thing is to analyze how you feel and assess the pros/cons of Dry January. It is very common that people view alcohol in a different light and have a more positive relationship moving forward. 

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Shorter days, colder weather, and the smell of pumpkin spice are here, which can only mean that fall is in full swing. Even though the leaves are changing, you know that mistletoe season is coming soon. Why not give yourself a moment of rest so that your body can reset before the holidays? This is where Sober October enters the equation.

Just like Dry January, Sober October is about cutting alcohol out of your life for the entire month. Take the buzz out of your life for the month and direct your focus to reconnecting with friends and family. Not only will you wake up without a headache, but you’ll also have more energy to do things. The secret to Sober October is all about piling on the fun. Recruit your squad to tackle the month together and plan activities or gatherings that don’t require alcohol. Do that and employ the following tips to help stay the course during Sober October. 

Stock Up On Alcohol Alternatives

If you like to enjoy a nightly cocktail, glass of wine, or beer, you need to have other beverage options to replace those drinks. If you drink nightly, you have most likely formed a habit, so you just have to adjust this habit by drinking something non-alcoholic. Many people report that flavored sparkling waters can be great alternatives, so long as they aren’t sweetened. You can also drink adaptogen beverages, teas, or mocktails if you’re feeling creative. Since many alcoholic beverages are carbonated, having a sparkling beverage is typically a great replacement.

Renew Your Intentions

The beginning of Sober October can be a little challenge, but a little struggle is good for the soul. After the initial hump, you’ll start to feel brighter and clearer. In the spirit of change, you should perfect or reconnect with your intentions. That may mean finally signing up for the cycling class at the studio down the street or incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet. Sober October is about discovering new ways to have fun, and there is lots of room for inspiration. Don’t wait until the holidays to plan out your resolutions; rather, start them now!

Replace The Ritual

Have you always wanted to take up a specific activity like yoga, jogging, hiking, or gardening? Sober October is the perfect time to try something new, or something that you really enjoy. Replace the ritual of having a drink at the end of the day by rolling out the yoga mat or slipping into your running shoes for a jog. Consider experimenting with different recipes, looking online or on cooking TV shows. When you give up alcohol, you’ll likely have more time to be productive! Consider picking up a book and finishing it before the month is over. 

Try Different Social Outings

As previously mentioned, Sober October is the perfect time to try new things. Plus, fall presents exciting activities for the group. Whether you’re into haunted outings and escape rooms or heading to a pumpkin patch, there’s no shortage of fun activities this season. If you don’t want to commit to a daily practice, consider making weekend plans with friends. Head to a corn maze, apple orchard, or pumpkin patch, but don’t forget your flannel shirt and jeans. Take a road trip or seek out a hike or pleasant walk that puts you in the middle of the changing leaves. Plan a movie marathon, pumpkin carving session, or get crafty and make homemade decorations. Finally, go thrifting for your Halloween costume! Grab your group and hit your town’s thrift stores to pull together a unique costume. Bonus points if you make a group costume with friends or family!

Treat Yourself After Each Week Of Progress

It’s important to understand that treating yourself does not mean making yourself a drink or cracking open a cold one. Instead, when you finish a week without drinking, treat yourself for sticking with it. Take yourself to a movie, head to your favorite bakery, or schedule a massage. Sober October can be challenging and nobody is perfect, but rewarding yourself for the progress you make can help you stay positive and focused.

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New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus may continue to emerge, but most of us consider the pandemic a thing of the past. States continue to relax masking mandates, and international travel has become increasingly easier. Many people hung up their sweats and donned professional attire to return to work as well. There are a few things or habits that are not behind us, though, one of which is problem drinking. 

During the pandemic alcohol consumption rose exponentially. In fact, scientists estimate that a one-year increase in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic will cause 8,000 additional deaths from alcohol-related liver disease and 1,000 cases of liver cancer by 2040. According to data, deaths from alcohol consumption in the United States jumped 25.5% between 2019 and 2020, the first year of the pandemic. This is a dramatic increase, considering that the average annual percent increase in alcohol-related deaths was 2.2% between 1999 and 2017. 

