Wellness

Dry January might be just what you need

With the beginning of the year, are you ready to join Dry January and take charge of your Health?
Research conducted by the University of Sussex has found that six months after Dry January more than 70% of people who take on the month with Alcohol Change UK's Try Dry app or coaching email reported not only to have saved more money but to also have more energy, better skin, to have lost weight and to be drinking less during the following months.

You might be wondering what Dry January is.

Well, dear reader, Dry January is a campaign that challenges participants to abstain from drinking alcohol for the entire month of January.

A scary challenge, isn’t it? Especially for those who look forward to that pint or glass of wine after a long and draining day at work.

The challenge was launched by U.K. nonprofit Alcohol for Change and since that first iteration with thousands of participants. Dry January has grown to be part not only UK culture but part of worldwide culture. We know that the idea of cutting out booze might seem daunting but can lead to many improvements as shown by De Visser1 (2019) who surveyed over 6,000 Dry January participants.
86% participants had saved
money, 81% felt more in control of
their drinking, 70% were sleeping
better, 67% had better concentration,
66% had more energy, 65% had
generally better health and 54% had
lost weight.
86% participants had saved
money81% felt more in control of
their drinking, 70% were sleeping
better, 67% had better
concentration, 66% had more
energy, 65% had generally better
health and 54% had lost weight.

The Results of alcohol abuse

Alcohol abuse can lead to several issues from short term ones such as accidents and injury, loss of personal possessions and unplanned time off work or education to long term issues such as high blood pressure, Stroke, Pancreatitis, Liver disease, Liver cancer, Mouth cancer, Head and neck cancer, Breast cancer, Bowel cancer, Depression, Dementia, Infertility.

According to the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level, men and women should not exceed 14 units per week and it is advisable to spread your drinking over three days or more.

Understand your units

In order to keep track of your alcohol intake, it is important to understand the amount of alcohol in your drink and units are a simple way to calculate the quantity of pure alcohol in your drink using its strength and size.

According to Alcoholchange in order to work out how much alcohol is in your drink; you can use the following equation:

One unit equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol. You can work out how much alcohol is in your drink - based on its strength and size - by using the following equation:

strength (alcohol by volume or ABV) x the volume of the drink (in millilitres) ÷ 1,000 = the total number of units in your drink

So, to find the number of units in a pint of 4% ABV beer, calculate:
4 (ABV%) x 568 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 2.3 units

or

For a medium-sized glass of 13% ABV wine calculate:
13 (ABV%) x 175 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 2.3 units
Or simply use a unit calculator


To have a better view of units for some popular drinks:

  • A 750ml bottle of red, white or rosé wine typically contains 10 units.
  • Single shot of spirits (25ml) contains 1 unit
  • Alcopop (275ml) contains 1.5 units
  • Small glass of red/white/rosé wine (125ml) contains 1.5 units
  • Bottle of lager/beer/cider (330ml) contains 1.7 units
  • Can of lager/beer/cider (440ml) contains 2.4 units
  • Pint of lower-strength lager/beer/cider contains 2 units
  • Standard glass of red/white/rosé wine (175ml) contains 2.1 units
  • Pint of higher-strength lager/beer/cider contains 3 units
  • Large glass of red/white/rosé wine (250ml) contains 3 units
Keep track of changes in this month
by having your liver and general
health checked with our Window
Health Checks.

At London Medical Laboratory we
offer a comprehensive menu of liver
function tests.
Keep track of changes in this month by having your liver and general health checked with our Window Health Checks.

At London Medical Laboratory we offer a comprehensive menu of liver function tests.

Our tests include:

Albumin
Albumin is a protein specifically produced in the liver. Its function consists of keeping fluids in the bloodstream as well as transporting substances like hormones and vitamins throughout the body. Albumin tests can be used to help diagnose and monitor diseases of the liver and kidney.
Globulin
Globulin is a protein produced in the liver by the immune system. It is important in liver function, blood clotting and fighting infections. Globulin tests can be used to diagnose conditions including liver damage or disease, kidney disease and autoimmune disorders.
Total Protein
Total Protein is the total amount of two proteins found in the serum of the blood, these are albumin and globulin. Albumin is needed to keep fluid in the bloodstream whereas globulin is an essential part of the immune system. Total protein tests are used as an indicator to there being a problem with albumin or globulin levels.
Alkaline Phosphate (ALP)
Alkaline Phosphate (ALP) is an enzyme found mostly in the liver and bone. ALP tests can be used to diagnose liver or bone disease.
Alanine Transaminase (ALT)
Alanine Transaminase (ALT) is an enzyme which can be found mostly in the liver and in small amounts in the heart, kidneys and the skeletal muscle. It is released into the bloodstream during an injury to the heart, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle. ALT tests can be used to diagnose liver disease.
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme produced by the liver. It is released into the bloodstream during an injury of the heart, liver and skeletal muscle. AST tests can be used to detect liver disease.
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) is an enzyme mostly found in the liver and is also present in the gallbladder, spleen, pancreas and kidney. It is a significant enzyme used in the liver metabolism of drugs and other toxins. GGT tests can be used to detect liver disease and bile duct injury.
Total Bilirubin
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) is an enzyme mostly found in the liver and is also present in the gallbladder, spleen, pancreas and kidney. It is a significant enzyme used in the liver metabolism of drugs and other toxins. GGT tests can be used to detect liver disease and bile duct injury.


We provide a wide range of other tests and a personalized report verified by our doctors that will help you understand your health like never before.

Contact the London Medical Laboratory today to determine the health of your liver, and of your body.

Click here or call +44 (0)207 183 3718
Share
1) de Visser, R. (2019). Evaluation of Dry January 2019.
2) de Visser, R. O., Robinson, E., Smith, T., Cass, G., & Walmsley, M. (2017). The growth of ‘Dry January’: pro- moting participation and the benefits of participation. European Journal of Public Health, 27(5), 929–931. https://- doi.org/10.1093/EURPUB/CKX124
3) Yeomans, H. (2018). New Year, New You: a qualitative study of Dry January, self-formation and positive regula- tion. Https://Doi.Org/10.1080/09687637.2018.1534944, 26(6), 460–468. https://- doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2018.1534944
4) Department of Health, UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Drinking Guidelines, December 2015