{"id":36846,"date":"2026-01-02T11:15:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/?p=36846"},"modified":"2026-01-09T08:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T13:34:09","slug":"your-body-on-sobriety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/your-body-on-sobriety\/","title":{"rendered":"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you drink alcohol, even on occasion, you\u2019ve probably wondered at some point how your body would feel if you stopped\u2014even for a little while. Would you feel more energized? Less foggy? Maybe more focused at work or in your workouts? Would you notice any difference at all?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The truth is, alcohol affects far more than your hangovers. In fact, almost every major system in the body has to adapt and catch up when you drink (and again when you stop!), including your brain, hormones, sleep cycles, digestion and even your skin, explains psychiatrist <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nona Kocher<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, M.P.H., M.D.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So if you\u2019re feeling curious about Dry January or taking an even longer break from booze, know this: Ditching alcohol doesn\u2019t just change how you feel the next day; it can trigger a domino effect of shifts in your body. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s a breakdown of what happens to your body when you stop drinking\u2014plus how to hang onto those Dry January wins long after February hits.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em style=\"font-family: 'Josefin Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;\"><strong>ABOUT OUR EXPERTS<\/strong><\/em>:<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.quintessencepsychiatry.com\/doctors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nona Kocher<\/a>, M.P.H., M.D., is a psychiatrist.<i>\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/robbkelly.com\/dr-robb-kelly-phd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Robb Kelly, Ph.D<\/a>., is an addiction and recovery expert.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How Your Body Reacts in the First Days and Weeks Without Alcohol<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the beginning, your body\u2019s reaction to cutting out booze can feel a bit chaotic, according to Kocher. \u201cYou might have vivid dreams or wake up often,\u201d she says. \u201cBut as the body recalibrates, many people notice deeper sleep, steadier energy, clearer thinking and even shifts in mood.\u201d Here\u2019s a closer look at the benefits to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Your Sleep Improves (After a Brief Adjustment Period)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve woken up in the early-morning hours and were unable to fall back asleep after a night of drinking, you already know how much alcohol can mess with your sleep. \u201cAlcohol acts like a sedative, helping you drift off quickly, but it blocks the deep, restorative stages of sleep your brain depends on,\u201d says addiction and recovery expert<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Robb Kelly, Ph.D<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201cIt suppresses REM sleep in the first half of the night, then triggers a \u2018REM rebound\u2019 (read: vivid dreams and restlessness) once it wears off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/bad-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">6 Ways Your Health Takes A Hit After A Single Night Of Bad Sleep<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research backs this up. One study published in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11010310\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol and Alcoholism<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that when people cut back on drinking or move out of the \u201crisky drinking\u201d range, their sleep quality noticeably improves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic snorers and those with sleep-disordered breathing, like sleep apnea, might also see a reduction in their systems, as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0194599820931087\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have found that heavier or more frequent drinking tends to make these problems worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Your Brain Clears and Your Mood Steadies<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niaaa.nih.gov\/health-professionals-communities\/core-resource-on-alcohol\/neuroscience-brain-addiction-and-recovery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol disrupts the neurotransmitters in your brain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, like dopamine, serotonin, GABA and glutamate, that are responsible for regulating your mood, stress response, energy levels and sleep-wake cycle, warns Kocher. So, your brain has to essentially \u201cre-wire\u201d itself once drinking stops. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37316112\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows that alcohol initially quiets the brain\u2019s stress system (which is why that first drink can feel soothing), but as it wears off, that system rebounds and becomes more reactive, contributing to the jittery, uneasy feeling many people get later in the night.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why the first few weeks without alcohol can feel so different internally. \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/healthy-ways-to-boost-dopamine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dopamine<\/a> receptors begin resensitizing, baseline dopamine production increases, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/how-to-support-serotonin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">serotonin<\/a> stabilizes within two to six weeks of abstinence, helping to smooth out mood swings and anxiety spikes,\u201d Kocher says. \u201cThese neurochemical shifts explain why many people suddenly feel sharper, more motivated and less foggy as the month goes on, even if they weren\u2019t drinking heavily to begin with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Your Liver Goes Into Repair Mode<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5513682\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol puts extra strain on your liver<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by encouraging fat to build up (a condition called<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8220;fatty liver&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Over time, that stress can lead to scarring. Thankfully, the liver is one of the most resilient organs in the body, and it starts healing surprisingly quickly once you give alcohol the boot, according to Kelly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf there\u2019s no advanced damage, those early changes often improve once you cut back or stop drinking,\u201d notes Kelly. \u201cIn many cases, fat accumulation in the liver improves in two to six weeks, and enzyme levels often drop back toward normal.