Consider the fact that online sales of alcohol increased 262% from 2019 to 2020. There was also a 41% increase in heavy drinking days among women since the beginning of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic also took a heavy toll on people already struggling with addictions. 

What Is Problem Drinking?

Alcoholism and problem drinking are not the same. Health experts characterize alcoholism as uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol. To be clear, a glass of merlot after work or one beer with friends over Zoom happy hour isn’t problem drinking. Problem drinking involves heavy drinking or experiencing occasional problems from drinking. It’s important to note that those affected by problem drinking don’t typically have a history of severe alcohol dependence. 

What Do The Studies Say?

Data from a national survey of American adults on their drinking habits revealed that excessive drinking increased 21% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to this data, investigators simulated drinking trajectories and liver disease trends in all American adults. The findings noted that a sustained increase in alcohol consumption for more than one year could yield a 19-35% additional mortality rate. 

One study included 832 people, 84% of which were female. During the pandemic, one-third of the group reported binge drinking, and 60% of the group reported increased drinking. Another study in 2020 included 1,540 adults, 57% of which were women. Over the course of the study, frequency in alcohol consumption increased by an average of 14% from 2019 to 2020. On average, 75% of all participants increased their drinking by at least one day per month. Additionally, one in five adults between the ages of 30-59 increased the frequency of alcohol consumption. 

How To Cut Back On Drinking

Alcohol has damaging effects on your overall health. The damage goes beyond brain fog and hangovers. In fact, excessive alcohol intake contributes to increased rates of cognitive decline and mental health issues. In order to avoid issues like dementia, cut back your drinking by employing the following strategies. 

Replace Your Drink

It’s common for people to drink alcoholic beverages because they are like treats. Don’t go searching for a cocktail when you can make other treat-like beverages. Herbal tea creations, mocktails with lemon, mint, and basil, or other drinks can be just as delightful and rewarding. Get creative and you’ll find that you don’t need the addition of alcohol.

Look At Expenses

Want to cut costs? Eliminate those $15 cocktails at the bar a few times a week and you’ll see that your account doesn’t deplete as quickly. Even if you don’t go out but you purchase wine, beer or liquor to take home, cutting back can help you save more money. Money talks for most people, so take a look at how much money you spend on booze and that may sway you to reduce your intake. 

Avoid Trigger Places

There are locations, or even people, that you may associate with overconsumption. When you avoid these trigger places or people, you may be able to stay alcohol-free. If you find that you have to drink when you are around certain people, you may need to stop hanging out with them completely to improve your overall health. 

Use Therapy Or Counseling

If you cannot kick the habit on your own, therapy or counseling may be the right approach. There are many motivational apps that help you improve your mental health and coping skills. Both apps and therapists can help you set goals that reduce your alcohol intake. There are even drink-tracking apps that allow you to monitor your alcohol use and offer positive reinforcement!

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On the latest episode of Vegan101, we’ll go over quick remedies to help with hangovers.

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If you snore when you sleep, you belong to the nearly 50% of American adults with the same problem. Air flows through your throat when you breathe in your sleep, causing relaxed tissues to vibrate and cause irritating, snoring noises. It’s an irritating problem for people who have to sleep in the general vicinity, not necessarily the snorer. Aside from the embarrassment factor, snoring can also indicate a more serious health condition. 

Snoring can either be benign or more serious. You may find that you can stop snoring if you experiment with the following remedies. In some cases, however, it may be necessary for you to see a doctor to address an underlying condition.

Sleep On Your Side

It’s quite common for back sleepers to snore. When you lay on your back, it’s easy to misalign the neck with the rest of the body, leading to a blockage of air movement and causing snoring. When you sleep on your side, it’s very uncommon to snore because air flows more easily in this position. You can wedge a pillow between your knees to get more comfortable if side sleeping is unnatural. 

Avoid Certain Foods

The foods you eat before bed may dictate whether you snore or not. Many doctors say that eating dairy products or spicy foods before bed increases the chance of snoring. If you’re sensitive to lactose, avoid dairy before bed to minimize or stop snoring at night. Spicy foods tend to have an inflammatory effect on the throat, which also contributes to snoring. 

