January is always about making lifestyle choices and trying to back them up with actions.
- Lose weight.
- Exercise more.
- Stop smoking.
And so far this year, we’re seeing continued interest in temporary abstinence from alcohol (Dry January) and going meatless (Veganuary); news about how much life cigarettes cost; and annual rankings from a leading consumer advocate of the most effective diets.
Let’s dive in!
Alcohol
Dry January has been growing since its 2012 launch as a British public health initiative. It’s not meant as a detox for people with actual dependency, but for those who want to take a break from imbibing.
Makes sense after the holidays, right?
“I’m so tired of drinking,” says Charles, a 61-year-old author in London. “My new book came out, and the holidays were crazy… I just need a reset.”
Health advocates say benefits include:
- Better sleep
- More energy
- Weight loss
- Saved money
- Improved skin and hair
- Better concentration
- Lower cholesterol and blood pressure
- Reduced liver fat
Heavy, long-term drinking is rough on physical and mental health, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, depression, anxiety and more.
And recently, the US Surgeon General warned that alcohol consumption can increase the risk of cancer and called for an updated health warning label on alcoholic beverages.
Give Dry January a try if you feel like it. But if you think you have a problem, speak with a counselor, healthcare professional, or recovery organization.
More info on Dry January here.
Veganuary
This is another global movement launched in the UK. Participants aim to avoid animal products the entire month for health, environmental, and animal welfare reasons.
It can also be a nice way to explore any interest or desire in adopting a vegan lifestyle or learning about how to rely less on animals for food and other needs.
More here.
Cigarettes
Right along with losing weight and exercising, quitting smoking is often at the top of perennial resolution lists.
Well, for anyone who needs further proof of why, we just got some from new research that says a single cigarette can cut your life by 20 minutes. That totals seven hours of lost life per pack of cigarettes, according to the research.
Now, the Good Stuff
Meanwhile, researchers have pumped out new studies about positive things we can all do for our health. They’re not too shocking, either, but they are helpful food for thought as we start 2025.
First, US News & World Report again chose the Mediterranean diet as the most effective, as it has since 2019. Key components include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fat, fish – and only moderate consumption of eggs and red meat.
And there’s even new research showing that more exercise extends your life. Just being as active as the top 25% of Americans can boost your life by five years, a new study says.
This all represents plenty of good research as well as (what we hope is) common sense. Your lifestyle choices affect your health and longevity.
Here’s to a year of making the right ones.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.