Consuming large amounts of alcohol has a major impact on the body. Alcohol is already high in calories, and drinking also activates brain cells that make you hungry. This is why people tend to get hungry when they’re out drinking. When you’re drinking and eating on top of the beverages, your body will get a lot more calories than it needs.

Alcohol also makes it hard for your body to break down food because the liver targets alcohol as a toxin and focuses on breaking it down before anything else. If the liver is more focused on breaking down alcohol than food, then you’re bound to gain weight. Alcohol also damages the liver and can lead to a fatty liver or cirrhosis, ruining the liver’s proper functions.

When you quit drinking, weight loss occurs because old habits are replaced with new ones. You no longer overeat because of the booze, the empty calories from alcohol are cut out, and you stick to healthier meals. When alcohol is out of your body, then it can go back to properly metabolizing the nutrients in your foods.

When you consume an excessive amount of alcohol, it leaves you dehydrated. This is because alcohol is a diuretic and forces your body to process more water through the kidneys which can result in dry patches, dull skin, dark under-eye circles, and your skin can even become more sensitive and itchy.

Long-term alcohol abuse raises your levels of the stress hormone cortisol too. This leads the body to premature aging by breaking down the collagen in the skin and leaving wrinkles. High cortisol levels can also leave someone with acne or flareups.

When you quit drinking alcohol and replace it with a lot of water, you give your body time to rehydrate your skin and flush out toxins in your sweat and urine. Your skin will begin to restore its natural, healthy glow as necessary vitamins and minerals are reintroduced to your body.

Alcohol dehydrates your skin, but it also dehydrates your hair. When your hair is dehydrated it can cause thinning, hair loss, and dandruff on your scalp. There is an increased chance of hair shedding by alcohol because of the high production of the hormones cortisol and estrogen.

Alcohol also impedes how your digestive tract absorbs nutrients by harming your intestines until they can’t transfer nutrients to the bloodstream. Without the right amount of protein, your hair can’t bind together as well and it becomes prone to split ends or breakage.

When you quit drinking your hair begins to regain its strength while the body recovers from the effects of alcohol abuse. Your hair will begin to grow at an increased rate, and it’ll begin to change to a fuller, shinier look.

When you leave alcohol behind and pursue sobriety, beneficial changes to your appearance will begin to show through. When you look better, you’ll begin to feel better when you see the old you again.