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A 'dry January' is good for health, scientists find

2 January 2014 Last updated at 14:00 GMT

People abstaining from alcohol in January could see immediate health benefits, a study suggests.

Researchers from University College London medical school and the New Scientist found that avoiding alcohol for one month could lead to a reversal of liver damage, improved brain function and weight loss.

UCL liver specialist Dr. Rajiv Jalan, who led the research, told BBC Radio 5 live's Up All Night: "What's really startling is that we have measurable changes within a month."