According to a survey on alcohol use during COVID-19, many American adults claim to have increased their consumption of alcohol since the pandemic started in March 2020. If you're one of them, you might want to start the new year off right by joining the millions of people who abstain from alcohol during Dry January, which starts in March 2020. If you're one of them, you might want to start the new year off right by joining the millions of people who abstain from alcohol during Dry January. Your memory, liver, heart, and other organs might all benefit from it.

What did this study discover?
Over the course of a typical 30-day period, the researchers questioned 832 people in the US about their alcohol consumption. The participants estimated that they drank alcohol for 12.2 days and had nearly 27 alcoholic beverages during that time. More than a third admitted to binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women in about two hours).

Additionally, nearly two-thirds of the participants claimed that their drinking had increased from their pre-COVID consumption rates. their causes? greater stress, easier access to alcohol, and boredom

However, we cannot solely attribute an increase in alcohol consumption to COVID. Alcohol use among older adults had been on the rise even before the pandemic.

Why attempt a dry January?
Join the Dry January challenge by deciding not to consume any beer, wine, or spirits for one month if you recognize your own behavior in this survey, want to reduce your alcohol consumption, or simply want to start the new year off right. As a public health initiative, Dry January was launched in 2012 by the British charity Alcohol Change UK. Every year, millions of people now participate in this health challenge.

While moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to health benefits for some individuals in observational studies, heavier consumption and prolonged drinking can worsen physical and mental issues, particularly in older adults. Common problems include damage to the heart and liver, an increased risk of cancer, a weakened immune system, memory problems, and mood disorders.

However, abstaining from alcohol for even a month can improve your health significantly. According to a study published in BMJ Open, regular drinkers who abstained from alcohol for 30 days experienced improved sleep, increased energy, and weight loss. They also reduced the amount of cancer-related blood proteins in their blood, as well as their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

While many individuals may not be making formal New Year's resolutions this year, others may resolve to improve their eating habits. But this motivation is frequently focused on an overly ambitious or restrictive diet. Without a solid plan, it is possible to fail quickly. Consider a compromise: Begin by incorporating these three simple methods for a healthier diet.

Aim only for real food.

Note what is processed and what is unprocessed on your plate. Maybe it's the entire meal (like a frozen dinner), or perhaps it's just a portion (like the bottled dressing on your salad). Consider where you can replace processed foods with healthier alternatives. Ideas comprise

eating whole-grain pasta instead of enriched white-flour pasta, quinoa instead of white rice, and making homemade snacks like baked chickpeas instead of opening a bag of potato chips.

Chronic inflammation and other health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, are associated with the consumption of processed foods. A Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy products is one of the healthiest diets you can consume (milk, yogurt, and small amounts of cheese).