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study published in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cghjournal.org\/article\/S1542-3565(22)01113-2\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that people with alcohol-related cirrhosis who quit drinking not only lived longer, but also had far fewer serious complications\u2014even if they already had pretty advanced liver disease.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Your Hormones Start to Rebalance<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol can seriously <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5513689\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mess with your hormones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cortisol<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (your stress hormone), insulin (which controls blood sugar), <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ghrelin and leptin<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (your hunger and fullness cues), and the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reproductive hormones<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that influence everything from PMS symptoms to energy levels. That\u2019s why drinking can leave you hungrier, more anxious or more fatigued\u2014all signs your hormones are out of whack.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you stop drinking, these systems don\u2019t reset overnight, but they do start recalibrating, says Kelly. Within a few weeks, many people see steadier blood sugar, fewer energy crashes, and appetite cues that feel more predictable and \u201cin sync\u201d again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/who-should-track-blood-sugar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">If You&#8217;re One Of These People, You Should Track Your Blood Sugar<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also a hormonal domino effect: As your endocrine system stops battling alcohol\u2019s influence, reproductive health-related symptoms often improve. In fact, a large <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/content\/8\/3\/e019490\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">review<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of nearly 50,000 women found that alcohol use was linked to a significantly higher risk of PMS. Meaning? Stepping back from drinking can give your hormones the breathing room they need to settle, smooth out, and support a more consistent month overall.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Your Skin Looks Calmer and Less Puffy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol pulls water from your tissues (including your skin), which is why even a couple of drinks can leave your face looking dull, dry or swollen the next day, explains Kelly. It also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5513687\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">widens your blood vessels<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014especially those close to the surface of your cheeks and nose\u2014leading to that flushed, puffy look, he adds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also a deeper layer here. Processing alcohol creates oxidative stress (basically, an overload of harmful free radicals) in the body, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12348600\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows this can chip away at the skin\u2019s barrier and speed up signs of aging over time. Once you stop drinking, you remove a major source of that stress, explains Kelly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSkin hydration levels rebound within days,\u201d says Kelly. \u201cAs blood vessels tighten back to their normal size and fluid retention decreases, the skin often looks noticeably brighter and less swollen.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. Your Digestion Smooths Out<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may notice acid reflux or stomach upset shortly after\u2014or even the day after\u2014drinking alcohol. Why? A<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lcohol <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/americanaddictioncenters.org\/alcohol\/risks-effects-dangers\/gastrointestinal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weakens the stomach lining<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and throws off the balance of bacteria that help you break down food, explains Kelly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHydration rebounds within 24 to 48 hours, which alone supports smoother digestion,\u201d Kelly says. \u201cThen, over the next week or two, inflammation in the stomach lining and gut starts to settle, making digestion feel more predictable and reducing that \u2018why am I so bloated?\u2019 feeling.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study published in the journal <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7527072\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gut Microbes<\/span><\/i><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">found that the gut microbiome begins shifting toward a healthier balance within weeks of quitting alcohol, supporting more efficient digestion and nutrient absorption. Many people notice this is also when their energy levels start to level out and feel steadier throughout the day, Kelly adds.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. Your Metabolism Functions More Efficiently<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond the empty calories (about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000886.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">100 to 150 per drink<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), alcohol messes with your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">metabolism<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by throwing off your blood sugar, sleep and appetite. