"Everything in moderation" is a pretty good rule to live by, especially where alcohol is concerned. Obvious effects of alcohol on the body are high blood pressure (hypertension), which increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke, liver damage and increased risk of cancers. Another, not so noticeable effect of a drinking problem is that sipping too many Margaritas can also cause you to gain a bunch of excess pounds. There are roughly 200 calories in a pint of beer and about 230 calories in 100 grams of vodka.

When a heavy drinker gives up on the alcohol abuse, however, the physical metamorphosis is staggering. Take a look at these before and after pictures of alcohol recovery to see what we mean. Some of the people in the photographs are barely recognizable when compared alongside their former selves, and while some of them complemented alcohol rehab process with exercise, benefits of quitting drinking cannot be clearer by looking at these pictures.