I love this post, but am so sorry you had to experience what you did, Danielle, with those symptoms! I had decided to go completely alcohol-free Summer of ‘21 after I started experiencing joint swelling/pain, skin rashes and even more hormone issues (Hashi’s is part of my history). It was only a one-time thing to celebrate on a trip (I hadn’t been drinking prior to that for about 2 1/2 years), but I was sold: any alcohol just no longer fit into my life if I wanted to feel my best and nail my autoimmune issues.
I love that you’ve been championing the uber-cool mocktail and NA refreshment movement, Danielle. It gives people “permission” to try it when they see someone else doing it.
I follow Olivia Noceda, too, and females, in particular, aren’t warned of how alcohol can do so much to our systems in our 30s, 40s and beyond that’s almost impossible to counteract unless the alcohol is removed.
That joint swelling completely reversed after about a year. I noticed a lot of other improvements, too, and using more herbs and fruit is always fun! I routinely share mocktails on socials and now bring them as one of my “plates” to family and friend gatherings.
Thanks for making yet another part of healthy living even more fun and celebratory. 🎉🎉🎉
Congratulations on quitting alcohol Danielle and sharing with your people. I share with you in that decision and I am now 40 years of no alcohol (i am not trying to make this about me) just sharing that when I stopped I didn’t decide it would be for this long either. It just became part of my life to just not drink and it changed a lot of my outlook on life and how I wanted to feel or not feel (depending how much was drank) and be present.
Thank you for this. Many of us are weighing the pros and cons of this, too. In a way, I’m grateful that my sensitive body lets me know to course correct along the way instead of letting me believe all along I’m healthy until consequences come in like a freight train.
I love the way you put this and often say something similar - my sensitive body is a gift and showing me the long-term impacts well before others can see/feel them.
I haven’t completely given it up yet, but I regularly go months without drinking and don’t drink often otherwise. I wish there were better mocktail options at restaurants… always so much sugar. My go to alcoholic drink is a dirty martini for that reason (or something with mezcal or tequila and no sugar). I default to a sparkling water or club soda with citrus for NA but it would be so nice to have some healthier options. I have also been interested in trying NA alternatives (like Breez) that give you that slightly buzzy feeling but also come back to the ingredients!
Totally agree on the high sugar mocktails at restaurants! I usually ask them to dilute it by half with club soda when making it. Which at least cuts sugar but allows me to feel like I am not left out of ordering a fun drink.
I ordered a mezcal cocktail one time and told the bartender to leave out the simple syrup. He insisted it needed some (my palette is very sensitive to sugar) so I told him to cut it by at least half. Still too sweet! He was shocked. I got another one with prob 1/8 tsp of simple syrup and it was perfect! 😂 they don’t understand us paleo/SCD girlies.
Love this post. I stopped drinking 1.5 years ago and feel so much better (sleep, mood, anxiety, body and brain function….). I giggled at the “competitive” comment in your post, I’m the same way!
Danielle, this is inspiring. I love that you naturally made the smart choice for your body, and that your husband supported you. Having a sudden scary diagnosis can give us the prompt we need. When it comes down to it, alcohol is a toxin, and if you are already fighting off something, why make it harder? Your food is nourishing, your work helps a lot of people.
What a great post and so timely for me. I stopped four months ago with a goal of a month first, then alcohol-free holiday season, then 100 days…. I am past lo those marks and I do not miss it at all! I’m focusing on longevity and healing. I’m 47 and alcohol doesn’t serve me anymore.
Thank you so much for sharing this Danielle! I was never much of a drinker and stopped completely many years ago. It is such a sensitive topic for some people and I’ve had not drinking actually be a detriment at a past job - my co-workers were mad at me and demanded explanations. I just decided it went against all the work I was doing to protect my gut.
Isn’t it interesting how personally invested others seem to be in your decision to not drink for your own health? It was so frustrating for me at first. I never told people I wasn’t drinking for any reason or another nor would I ever tell anyone else not to drink, but they seemed personally affronted.
I appreciate you sharing why. I’m always curious why people “stop drinking.” Although, I don’t think anyone should have to explain. I had to quit because alcohol suddenly started given me migraines almost immediately after taking a few sips. I’m not sure why it started causing them but it sure isn’t fun so I stopped. Haven’t had any since.
I’m so sorry, it can be debilitating on the worst days. I found reducing sodium, drinking a ton of water, eliminating alcohol and chiropractor adjustments + neck and head massages to help drain the excess cerebral fluid really helped.
