By now you’ve likely heard of the new guidelines set forth by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction regarding safe levels of weekly alcohol consumption – and it may have surprised you. A drastic change from previous limits, the CCSAA now recommends 0-2 drinks per week to minimize health risks, and 3-6 drinks significantly increasing risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer.

With World Cancer Day on February 4th, there’s no better time to take the Dry Feb Challenge. By taking time to refocus your health and minimize alcohol consumption, the challenge not only acts as a reset for your body, it’s also for a good cause. The Dry Feb Challenge provides added motivation by encouraging participants to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society – what better way to rebalance your health than doing it for a good cause?

Since 2016, Dry Feb has inspired hundreds of thousands of people across the country to go dry and take the challenge, raising over $10M dollars to support people affected by cancer. It’s as simple as signing up for the challenge and asking friends and family to support you by providing donations, all while staying sober for the month.

If you’ve missed the beginning of the month, it’s not too late to start. Taking any amount of time off from consuming alcohol can have a positive affect on your health. 

Need more motivation? In a thought-provoking podcast, neuroscientist Andrew Huberman of Huberman Lab discusses the physiological effects that drinking alcohol has on the brain and body at different levels of consumption and over time, as well as how alcohol consumption of different amounts impacts inflammation, stress, neurodegeneration, and cancer risk and negatively impacts the gut microbiome, brain thickness, hormone balance, mood and feelings of motivation.