5 Reasons why Dry January is a great option for mid-life women

For mid-life women, taking a break from alcohol, or reducing/abstaining long term, has its own particular benefits. 

In my previous corporate career, alcohol played an integral part in entertaining clients, and socialising with colleagues.  But I noticed as I got older that I could drink a lot less, the hangovers got much worse, and I felt awful for much longer. 

For the last few years, I’ve joined in the Dry January challenge, and always feel amazing by the end of January. 

My recent studies into how to manage symptoms naturally, uncovered some very good reasons why drinking alcohol in mid-life can make us feel awful, and impact us in more ways than we realise. 

5 benefits of participating in Dry January 

1. Reduce Hot Flushes 

   Alcohol contains a great deal of energy in the form of glucose, which cannot be stored by the body.  One of the ways the body can get rid of this excess energy is to burn it off – increasing our body temperature.  You may have already found that drinking makes your face flush; during menopause this can also result in increased hot flushes.  It certainly does for me! 

   
   

   

   
   

2. Reduce your risk of breast cancer 

   Alcohol can increase the levels of certain hormones in the body, including oestrogen.  High levels of oestrogen in post-menopause ladies can fuel the development of breast cancer.  So reducing your alcohol intake is a really positive step in also reducing your cancer risk. (Ref:  Cancer Research UK) 

   
   

   

   
   
   
   

3. Improve your sleep 

   Alcohol directly interferes with the hormone, adenosine, which helps to prolong deep sleep.  If you find yourself waking up between 2 and 4am after drinking alcohol, this could be the reason why.  If you’re going to try the Dry January challenge, maybe keep a note of your sleeping pattern and see if it improves.  (Ref:  Sleep Foundation.org) 

   
   

   

4. Lose weight 

   One of the most common reported benefits of not drinking is weight loss.   Alcohol is full of empty calories that aren’t helpful to the body.  It’s also common to eat more when you drink alcohol, and to reach for carb-based foods the following day to fix the hangover, exasperating the calorie overload.  Once you stop drinking, your calorie intake will automatically reduce, resulting in the loss of a few excess pounds.  An extra bonus!  

    

5. Give your Liver a break 

   As we visibly age on the outside, we forget that we’re also ageing on the inside.  Organs, such as the liver, are not as efficient as they once were, and need to be treated with a little more kindness.  Our livers can have up to 25% less blood volume as we age, and produce less enzymes to break alcohol down, which is why hangovers feel so bad as we get older.   

   
   

So, if you’re looking to kickstart your health goals for 2025, reduce some of your menopause symptoms, or even lose a few pounds, Dry January is a great option for you!

I’m excited to be joining the challenge again this year; I always feel so well by the end of the month.  A great way to start 2025! 

Good luck with the challenge, and Happy New Year!

Jules xx