Taking alcohol recreationally can be good for the soul.

Studies have even shown that a glass of red wine can help boost your cardiac health and even more recent research has shown that red wine can help prevent gum disease.

Such benefits are only experienced if you take alcohol in moderation.

If your physician recommends that you cut down on the booze or if you find your productivity being affected then you can look forward to various changes in your body.

Here are 5 changes to expect when you stop taking alcohol.

1. Your sleep will improve

Drinking before bed causes disrupted sleep. While it may help you sleep more deeply at first, eventually it causes you to toss and turn.

2. You eat less

Studies show that alcohol is one of the most prominent factors in excess food intake. Another researcher found that intake of alcohol makes people more susceptible to the smell of food thus making them more likely to eat.

ALSO READ: How long it takes for alcohol to leave your body

3. Weight loss

Alcohol is packed with many calories. Studies found that people who consume "moderate" amounts of alcohol consumed 300-433 calories extra from booze alone.

4. Your skin will clear

Alcohol dehydrates you. It also decreases the body's production of antidiuretic hormone, which helps the body reabsorb water. If you stop taking alcohol, conditions like eczema and dandruff may improve.

5. Risk of cancer reduces

The more you drink, the more you have an increased risk for cancers of the mouth, liver, breast, colon, and rectum.