The "Dry January" campaign is about abstaining from alcohol during the month of January.
Although more studies are needed on how this affects the body, it has been possible to show some health changes, according to Sara Wallhed Finn who researches alcohol at Karolinska Institutet.
Abstaining from alcohol for a month led, among other things, to slightly better blood pressure, a certain weight loss and a certain improvement in liver values.
- The disadvantage that I can imagine is if you think that this can compensate for not doing something about your alcohol habits the other 11 months of the year, she says.
To cope with a white month, Sara Wallhed Finn has three tips:
• Motivation - Think about why you want to quit and what benefits it would bring, both in the long and short term.
Motivation is important for breaking a habit.
• Plan - It can be about buying non-alcoholic beverages at home or planning new types of activities that do not include alcohol.
• Seek support - Relatives may be enough.
If you notice that it is not enough, you can apply for professional support, for example via the 1177 care guide or the Alcohol Line.
Where is the limit for when alcohol consumption can be harmful? In the video, Sara Wallhed explains Find out how to measure - and what warning signals there are.