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29730627\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on participants who stopped drinking for one month found some impressive metabolic shifts: Their insulin resistance dropped by nearly 30 percent, their blood pressure dipped, and many lost close to five pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWith more REM sleep and less nighttime cortisol, your body handles blood sugar and hunger cues more smoothly, which leads to improved metabolic health,\u201d Kelly shares.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to Maintain Your Dry January Results All Year Long<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t have to stay completely alcohol-free to do your body good. These expert-approved habits will help you strike a balance and reap the health benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Set a Weekly or Monthly Drink Limit<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of aiming for \u201cno alcohol ever,\u201d Kelly recommends opting for a realistic amount that works for your life, like just one or two drinks per week, and only on weekends. \u201cHaving a clear number prevents unconscious overconsumption and allows you to enjoy social drinking without losing the benefits of sobriety, like better sleep, improved energy and clearer skin,\u201d he says. \u201cOver time, you\u2019ll recalibrate your body\u2019s tolerance and reduce cravings, making lower-intensity drinking feel normal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Make Alcohol-Free Days Routine<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheduling set alcohol-free days each week (think Monday through Friday) can give your body much-needed recovery time, according to Kelly. \u201cThese breaks help your liver, hydration levels, and sleep cycle stay on track,\u201d he says. \u201cThey also help you keep the mental clarity and steady energy you gained during your month off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychologically, having built-in dry days creates a rhythm that feels intentional rather than restrictive, so you don\u2019t feel deprived when you do choose to drink, explains Kocher. \u201cOver time, those alcohol-free pockets help reinforce a healthier, more balanced relationship with drinking,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Pair Every Drink With a \u201cSupport Habit\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your body bounces back from alcohol more easily when you support the systems that take the biggest hit, like hydration, digestion, liver function, and sleep, Kelly explains. One of the simplest ways he recommends doing that is to build in small \u201csupport habits\u201d on the nights you drink, like drinking a full glass of water between cocktails, taking a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/minerals\/magnesium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">magnesium supplement <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before bed to calm your nervous system, adding <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/search?search=electrolytes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">electrolytes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to offset dehydration, or eating a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/protein-fitness\/drinks-snacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">protein-rich snack<\/a> first so alcohol doesn\u2019t hit an empty stomach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you drink alcohol, even on occasion, you\u2019ve probably wondered at some point how your body would feel if you stopped\u2014even for a little while. Would you feel more energized? Less foggy? Maybe more focused at work or in your workouts? Would you notice any difference at all? The truth is, alcohol affects far more<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\">Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":36850,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-the-latest"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking | What\u2019s Good blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Considering sobriety (even temporarily)? Here&#039;s what happens in your body, and the health and wellness benefits you will experience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking | What\u2019s Good blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Considering sobriety (even temporarily)? Here&#039;s what happens in your body, and the health and wellness benefits you will experience.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"What\u2019s Good blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-02T16:15:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-09T13:34:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1480\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"614\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jenn Sinrich\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@VitaminShoppe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@VitaminShoppe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jenn Sinrich\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jenn Sinrich\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b8bf9f490e158c023c52dd5d635bc3a4\"},\"headline\":\"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-02T16:15:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-09T13:34:09+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\"},\"wordCount\":1634,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"articleSection\":[\"Health\",\"The Latest\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\",\"name\":\"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking | What\u2019s Good blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-02T16:15:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-09T13:34:09+00:00\",\"description\":\"Considering sobriety (even temporarily)? Here's what happens in your body, and the health and wellness benefits you will experience.