Veganuary 2021 Is Here!!

With the New Year finally here, it can only mean one thing. Oh yes, Its VEGANUARY!!! 

If you are already a fully-fledged vegan or looking to start a vegan lifestyle then January is the month to make positive change. With over 500,000 people already signed up to Veganuary it looks like 2021 is going to be an incredible year, so what is Veganuary all about!!

What is Veganuary you ask?

Veganuary is the world’s largest vegan movement, inspiring people to try vegan for January and throughout the year. 

Having started in 2014, over 1,000,000 people from 192 countries have signed up to the pledge and with 400,000 people signing up in 2020 this is already up by 100,000 for 2021 and its only just begun. If you are thinking of joining in this January, then don't worry, you won’t be on your own.   

What are the reasons for joining Veganuary?

There are lots of reasons for going vegan, whether its dietary or lifestyle and here are three of the most popular reasons.

1.    Health: Many people say that after completing Veganuary they start to see health improvements. These can range from more energy, clearer skin, improved digestion and a better nights-sleep. 

2.    Environment: Can going vegan really help the environment? Well yes it can. It is said that 14.5% of human-generated greenhouse gases come from farmed animals. Believe it or not this is more than the fuel from every plane, train, truck and car on the planet!!

3.    Animals: Veganuary is the perfect time to show your love for all animals. Being vegan isn't just about meat free meals but how animals are exploited across the world. 

Nutritional Tips to Get You Started.

When switching diet, it is always important to make sure you are getting all of the required vitamins and minerals to maintain good health. Here are some simple tips to get you started this Veganuary.

1.  Protein: Best to clear this one up first as many people think it is impossible to get protein from a vegan diet…. Well, that’s a total myth as plants, are packed full of protein.

When starting your plant-based diet it is important to make sure you choose a complete protein source though (proteins which contain all 9 essential amino acids) and these include; soya, quinoa, chia and our favourite hemp.

Hemp seeds contain 33% protein and can be consumed in cereal, salads, soups and main dishes. Hemp protein powder contains 50% protein and can be added to smoothies, shakes and soups, it also has 50% more protein than chia seeds so is a great source of complete protein.

To find out more about eating hemp during Veganuary then check out our Three Ways To Eat More Hemp Blog.

2. Iron: It is very important to maintain good iron levels in the body and this one is slightly more-tricky to maintain when starting a plant-based diet.

Iron is needed to make haemoglobin which transports oxygen around the body in the bloodstream and when the levels are low you can find yourself becoming tired with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath.

Iron is found in lots of green leafy veg like kale and spinach, pulses are also a great source including chickpeas and lentils and you will also find iron in dried fruit, nuts and seeds.

Hemp seeds contain 1g of iron per tablespoon and the recommended daily intake is around 18g of iron, so by adding hemp seeds alongside other vegetables and pulses to your diet can really help increase your intake.

3. Calcium: This is needed to maintain good strong bones and can be found in many plants like spinach, kale and you can also find small amounts in seeds and nuts alongside tofu. The problem many people find is that it is very difficult for the body to absorb the calcium from these ingredients and can easily lead to a low intake of calcium in your plant-based diet.

When transitioning from cow’s milk it is good to replace this with a fortified milk and here at The Hemp Pantry, we love hemp milk which has added calcium and is very close to the levels you will find in whole milk.  

4.  Omega 3: A type of fatty acid that is good for your heart and blood pressure. Omega 3 is an essential nutrient and one that your body can’t naturally produce but it can be found in flax, chia, nuts and hemp seeds.

Hemp seed oil and hemp seeds both contain omega 3 and omega 6 so getting sufficient amounts of both into your diet will help keep your body topped up with essential fatty acids.

Our organic hemp seed oil is perfect for dressing salads, adding to hummus, pesto and smoothies so there are many ways of getting enough omega 3 into your diet.

5.  Vitamin B12: One of the most talked about vitamins when starting a vegan diet. This is because it is essential you get vitamin B12 in your diet but can only be found in animal products and a very few plants.

Making sure you receive enough B12 is crucial to the production of red blood cells which leads to the proper functioning and development of the brain.

Because of its importance it is recommended by many nutritionists to take a supplement of vitamin B12 to help control the levels in your body. Before taking supplements, it is always advised to speak with your local pharmacist.    

Recipes and Ideas

Veganuary is all about trying out new and exciting foods. With so many plant-based alternatives on the market it is so much easier to get started and cooking can be fun and enjoyable. If you are looking for some baking ideas then simply click here to check out all of our latest recipes.

How do a sign up?

Signing up to Veganuary is very simple and all you need to do is to click the Veganuary link.

All the best with Veganuary 2021.