January 1st begins Dry January. One month”without alcohol” which invites French men and women to remain sober until the end of the month. But to get started – and last – the whole month of January, certain alternatives, recommended by our dietician-nutritionist, can be of great help.
Dry January, a challenge that involves putting alcohol aside
It was in Great Britain that Dry January started. In 2012, Emily Robinson set herself a major challenge: run a half marathon… and at the same time stop drinking.
“I knew I would find it really hard to get up and work out if I continued to drink the level of alcohol I was drinking at the time,” she explains in a YouTube video.
She therefore decides to take a “break” and put her body to rest throughout the month of January.
“It had a huge impact on my physical health and my mental health“, she continues.
Two years later, she joined the NGO Alcohol Change, and launched the very first edition of Dry January. This first year, 4,000 people responded to the call. Ten years later (in 2022), 130,000 participants have been recorded.
“The figures are indeed increasing,” confirmed Philippe Batel, addict psychiatrist and head of the addiction department at the Charente public mental health establishment, in a previous interview.
“The initiative is growing, and it’s interesting, because the relationship with alcohol is something that usually affects the intimate,” he adds.
However, despite this progress, it can be difficult to take the plunge and feel supported over time. It is in this context that Alexandra Murcier, dietician-nutritionist, wanted to give us some practical tips for replacing alcohol.
What should you replace alcohol with?
According to our nutrition expert, there are many alternatives to keep alcoholic beverages at bay throughout the month of January:
- Favor non-alcoholic beers or non-alcoholic wine.
“Be careful, however, because these alternatives sometimes contain traces of alcohol which are not recommended for pregnant women and former alcoholics. she warns. - Try “homemade mocktails”, low in sugar. “Like non-alcoholic mojitos for example with lemon juice, sparkling water and mint”,
confides the specialist. - Prepare pretty flavored ice cubes “with orange juice and orange pieces for example.
Then, all you have to do is add them to a glass of sparkling water; - Think about smoothies“if possible by mixing fruits and vegetables to reduce the sugar content”, underlines the expert;
- Also prepare homemade iced teas. “They are very healthy and sugar-free, therefore they are much better than industrial iced teas” ;
- Finally, “you can also prepare homemade lemonade“, concludes the nutrition expert.