Way to go Danielle. I too am a part of the dry IIH club. 😜 I’m glad you are noticing that being alcohol free helps with symptoms! So thankful for your delicious mocktail recipes. I’m also thankful that more influencers and celebs are sharing their experiences with quitting alcohol. It helps make it cooler. 😂 But seriously, it was a great decision, and we’re thankful for your authenticity!🤍
I haven’t. But I found reducing sodium (mainly by not eating out as much, not necessarily at home because I use sea salt or Himalayan and restaurants just use sooo much) really helped. Also I aim for 120oz of water a day, so I guess a more natural approach to diuretics 😅
Congrats on quitting alcohol love that both you and Ryan quit together very supportive of one another ❤️ The drinks sounds delicious i love watermelon mint and lime with sparkling water and the added honey syrup sound SO good 😋
How wonderful to hear. I have greatly reduced my consumption of alcohol now to where I'll have a wine or cider maybe once a month or more. I just find the sugar is too much for my system. And I agree with what many have said about mocktails in restaurants are TOO SUGARY. Seriously less sugar please or no sugar. Glad to hear you have found so many benefits from be alcohol free.
Congratulations, I have also been “ dry “ for 2 years !! Lol
I would experience side effects such as sleeping issues and inflammation in my hand joints waking me up at night if I consumed alcohol ,also I no longer have PMS symptoms around my period .
I will on very special occasions have a splash of wine or champagne with a little bubbly water ( Half and half ) or just have a few “ lol sips of my husband I also have a few lil sips of his coffee too “and celebrate, but really I’m finding it more common now a days that many are choosing a sober lifestyle, even venues offering mock tails and alcohol free beer for those that can consume it .
Congratulations! Our culture has tricked us to think alcohol is healthy. It’s poison and is harmful on physical and emotional levels. I quit for similar reasons in 2019 and hardly looked back. It’s not an easy transition but after a year I didn’t even crave it habitually anymore. Now I don’t even think about it. Lots of love you and all who are on the journey!
Yes and after a year, your friends and family stop pressuring you into joining them for a drink! We got so much grief for that first year from people who just wanted us to drink socially with them. Now, as long as I have a beverage in hand, even if it’s sparkling water and a lime, people don’t see to be so interested!
I love this post, but am so sorry you had to experience what you did, Danielle, with those symptoms! I had decided to go completely alcohol-free Summer of ‘21 after I started experiencing joint swelling/pain, skin rashes and even more hormone issues (Hashi’s is part of my history). It was only a one-time thing to celebrate on a trip (I hadn’t been drinking prior to that for about 2 1/2 years), but I was sold: any alcohol just no longer fit into my life if I wanted to feel my best and nail my autoimmune issues.
I love that you’ve been championing the uber-cool mocktail and NA refreshment movement, Danielle. It gives people “permission” to try it when they see someone else doing it.
I follow Olivia Noceda, too, and females, in particular, aren’t warned of how alcohol can do so much to our systems in our 30s, 40s and beyond that’s almost impossible to counteract unless the alcohol is removed.
That joint swelling completely reversed after about a year. I noticed a lot of other improvements, too, and using more herbs and fruit is always fun! I routinely share mocktails on socials and now bring them as one of my “plates” to family and friend gatherings.
Thanks for making yet another part of healthy living even more fun and celebratory. 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks for the notes at the bottom! I was wondering what the best way to get the juice from a watermelon was. 😂
Congratulations on quitting alcohol Danielle and sharing with your people. I share with you in that decision and I am now 40 years of no alcohol (i am not trying to make this about me) just sharing that when I stopped I didn’t decide it would be for this long either. It just became part of my life to just not drink and it changed a lot of my outlook on life and how I wanted to feel or not feel (depending how much was drank) and be present.
Thank you for this. Many of us are weighing the pros and cons of this, too. In a way, I’m grateful that my sensitive body lets me know to course correct along the way instead of letting me believe all along I’m healthy until consequences come in like a freight train.
I love the way you put this and often say something similar - my sensitive body is a gift and showing me the long-term impacts well before others can see/feel them.
I haven’t completely given it up yet, but I regularly go months without drinking and don’t drink often otherwise. I wish there were better mocktail options at restaurants… always so much sugar. My go to alcoholic drink is a dirty martini for that reason (or something with mezcal or tequila and no sugar). I default to a sparkling water or club soda with citrus for NA but it would be so nice to have some healthier options. I have also been interested in trying NA alternatives (like Breez) that give you that slightly buzzy feeling but also come back to the ingredients!
Totally agree on the high sugar mocktails at restaurants! I usually ask them to dilute it by half with club soda when making it. Which at least cuts sugar but allows me to feel like I am not left out of ordering a fun drink.
