On Prakhar Gupta’s podcast, musician Rishab Rikhiram Sharma recently shared that he has abstained from alcohol for three years, as part of embracing a more disciplined, spiritually oriented lifestyle. “I haven’t had alcohol in three years.” “I strive to keep a healthy lifestyle,” Sharma said, noting that he once skipped a concert where alcohol was being served. At a concert, he declined to perform, quipping, “I’m doing Shiv Kalash—can’t have people nearby with a glass of whisky.” While many try short-term pauses from alcohol, physicians note that prolonged abstinence—particularly spanning several years—yields tangible health gains across various organ systems, including the liver, brain, sleep patterns, and metabolism. Dr. Sharad Malhotra, Senior Consultant and Director of Gastroenterology at Aakash Healthcare, explains that the body starts self-repairing shortly after quitting alcohol, with benefits compounding substantially over time. DISCLAIMER: This article draws from publicly available information and/or insights from consulted experts. Before beginning any routine, always consult your health practitioner. View this post on Instagram. The liver starts to heal itself. The liver is the organ most impacted by alcohol, since it handles the majority of alcohol metabolism. “Alcohol leads to inflammation and fat buildup in liver cells,” states Dr. Malhotra. When someone quits drinking, the inflammation slowly decreases, enabling the liver to heal and resume normal metabolic processes — as long as irreversible damage like cirrhosis hasn’t already occurred.
