Study: Alcohol abstinence is beneficial for mental health

Glass of wine after work may not be relaxing after all

Want to improve your mental health? Try skipping alcohol for a while. That’s the suggestion from a study published recently in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

More than 40,000 people took part in the study, WebMD reports. Women who never drank alcohol had the highest levels of mental well-being, “but women who started out as moderate drinkers and quit during the 4-year study period had the greatest improvements in mental health, such that their well-being was close to that of the abstainers.”

The study found that men who quit drinking also had an improvement in mental health, but the results were not statistically significant, WebMD reports.

It can be tempting to go home after a long day and unwind with a glass of wine or a beer. It’s almost like a reward. But does that lead to a path of feeling calm or peaceful overall, or is it a short-term “in the moment” fix? According to this new study, the better path for one’s mental health is actually the sober one.

It’s important to note that the study did not include heavy drinkers, “because the evidence for adverse impact of heavy drinking on health-related quality of life is well established,” WebMD reports.

However, the study notes that “the risks and benefits of moderate drinking are not clear.” So the study focused on nondrinkers and moderate drinkers — women who consume seven drinks or fewer a week and men who consume 14 drinks or fewer a week.

Finding inner peace and calm can be a challenge. Multibillion-dollar industries exist as a result of people searching for better mental health, from pharmaceuticals to fitness crazes and more.

One could argue that for some, drinking alcohol even moderately is in an effort to release stress and boost mental health.

But if this study is any indication, it’s an effort in the wrong direction.

What do you think, Yuma? Would you give up drinking if it meant better personal mental health?

Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www. YumaSun.com, or send in a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.