Get To A Healthier Weight

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight is a great first step to better overall health. Overweight or obese people have a greater risk of snoring because of the amount of tissue in the throat that may cause snoring. Additionally, overweight or obese people have a higher risk of sleep apnea, which also leads to snoring. You can promote weight loss by exercising every day for at least 30 minutes. In addition to exercise, you also need to reform your diet and focus on portion control. Consider speaking with a nutritionist for this reason.

Quit Smoking And Drinking

In addition to worsening overall health, alcohol and cigarettes also increase the risk of snoring. Smoking irritates the airways and can make snoring worse. Alcohol, on the other hand, relaxes the throat muscles, making them more prone to vibration. If you drink alcohol at night, sleep experts say to stop consuming it at least two hours before bedtime to reduce the risk of snoring.

Avoid Sedatives

Sleeping pills or other sedative medications can induce a night of long, deep sleep, which is attractive to may people with sleep troubles. Similar to alcohol, sleeping pills have a relaxing effect on the throat muscles, which can cause snoring. There are other healthy ways to relax the body and promote better sleep. Click here to learn more.

Use Nasal Strips

Stick-on nasal strips help to elevate the bridge of the nose, which increases the space in the nasal passage. This is why it’s common to use nasal strips while experiencing a runny or stuffy nose. Breathing becomes easier and more effective, which eliminates or reduces snoring. If you don’t want to use nasal strips, you can try to experiment with a nasal dilator. This is a stiffened adhesive strip that you apply on top of the nose across the nostrils. It can decrease airflow resistance, which makes it easier to breathe. 

Mandibular Advancement Device

If a person’s tongue partially blocks the back of the throat during sleep, it’s common to snore. A mandibular advancement device is something that you wear in the mouth, and it helps to bring the tongue forward to create more space in the throat to reduce snoring. 

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This week, Dherbs CEO AD Dolphin walks you through the Facts and Fiction of alcohol!

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It’s no secret that some people get a little carried away with their alcohol consumption during the summer months. From picnics in the park to barbecues with friends, bad drinking habits can form and derail health goals. This is why lots of people are turning to thirty-day detox periods to help reshape behaviors and achieve goals. There’s no better way to do that than through some alliteration, by which of course we mean Sober September.

To give you the short version, Sober September is a chance for people to dry out, so to speak. September marks the beginning of the school year and the beginning of the fall season, in which people gain more weight than they do throughout the rest of the year. Considering that roughly 30% of people over 18 reportedly engage in binge-drinking, taking a month off of alcohol may not be the worst idea.

What Can A Month Without Booze Do For You?

Many people find that giving up alcohol can help them be more productive, lose weight, improve their complexion, and save more money. On a more medicinal note, a month without alcohol can decrease fat levels on the liver, lower cholesterol, and can help regulate blood sugar levels.

A Sober September may not work out if you don’t have a reason or motivation. Do you want to save money, lose weight, hit the reset button, or cut down on drinking? Remember that it is crucial to think of your reasoning behind Sober September when you want to drink. Use the following tips to help you have a successful Sober September.

Invite Your Friends

Whether you are training for a marathon, giving up sweets, or not drinking for a month, it can be beneficial to do it with a few friends. Accountability partners help to keep you on track! Not only will you all be heading towards the same goal, but you can all find new booze-free activities to do together.

Identify What Makes You Want To Drink

A relationship with alcohol can often be emotional. People commonly turn to alcohol when they are upset, want to “get the party going,” or feeling sad (and alcohol depresses them even more). Identify when you feel like you are missing out or craving a drink. This may happen when you’re stressed, want to relax, or celebrate good news. When you identify the thing that makes you want to drink, swap it for another activity.

Evaluate Cravings

Alcohol contains a lot of sugar, which means that quitting alcohol can drastically reduce your sugar intake, depending on how much you drink. If losing weight is part of your Sober September goals, don’t substitute the sugar in alcohol for other sweet treats or foods that contain added sugars.

