Damp January: Any reduction in alcohol leads to a healthier life

INTERVIEW

January is coming to an end and with it the dry season. “Dry January” is the name of the philosophy that more and more people in this country have been following in recent years. Between champagne celebrations on New Year’s Eve and boozy swaying at Carnival, not a drop of alcohol is drunk in the first month of the year.

Dr. Dr. knows how worthwhile it is to give up alcohol, even temporarily. Rainer Günther. He is senior physician and deputy director of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and heads the hepatology department there. In short: few people in Germany know as much about the liver as he does.

Renunciation becomes apparent after just a month

Unsurprisingly, he really enjoys the popularity of Dry January. Günther assures that even temporarily abstaining from alcohol can be worthwhile: “If someone really goes through this month, they will notice that they feel fitter and sleep better. The stomach lining will also no longer produce as much acid.” In overweight people who already have a fatty liver, the risk of cirrhosis, i.e. hardening of the liver, would also be significantly reduced.

Günther attests that Western Europe has a fatty liver epidemic. Around 30 percent of the overweight population in Germany already have a fatty liver. Alcohol attacks the body in two ways, through its toxic effects and its high calorie content. “The first organ affected is the liver,” says the hepatologist. “The liver does not cause pain, its pain is fatigue.” Symptoms only appear late, but any fat in the liver would automatically lead to liver cirrhosis.

It is well known that alcohol is not known for its healthy effects on the body. According to Rainer Günther, the strength of ‘Dry January’ lies not only in the abstinence but also in the conscious examination of one’s own consumption of alcohol. However, this cannot only be achieved through complete abstinence. In the United States, a modified form of the social media trend is already attracting attention: ‘Damp January’.

‘Damp January’: It’s about conscious handling

“Damp” means something like “to weaken something”. During ‘Damp January’, the aim is not to stop drinking alcohol at all, but rather to reduce consumption in a targeted and effective manner. The aim is primarily to reach people who drink alcohol regularly and above average or who indulge in a beer or a glass of wine during January.

You won’t be able to avoid all the risks of illness, but the concept still trains you to consciously say “no” to beer or wine. The more often you practice this, the easier it becomes over time.

Günther can also get used to the idea of ​​not completely abstinent. “If you enjoy drinking a little wine in the evening, you’ll immediately feel the need for it again at the next opportunity – realizing that is crucial,” explains the senior doctor. ‘Damp January’ serves the same crucial psychological aspect. “But the goal must still be to reduce alcohol consumption in the long term.” It helps to set a clear limit on days on which you drink alcohol or to keep a diary of your own alcohol consumption.

Hepatologist: “There is no such thing as healthy alcohol consumption”

So what does a healthy and long-term realistic approach to alcohol look like? Until a few years ago, even the Federal Center for Health Education assumed that half a liter of beer a day was not healthy but was low-risk. “There is no such thing as healthy alcohol consumption,” replies Dr. Rainer Günther answered the question. “With every sip of alcohol you lose a certain amount of your life. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to live a shorter, enjoyable life or grow old healthily.”

Therefore, the expert advises: “No alcohol is the best alcohol, but any reduced alcohol is the first step to a healthier life.” ‘Damp January’ should not be seen as a lazy excuse. The doctor admits that completely abstaining from alcohol is still not really compatible in our society. He also always gets strange looks if he doesn’t drink alcohol at a social event.

In the long term, however, you should still have the goal in mind of avoiding alcohol completely. It might be worth it: “Anyone who doesn’t drink alcohol for a year or more has very little residual risk of developing one of the 200 complications of regular alcohol consumption, such as colon cancer or breast cancer.”

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