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Ochsner’s #AlcoholFreeFor40 Challenge Documents the Impact Alcohol has on Body, Mind and Spirit

The new year brings the best of healthy intentions, but by mid-January in Louisiana, king cakes start popping up and the Mardi Gras balls and parties begin. Ochsner Eat Fit invites you to restart your New Year’s resolutions by participating in the fifth annual Alcohol Free for 40 Challenge. The challenge, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 26) and concludes on Easter Sunday (April 12), encourages participants to make it their own self-experiment by tracking pre- and post-challenge metrics, including labs, body composition, hydration status, blood pressure, and a close-up photo to see face, skin and eyes.

Those embarking on this wellness journey are encouraged to share their progress and connect with others via the #AlcoholFreeFor40 hashtag and its Facebook page. Click here to join the group today.

To make it easier than ever to track these metrics before and after the challenge, Ochsner Eat Fit is offering kickoff events around the state that provide these metrics for just $25 (value of $400), in New Orleans, Covington, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Shreveport. Advance registration is required via Eventbrite link at www.AlcoholFreeFor40.com. Participants are also encouraged to document changes in their mood, sleep, weight and appearance throughout the process.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Within Days:Improved energy, better quality of sleep, clearer eyes and improved appearance of under-eye circles
  • Within One Week:Reduced fluid retention, brighter skin, improved clarity and focus.
  • Within One Month:Positive changes to your weight and healthier hair, nails and digestion.

Although there are some health benefits associated with moderate alcohol consumption, there are also drawbacks, including weight gain, inflammation and higher levels of anxiety. Alcohol also disrupts deep sleep, which can lead to low energy, difficulty concentrating and foggy thinking. The #AlcoholFreeFor40 Challenge gives us the opportunity to see and feel the benefits of going alcohol-free, both inside and out.

Molly Kimball, registered dietitian with Ochsner Fitness Center, founded Eat Fit in 2013 to take the guesswork out of healthy eating. She has collaborated with some of the most iconic restaurants in the New Orleans region to create Ochsner Eat Fit, a program that encourages chefs to offer nutritious dishes for those who want to eat clean, watch their weight and manage diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. Ochsner Eat Fit is available at more than 300 restaurants across Louisiana, and includes regional programs in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport and on the Northshore.

Visit www.AlcoholFreeFor40.com today to join the challenge. To make 2020 your healthiest year yet, please visit www.ochsner.org/healthyyou.

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About Ochsner Health System

Ochsner Health System is Louisiana’s largest non-profit, academic, healthcare system. Driven by a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate, coordinated clinical and hospital patient care is provided across the region by Ochsner's 40 owned, managed and affiliated hospitals and specialty hospitals, and more than 100 health centers and urgent care centers. Ochsner is the #1 ranked hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report and is recognized as a “Best Hospital” across two specialty categories caring for patients from all 50 states and more than 70 countries worldwide each year. Ochsner Hospital for Children is the only facility in Louisiana to be recognized as a top 50 children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years. Ochsner employs more than 26,000 employees and over 4,500 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties and conducts more than 700 clinical research studies. Ochsner Health System is proud to be a tobacco-free environment. For more information, please visit ochsner.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.