By Caroline Shannon-Karasik - InStyle
The following contains excerpts of a recent InStyle Sober October article.
Most women will say cutting out booze has come with some skin and weight-loss benefits. (Even if it's not the reason you do Sober October in the first place, it's certainly a bonus!)
You may notice your skin feels the opposite of glowy after a night of drinking, and there's a reason why. "Alcohol also has several negative effects on the skin," says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Not only does alcohol dehydrate the skin, but "it has been shown to lower antioxidant stores in the skin, increasing your risk for free radical damage," he explains.
The good news? Cutting alcohol will help boost your skin's hydration and collagen production, leading to an overall more "radiant and supple" appearance, Dr. Zeichner explains. (Of course, better skin over the long haul would mean cutting back on alcohol even after the one-month challenge!)
Weight-loss is another added perk if you’re looking to shift the number on the scale. In a recent study published in the journal Obesity, researchers found that people who decreased or eliminated calories from alcohol experienced greater weight loss (not surprising considering alcoholic beverages are a top contributor of calories in Americans’ diets). But it's not just a calorie-for-calorie thing when it comes to alcohol. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, when alcohol is traded for carbohydrates, people tend to lose more weight, indicating that the body processes calories from alcohol differently.
This is why we say that many participants in a Live4five dry season report that they lose anywhere from 5 - 10 pounds and look years younger.
Go alcohol free for 5 weeks and not only improve your health but help to raise funds for important charitable causes. Sign up here for the latest dry season: Participate
Heal your body and change the world. Live4Five!
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