The traditional American summer break is over post-Labor Day and it’s back to school, work, and “regular life” for most of us. While there’s some nostalgia about leaving the beers & BBQs, and poolside cocktails behind, it’s also a great time to take a break from alcohol and detox and focus on your health and wellness before the hustle and bustle (and stress!) of the winter holiday season.

Many people enjoy alcohol alongside summer activities. Whether that’s a cocktail while hanging poolside, drinks at the beach, a swim-up bar, beers on a boat out on the lake, sitting with some whiskey next to a campfire, or simply for a night out on the town with friends, it is in many ways a part of our culture. There’s nothing wrong with imbibing from time to time in moderation, but even in doing so, a detox is a good idea to let your system rest and recover and continue to be healthy and strong. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends taking a 30 day break from alcohol consumption to detox your liver and system. This is helpful even for healthy adults without any alcohol abuse issues or concerns because the 30-day break still gives your liver a chance to flush out any toxins, regenerate new healthy cells, and function at an optimal level. 

In addition to benefitting your liver, there are a lot of other great benefits to taking a break from drinking alcohol. You’ll sleep better, for one. While alcohol is a sedative, it actually is disruptive to REM sleep which can make you fall asleep faster but wake up feeling less rested after consuming a few drinks. Your brain is another part of your body that will benefit from a break in alcohol. While even moderate drinking may not feel like it impacts brain function, the truth of the matter is that it does. It actually affects the grey matter of your brain! As mentioned in Self, when doing a detox from alcohol in the first two weeks “the first burst of volume recovery affects parts of the brain that influence how you process emotion, predict the consequences of your decisions, and pay attention.” That’s pretty significant!

Taking a break from alcohol for 30 days can have you jumping for joy!

A few other systems in your body will also benefit from an after-summer detox. They include your G.I. system which will appreciate a break from alcohol as it allows the gut barrier to regenerate – a process that takes on average about 3 weeks. An improved gut barrier will allow your system to better protect from absorbing toxins (and help reduce or prevent heartburn) both during your after-summer detox and again when you do start drinking alcohol again. Your immune system and metabolism will also thank you for the break – they both are surpassed by alcohol consumption as alcohol is a sedative. Also, your metabolism won’t have to process additional empty calories that alcoholic drinks contain (most drinks are over 100 calories each!) and also can work more efficiently after a break from drinking alcohol for a while.

Wow, that’s a lot of benefits from a short 30-day break from alcohol in an after-summer detox! We highly recommend giving your system some time to rest and recover, and giving your body and your mind some time to just sit back, relax, drink plenty of water and enjoy the fall weather. If you’re looking for ways to still enjoy the social aspect of alcohol without the alcohol, be sure to check out our blog on mocktails for some great ideas. Functional medicine can offer great support as you take a break from drinking alcohol and our own Dr. J. Andre Garabedian MD, is board-certified in Family Practice and is also board-certified in Integrative Medicine. Schedule your appointment today as you start on your path to better health and wellness! If you or anyone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction or is having more serious issues with alcohol, taking a break from alcohol consumption, or alcohol withdrawal, please contact your local alcohol abuse hotline or local hospital for immediate help.