I ordered a mezcal cocktail one time and told the bartender to leave out the simple syrup. He insisted it needed some (my palette is very sensitive to sugar) so I told him to cut it by at least half. Still too sweet! He was shocked. I got another one with prob 1/8 tsp of simple syrup and it was perfect! 😂 they don’t understand us paleo/SCD girlies.
Love this post. I stopped drinking 1.5 years ago and feel so much better (sleep, mood, anxiety, body and brain function….). I giggled at the “competitive” comment in your post, I’m the same way!
Danielle, this is inspiring. I love that you naturally made the smart choice for your body, and that your husband supported you. Having a sudden scary diagnosis can give us the prompt we need. When it comes down to it, alcohol is a toxin, and if you are already fighting off something, why make it harder? Your food is nourishing, your work helps a lot of people.
What a great post and so timely for me. I stopped four months ago with a goal of a month first, then alcohol-free holiday season, then 100 days…. I am past lo those marks and I do not miss it at all! I’m focusing on longevity and healing. I’m 47 and alcohol doesn’t serve me anymore.
Thank you so much for sharing this Danielle! I was never much of a drinker and stopped completely many years ago. It is such a sensitive topic for some people and I’ve had not drinking actually be a detriment at a past job - my co-workers were mad at me and demanded explanations. I just decided it went against all the work I was doing to protect my gut.
Isn’t it interesting how personally invested others seem to be in your decision to not drink for your own health? It was so frustrating for me at first. I never told people I wasn’t drinking for any reason or another nor would I ever tell anyone else not to drink, but they seemed personally affronted.
I appreciate you sharing why. I’m always curious why people “stop drinking.” Although, I don’t think anyone should have to explain. I had to quit because alcohol suddenly started given me migraines almost immediately after taking a few sips. I’m not sure why it started causing them but it sure isn’t fun so I stopped. Haven’t had any since.
My friend has IIH as well and she’s struggling so bad with it. I feel so bad for her. She can’t seem to find relief. 😢
I’m so sorry, it can be debilitating on the worst days. I found reducing sodium, drinking a ton of water, eliminating alcohol and chiropractor adjustments + neck and head massages to help drain the excess cerebral fluid really helped.
Way to go Danielle. I too am a part of the dry IIH club. 😜 I’m glad you are noticing that being alcohol free helps with symptoms! So thankful for your delicious mocktail recipes. I’m also thankful that more influencers and celebs are sharing their experiences with quitting alcohol. It helps make it cooler. 😂 But seriously, it was a great decision, and we’re thankful for your authenticity!🤍
Have you used diuretics or anything else that has helped ease pressure?
I haven’t. But I found reducing sodium (mainly by not eating out as much, not necessarily at home because I use sea salt or Himalayan and restaurants just use sooo much) really helped. Also I aim for 120oz of water a day, so I guess a more natural approach to diuretics 😅
Congrats on quitting alcohol love that both you and Ryan quit together very supportive of one another ❤️ The drinks sounds delicious i love watermelon mint and lime with sparkling water and the added honey syrup sound SO good 😋
How wonderful to hear. I have greatly reduced my consumption of alcohol now to where I'll have a wine or cider maybe once a month or more. I just find the sugar is too much for my system. And I agree with what many have said about mocktails in restaurants are TOO SUGARY. Seriously less sugar please or no sugar. Glad to hear you have found so many benefits from be alcohol free.
Congratulations, I have also been “ dry “ for 2 years !! Lol
I would experience side effects such as sleeping issues and inflammation in my hand joints waking me up at night if I consumed alcohol ,also I no longer have PMS symptoms around my period .
I will on very special occasions have a splash of wine or champagne with a little bubbly water ( Half and half ) or just have a few “ lol sips of my husband I also have a few lil sips of his coffee too “and celebrate, but really I’m finding it more common now a days that many are choosing a sober lifestyle, even venues offering mock tails and alcohol free beer for those that can consume it .
Congratulations! Our culture has tricked us to think alcohol is healthy. It’s poison and is harmful on physical and emotional levels. I quit for similar reasons in 2019 and hardly looked back. It’s not an easy transition but after a year I didn’t even crave it habitually anymore. Now I don’t even think about it. Lots of love you and all who are on the journey!
Yes and after a year, your friends and family stop pressuring you into joining them for a drink! We got so much grief for that first year from people who just wanted us to drink socially with them. Now, as long as I have a beverage in hand, even if it’s sparkling water and a lime, people don’t see to be so interested!
💯💯