5 Gut Health Benefits Of Going Alcohol Free

Here’s a question we get asked a lot in July - “Are there gut health benefits to going alcohol free for a month?” With the social ‘DRY July’ trend growing year-on-year, we figured it was a great time to discuss the effect that alcohol can have on our gut health.

Ranging from stomach inflammation to weaker nutrient absorption - excessive alcohol consumption can be detrimental to our gut. Dry July provides a great opportunity to be mindful of our drinking habits, push alcohol aside for a month, and give our gut a chance to heal and repair itself.

So, are you going alcohol free for July? If you are, we salute you! After all, there are some incredible alcohol-free alternatives to your regular drinks. In this blog post, we’ve listed 5 gut health benefits of not drinking alcohol for a month. Find out more below.

What Does Alcohol Do To The Gut?

Let’s start with the basics - what does alcohol do to the gut, exactly? It’s no secret that regular, excessive drinking can be harmful to gut health. Firstly, the process can irritate and damage mucous cells in the stomach lining which can trigger inflammation - leading to conditions like heartburn and reflux.

This also slows down the stomach from emptying, causing gastrointestinal discomforts and irregular bowel movements. It doesn’t stop there - high concentrations of alcohol can also deplete good bacteria levels in your small intestine, throwing our microbiome out of balance. This can hinder many essential roles of the microbiome, such as effective nutrient digestion and immune function.

Fortunately, our gut is quite a strong organ and can rebound quickly if we give it a break from alcohol occasionally.

5 Gut Health Benefits Of Going Alcohol-free For A Month

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the good stuff. Here are 5 surprising gut health benefits of going alcohol-free for a month.

1. Ease Stomach Inflammation

If you’re regularly experiencing heartburn or reflux when consuming alcohol, embracing a month of reduced (or zero) alcohol consumption could be a good way to resolve this.

Since high concentrations of alcohol can trigger stomach inflammation, many people will often experience these side effects after drinking. Taking a break from alcohol gives the stomach a chance to reduce inflammation and bounce back to its former glory.

2. Promote Good Bacteria

One of the main gut health benefits of reducing alcohol intake for a period of time is the opportunity to replenish naturally occurring good bacteria in the gut.

When we drink too much alcohol in stronger concentrations, the good bacteria in our gut can be devastated. Over time, this can deplete the number of good bacteria, which our body requires for healthy gut function, immunity, and so much more.

The good news is that with regular probiotic supplementation, the good bacteria in your gut can be restored - more on this later!

3. Support Nutrient Absorption

Alcohol doesn’t only impact the lining of the stomach, but it can also have an impact on the small intestine lining as well - otherwise known as villi.

The villi are responsible for absorbing nutrients from the food we eat. So, when it becomes damaged from unmoderated alcohol consumption, the villi’s ability for nutrient absorption is hindered.

Fortunately, like the stomach, it doesn’t take long for the small intestines to bounce back. In as little as a few weeks, the villi should begin to improve and effectively absorb nutrients from your diet.

4. Regulate Bowel Movements

Have you ever noticed bowel movements becoming a little irregular after a night of drinking? This is largely because alcohol tends to aggravate the lining of the intestines, which can trigger diarrhoea. And if you’re drinking beverages containing high amounts of sugar, this can worsen the condition and increase its duration.

Though by going sober for a month, this suddenly doesn’t become an issue. You can go out for a night guilt-free, knowing that you won’t have to deal with these consequences in the morning.

5. Support Colon Health

When we stop drinking alcohol, we’re typically drawn to healthy alternatives that we can consume instead - such as water. Your gut will love this increased intake of water, especially if you’re not used to meeting your daily water requirements.

Drinking more water will help diversify and support good levels of gut bacteria, clean the bowels, regulate your digestive system, and remove waste.

Replenishing Your Gut Flora With PERKii Probiotic Drinks

If you’re looking for ways to support your gut this Dry July, or just looking to bring a little more balance into your life (it would be hypocritical to say we’re all saints here at PERKiI!) we’d suggest picking up a few of our Probiotic Drinks for before, during and/or after a night out.

Unlike standard probiotic supplements, our drinks contain patented Target Release Probiotics. Every probiotic in PERKii drinks are micro-shielded to resist stomach acid, for a ‘targeted release’ in the gut - where they matter most!

Plus, with heaps of delicious flavours to choose from, these probiotic drinks will make a healthy and nourishing alternative this Dry July. Our Sparkling Probiotic Drinks make for a particularly familiar, yet guilt-free alternative to common carbonated alcoholic drinks.

Head to the online store to shop the range now!