Reward Yourself

If you go out with friends to a place that serves alcohol and you don’t order a drink, don’t forget to congratulate yourself. Rewards can keep you on track! If you’ve wanted to take dance lessons, treat yourself to them with all that money that you haven’t spent on booze. Don’t forget that one of the biggest rewards is having hangover-free mornings.

Try, Try, And Try Again

If you happen to fall of the wagon during Sober September, don’t beat yourself up about it. Try starting again in October, or any day for that matter. It’s important for your health, and for your self-confidence to complete the full 30 days. If you make it to day 30 and are enjoying how you feel, see if you can make it to day 45. You may learn to live without alcohol the longer you go without it, or you’ll at least learn to limit yourself to sensible amounts.

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As one of the leading causes of chronic liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects about 20 to 40 percent of American population. Even though this condition is quite common, most people don’t realize that they have fatty liver disease because they often minimal or no symptoms. The only way to discover it is to have testing done, e.g. an ultrasound or CT scan.

What Is Fatty Liver Disease?

There is a strong link between fatty liver disease and other pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or obesity. There are two types of fatty liver disease: non-alcoholic and alcoholic. Both are often associated with fatigue or slight pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen. Fatty liver disease is the result of extra fat that has accumulated in the liver. While it is normal for the liver to contain some fat, a person with fat buildup of 5 to 15 percent of the liver’s total weight is considered to have fatty liver disease. The amount of fat in the liver will determine the severity of the disease and whether or not someone experiences symptoms.

Non-alcoholic Vs. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Whether someone consumes alcohol or not, fat can slowly start to build up in the liver. The only difference between non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease is that the buildup of fat in the liver in a non-alcoholic case is not the result of alcohol consumption. How the fat accumulates, however, is not dissimilar to how fat accumulates in alcoholic fatty liver disease. The regular consumption of large amounts of alcohol is directly linked to increased fat buildup in the liver.

There are currently two primary categories for naturally remedying fatty liver disease: pharmaceutical therapies and lifestyle interventions (e.g. physical exercise, dietary modification, and weight reduction). Recent studies have emerged about the benefits of lifestyle interventions for people with fatty liver disease. Five great dietary tips are listed below.

Foods To Avoid

There are certain foods you should avoid when trying to improve the health of your liver. Alcohol is the number one thing you should avoid, especially if you have alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is integral to avoid excess caffeine, packaged foods, refined sugars, artificial ingredients, refined grains, uncooked shellfish, certain medications, or fruits/vegetables that are sprayed with herbicides and pesticides. The National Institute of Health also provides a database, which details whether or not any medication, supplement, food or herb may be linked to improper liver function.

Milk Thistle

Within the past ten years, researchers have published over 10,000 papers on the anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and antioxidant effects of silybin and silymarin, derivatives of the milk thistle plant. Consumption of milk thistle has also been linked to the production of enzymes, which help the liver eliminate toxins. Additionally, the antioxidant effects of milk thistle may reduce oxidative stress and modulate metabolic pathways.

Foods That Boost Liver Function

It is wise to consume lots of plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, primarily because many of these foods work to boost liver health. Many liver-boosting foods have been known to decrease inflammation, while aiding the body with insulin production, a common problem for those with fatty liver disease. Great foods to boost your liver include artichokes, bitter leafy greens (mustard greens, arugula, & dandelion greens), green tea, avocados, flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and foods that are rich in vitamin E.

Cleanse Your Body

Sometimes you need to hit the reset button, especially when you consider that we are frequently exposed to toxins, pollutants, and harmful chemicals that can damage the human body. Exposure to industrial chemicals, preservatives, pesticides, and certain medications can impair liver function and contribute to fatty liver disease. You can try the Dherbs Full Body Cleanse and then follow it up with our 10-day Liver Cleanse to address the condition.

Garlic

The use of garlic as an herbal remedy dates back 6,000 years to various civilizations in Asia, the Mediterranean, and Egypt. Recent studies, however, have found that raw garlic works to improve insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and helps to fight oxidative stress. The enzymes in garlic may even possess liver regenerative abilities, but more research needs to be done on that matter. As for now, garlic is a beneficial food to include in your diet if you suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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