The January hype to reinvent yourself
The media will always promote for us to make drastic changes to our lives in January, so lets look at a couple of these topics that are popular during this time
Veganuary
Now this is a relative newcomer in the trend world but has grown in popularity thanks to extensive marketing over recent years. From a nutritional perspective, it is challenging to promote a way of eating that I wouldn’t professionally recommend, but everyone has a choice and if you choose to adopt Veganuary then please consider the pitfalls.
In theory, people will increase their consumption of vegetables, legumes, fibre and whole grains. On face value, I applaud this, as most adults in the UK don’t eat anywhere near enough vegetables and often stick to a very limited range. Sadly, in practice, choosing to eat vegan for a month, generally means that people will increase the quantity of processed foods rather than increase their fresh food intake.
Buy ingredients and make dishes, rather than buying meals.
THere is the assumption…
that by not eating meat, there is a lowered environmental impact (the carbon cycle of animals is for another day). Again, the choices that are often made are to eat exotic foods from far flung lands that have travelled 10’s of thousands of miles on a cargo ship, burning 1000’s of litres of fuel to make it your plate. The other option is then the processed food, made in a factory, packaged in plastic and full of preservatives.
If you choose to avoid meat for a month, and want to improve the environment, go and visit a local market and buy vegetables from your community and local area. Not only are you reducing the air miles of food, you’re reinvesting your money into your local community – win win.
Improved weight management..
is often a goal when adopting Veganuary, and it can absolutely have an impact if you choose the right foods. Again it comes back to choosing fresh, whole foods, rather than processed meals. You will likely consume less energy dense foods, if you choose wisely, so a short term reduction in weight is definitely possible.
Being generally healthier is a pretty common thought during January, if there’s been some excess over the Christmas period, but in practice is this true? There is a real risk that by eating vegan you are going to limit the intake of some crucial nutrients such as Vitamin B12, iron ,calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids, so again it needs thought, planning and good food choices. Don’t do this on a whim because someone said it was good on social media.
Ethical Reasons
this one’s tricky that I don’t have an argument for. I have questioned this on multiple occasions and living in the countryside amongst farmed animals, I still have those thoughts as to whether I should be eating the flesh of another animal.
If you choose to go down the vegan path this New year, then please make sensible choices and plan ahead to ensure you’re not depriving your body from essential nutrients.
Dry January
This one’s a lot easier – there are no reasons at all why you shouldn’t stop drinking alcohol this January or forever.
If stopping for a month is a lead in to you reducing your alcohol consumption or stopping completely, then great.
We used to think people were strange for not wanting an alcoholic drink, and in some quarters that is still the case, but by and large, it’s widely accepted to abstain from alcohol.
Alcohol has no positive impact on the body at all and is considered an anti-nutrient, so cutting it out of your life can have a dramatically positive effect.
Sleep
You will have an improved sleep with a greater REM cycle and deep sleep. Both of these stages are important for clearing the waste out of the brain through the glymphatic system. Those with cognitive diseases, such as dementia, have been seen to have a disordered glymphatic system.
INflammation
alcohol promotes systemic inflammation in the body which is linked to almost every disease known to man, as well as general ageing. Reducing inflammation in the body is a must for those looking to improve their health.
Weight management
alcohol is a source of needless energy offering no nutritional value. Basically, it’s a sure fire way of putting on weight.
Improved physical performance
Your workouts will improve and your physical ability to make gains will improve, whether it be from a cardiovascular perspective or a strength perspective.
There’s a wide range of non alcoholic beverages available now for you to choose, if you want to feel like joining in!
