High chances are you’ve heard of dry January, when some people decide to avoid alcoholic beverages for the entire month to recover from the festive season. But are you aware of another healthy lifestyle initiative called Veganuary?
As the name already hints, it’s about eating a plant based diet for the first four weeks of the year. It promotes a vegan diet not only as a health-oriented choice, but also an ethical approach to animal care and ecology.
We explain what Veganuary is and what it entails below, and give you a few reasons to consider joining this year.
Veganuary is a clever combination of two words – Veganism and January. It’s an annual challenge organised by a UK charity that goes by the same name. It educates people about the benefits of becoming vegan, and invites them to try a vegan diet throughout January (and, hopefully, beyond).
The charity was set up back in 2014, and every year the number of Veganuary participants grows. This year, 706,965 people signed up, breaking a new record. It is all about creating a world without animal farms and slaughterhouses – making sure that food production doesn’t result in polluted rivers, decimated forests, and animal extinction.
Veganism is much more than a plant based diet, it’s a lifestyle change that calls for animal compassion and environmental and health awareness. According to the World Animal Foundation, there are around 88 million vegans worldwide, and the vegan food market is expected to grow by $31.4 billion in 2026. This means that more people will switch to a plant based diet – the future looks bright!
Ever wondered what would happen if the entire UK population went vegan? The NHS says that it would save around £30 billion on health expenditure. Shocking, isn’t it?
There are so many health benefits of a plant based diet that it’s hard to list them all. We will stick with a few main ones:
Vegan meals are very restrictive – especially for former omnivores. As you have to check each and every product for animal-derived ingredients, you’re more likely to stick with your meal plans and avoid excessive snacking. This lowers the risk of consuming too many calories throughout the day.
A vegetable-based diet lets you stay with the recommended daily calorie intake, i.e., 1600–3000 calories (depending on a person’s sex, age, and height).
A plant based diet is rich in fruit and vegetables which means it includes less saturated fat and more protective phyto-nutrients, both of which are great for people suffering from diabetes. According to research, following a vegan diet can slightly improve blood sugar management.
Bear in mind that if you've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, then it is best to speak to your GP first before making any dietary changes.
Another reason why you should consider eating more vegan meals is because they’re good for your heart. Fresh fruit, veggies, and legumes are rich in fibre, which reduces the risk of heart diseases. And in comparison to a standard Western-diet, a vegan one includes more of these nutrients.
Some studies point out that vegan diets are effective at reducing blood sugar, bad cholesterol and total cholesterol, which – as you probably realise – have a great impact on keeping our hearts in a good shape. In fact, by following vegan recipes you can reduce the risk of a heart disease by 46% – worth giving them a shot, right?
How much money do you spend on skincare? We bet it’s a lot, and often a new cosmetic is a hit or miss. What if we told you that by going dairy free and introducing more vegan recipes into your diet you can make your skin look nicer? It’s scientifically proven!
Vegan meals are rich in plant defence chemicals (polyphenols) as well as in vitamin C and E all of which positively impact our skin health. If you suffer from acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or want to slow down ageing, then on top of following a good skincare routine you should consider going vegan.
Numerous studies are now linking gut flora balance with a whole range of illnesses as well as overall mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. In short, your gut microbiome is the variety of microorganisms that live within your intestines – bacteria, fungi, and even viruses! A good diet can help you maintain a healthy microbiome, while a poor one can disrupt it and cause a lot of suffering.
Switching to a plant based diet like vegan can help you restore balance quickly. As mentioned earlier, fruits and vegetables have a lot of fibre, which is something your ‘good’ bacteria feed on. Ultimately, they’ll be able to outnumber harmful microorganisms.
Plus, vegans can also consume fermented products like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha which can do wonders for your microbiome, as confirmed by scientists at Stanford University.
What causes inflammation in the body? High chances are, the first thing that comes to your mind are pathogens. But, while true, they’re just one of the factors. A diet full of sugar and heavily-processed foods, including those of animal origin, can also cause your inflammation markers to go through the roof.
A vegan diet is full of nutrients. Even if you don’t stay 100 percent vegan after January, you might still build a habit of choosing healthier alternatives. For example, instead of eating a milk chocolate bar as a snack, you could choose dried fruit or nuts or a milk-free alternative, such as a few pieces of 80 percent chocolate.
Simply, nutrient-dense plant foods can help reduce inflammation and boost your micro- and macroelement absorption.
Long-time vegans are known to live a longer, healthier life. A lot of it has to do with all the benefits we’ve mentioned above, but some studies put an exact number on it. A plant based diet is said to reduce the risk of common causes of mortality by a shocking 25 percent!
The only condition for this to work though, is to make sure your diet isn’t “just” free of animal-derived ingredients. It’s about including variety and making the most of the nutritional value of plants and fruits, as opposed to consuming foods that are technically vegan, but heavily processed (yes, we’re looking at you, carbonated drinks).
Participating in Veganuary is very easy. If you want to make it official, sign up on the Veganuary website. Once you do, they’ll send over a ton of helpful materials, like daily coaching emails, a free celebrity cookbook, and even a one-pot meal plan if you’d like to keep your cooking extra simple. If you’re active on social media, you can share updates on your plant based diet challenge by using the tag #Veganuary. You’ll also be able to check how other ‘Veganuarians’ are doing.
Of course, you can also take part in the initiative without any formalities – just decide you’re going vegan for four weeks, and search for meal inspiration online, for example, on Pinterest.
If you’re feeling a bit reluctant as you don’t want to commit to a 100 percent vegan diet, then don’t be discouraged. The goal of the event isn’t to convert as many omnivores into life-long vegans as possible. It’s to bring attention to the health benefits and ethical considerations of a vegan lifestyle, and how minimising your animal-derived product intake could make a huge difference in the long run.
What you take away from this experience can also be higher consciousness of what you eat, which is a good mindset if you want to make your health a priority in 2024.
We’re at a point of setting New Year’s resolutions. And what’s a better start to 2024 than picking up a little challenge like Veganuary. Not only will you do something good for the world, but also a lot of good for yourself! Your skin and gut will thank you for it.
And if you’re worried that it’s a massive life change, then you can start small. Introduce a few vegan meals, and then, as you grow more accustomed to them, you can begin to eliminate meat and dairy. Also, believe us, there are so many meat and dairy alternatives you won’t even miss them – we’ve recently tried vegan chicken, and it was yummy!
Here is to a healthy New Year – let us know how your challenge goes.
A Good Fit Is First and Foremost
The last thing you want when you're trying to get in a good sweat is to be thinking about your workout clothes. They shouldn't be getting in the way or restricting you, especially when you're stretching or trying to boost your mobility.
The best women's leggings should work with you, not against you. Our compression leggings work for almost any activity, offering a gentle pressure to muscles that improves circulation. As a bonus, they'll smooth out your figure without causing you to feel restricted.
Look For Quality Material & Features That Make Sense
Great leggings for women don't have to feature a lot of bells and whistles. They simply need quality material with the right design and features that make sense.
We take pride in those features, including reflective details, breathable sweat-wicking material to stay cool, and leggings with pockets.
We're proud to offer the perfect fit for every body with a full selection of plus size leggings and maternity leggings for momma-to-be.
Designed With An Eco-Conscious Mindset
At Fabletics, our unwavering commitment to the environment drives us to innovate continuously, with over 60% of our fabrics crafted from sustainable and recycled materials.