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"width\":1480,\"height\":614,\"caption\":\"friends drinking winter: your body when you stop drinking\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Health\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/health\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/\",\"name\":\"What\u2019s Good blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Vitamin Shoppe\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1\",\"width\":250,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"The Vitamin Shoppe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/VitaminShoppe\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vitaminshoppe\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-vitamin-shoppe\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/VitaminShoppe\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TheVitaminShoppe1\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b8bf9f490e158c023c52dd5d635bc3a4\",\"name\":\"Jenn Sinrich\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ec88189caa0b6478d09ebcb48832f14d16fc02428dab02f420a9827fb8ab8d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ec88189caa0b6478d09ebcb48832f14d16fc02428dab02f420a9827fb8ab8d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jenn Sinrich\"},\"description\":\"Jenn Sinrich is an experienced writer, digital and social editor and content strategist in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to What\u2019s Good, she\u2019s written for several publications including SELF, Women\u2019s Health, Martha Stewart Weddings, Reader\u2019s Digest, PureWow, and many more. She covers various topics, from health and fitness to love and sex. After a decade-long career in New York City working in the magazine industry and at a myriad of digital publications, Jenn returned to her hometown just north of Boston to pursue a freelancing full-time. When she\u2019s not busy writing, editing or reading, she\u2019s traveling, running and enjoying the simple things in life with her husband Dan and two feline friends, Janis and Jimi.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/author\/jennsinrich1\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking | What\u2019s Good blog","description":"Considering sobriety (even temporarily)? Here's what happens in your body, and the health and wellness benefits you will experience.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking | What\u2019s Good blog","og_description":"Considering sobriety (even temporarily)? Here's what happens in your body, and the health and wellness benefits you will experience.","og_url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/","og_site_name":"What\u2019s Good blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/","article_published_time":"2026-01-02T16:15:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-09T13:34:09+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1480,"height":614,"url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jenn Sinrich","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@VitaminShoppe","twitter_site":"@VitaminShoppe","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jenn Sinrich","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/"},"author":{"name":"Jenn Sinrich","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b8bf9f490e158c023c52dd5d635bc3a4"},"headline":"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking","datePublished":"2026-01-02T16:15:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-09T13:34:09+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/"},"wordCount":1634,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","articleSection":["Health","The Latest"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/","url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/","name":"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking | What\u2019s Good blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","datePublished":"2026-01-02T16:15:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-09T13:34:09+00:00","description":"Considering sobriety (even temporarily)? Here's what happens in your body, and the health and wellness benefits you will experience.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","width":1480,"height":614,"caption":"friends drinking winter: your body when you stop drinking"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/your-body-on-sobriety\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Health","item":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/health\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/","name":"What\u2019s Good blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization","name":"The Vitamin Shoppe","url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1","width":250,"height":250,"caption":"The Vitamin Shoppe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/","https:\/\/x.com\/VitaminShoppe","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vitaminshoppe\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-vitamin-shoppe\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/VitaminShoppe\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TheVitaminShoppe1"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b8bf9f490e158c023c52dd5d635bc3a4","name":"Jenn Sinrich","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ec88189caa0b6478d09ebcb48832f14d16fc02428dab02f420a9827fb8ab8d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ec88189caa0b6478d09ebcb48832f14d16fc02428dab02f420a9827fb8ab8d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jenn Sinrich"},"description":"Jenn Sinrich is an experienced writer, digital and social editor and content strategist in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to What\u2019s Good, she\u2019s written for several publications including SELF, Women\u2019s Health, Martha Stewart Weddings, Reader\u2019s Digest, PureWow, and many more. She covers various topics, from health and fitness to love and sex. After a decade-long career in New York City working in the magazine industry and at a myriad of digital publications, Jenn returned to her hometown just north of Boston to pursue a freelancing full-time. When she\u2019s not busy writing, editing or reading, she\u2019s traveling, running and enjoying the simple things in life with her husband Dan and two feline friends, Janis and Jimi.","url":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/author\/jennsinrich1\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/friends-drinking-winter.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8QYGg-9Ai","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36846"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36852,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36846\/revisions\/36852"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}