Dry January Not Just for Millennials

Following a long season of indulgence, many view January as a month to get back on track with diet, exercise and other healthy habits.  Following this theme and catching on around the globe is the Dry January movement.   Not a bad idea in an age when it seems microbreweries and craft cocktail bars are popping up around every corner.

But this isn’t a millennial movement exclusively, imbibers of all ages can probably benefit from a break from the bottle.  And older adults in particular can experience an increased sensitivity to alcohol, increased health problems and interactions with medications as a result of drinking.

According to the Nation Institute on Alcohol Abuse, adults over the age of 65 who do not take medications should have no more than 3 drinks per day and should not consume more than 7 in a week.  Those with health problems or who take medications may need to drink less or abstain completely.

Quitting alcohol for 30 days can have some pretty impressive health benefits.  You might even look and feel better by avoiding alcohol and the calorie and sugar reduction may have a positive effect on weight.

If you slip up and have a drink or two this month, fear not.   Staying away from booze two or three days each week will allow the liver to recover, helping to avoid excessive fats to develop in the liver which can lead to liver disease.

Dry January is not only a health movement.  In Canada, it’s a campaign to encourage participants to donate some of their savings gained from taking a break from alcohol to charity.   This year, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation in Toronto will benefit from Dry January efforts.  The CAMH is a top mental health care centre in Ontario that provides 24-hour emergency psychiatric care and leads research into new treatments and illness prevention.

For more information or to make a donation visit: https://www.dryjanuary.ca/Static/About-Us .