356. The health benefits of Dry January last all year
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Each year, thousands of people commit to giving up alcohol for a month, also known as “Dry January.” And while most would expect that the health benefits would only last for that month, research shows that the effects can last much longer. In a 2018 study published in the journal BMJ Open, researchers followed moderate to heavy drinkers who were otherwise healthy. One group gave up alcohol for a month, while the other drank normally. After one month, the non-drinkers had a number of health improvements – lower weight and blood pressure and lower markers for type 2 diabetes and cancer – despite no change in diet or exercise. But 6 to 8 months later, the people who gave up drinking for one month had a significant reduction in the amount of alcohol they were currently drinking, drinking less often and consuming less alcohol when they did drink.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
