In July, an average of 11,526 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer. No one asks for cancer, so the Dry July Foundation is asking Aussies to help, and go Dry this July to raise funds for people affected by cancer. Funds raised through Dry July go towards cancer support organisations across Australia, to help improve patient comfort, care and wellbeing. Having a month off alcohol also has great health benefits, such as sleeping better, losing weight, having more energy and of course, no hangovers! So you're not only helping others, you're helping yourself. It's a win-win! Get Healthy NSW has a program to help with ‘going dry’. The Alcohol Reduction Program is open to anyone aged 18 years and over. How does the service help? You get your own personal university qualified health coach who will assess your risk of drinking and provide you with the support and motivation you need to help you reach your alcohol reduction goal. Our coaches use the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), an internationally validated screening tool to screen for alcohol risk. “Dry July is a perfect time to start thinking about your alcohol intake and how to reduce it,” Emma Woolley, Health Promotion Coordinator for Southern NSW Local Health District said. “We know the proven health benefits of reducing your alcohol intake or stopping altogether.” Alcohol contains a lot of kilojoules so it can easily contribute to weight gain. Like sugar, alcohol has ‘empty kilojoules’ because it contains few nutrients for the body to use. Excess alcohol intake has been linked to Type 2 diabetes. “The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service is a confidential, free serviceavailable to anyone over 18 and the Alcohol Reduction Assistance Program is reallyworthwhile.” “Do yourself a favour this Dry July and sign up today. ”For more information on the service, please call 1300 806 258 or visit www.gethealthynsw.com.au today. Media Release
