January 202 4 – Hot Topic Dry January – Sunday 1 st January – Tuesday 31 st January 202 4 What is Dry January? Dry January was established in 2013 by the UK charity Alcohol Concern, DRY JANUARY is the non - profit organisations flagship campaign which has been changing the conversation about alcohol over the past number of years. Taking part in the campaign is a chance to ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline, and save some serious £££ by giving up alcohol for 31 days. In the words of Professor Kevin Moore: “If someone had a health product that did all that in one month, they would be raking it in ’’. With many, many studies undertaken around the benefits of temporarily abstaining from drinking alcohol, this is a perfect opportunity to undo some of the damage done to your body (and wallet) throughout the festive season. Visit the Alcohol concern website to understand the story behind the fast - growing campaign. Join in to benefit your own well - being , or do it to raise funds. Dry January is the annual movement through which millions of people give up alcohol for the month of January. Why do Dry January? • What you will notice? See your skin get brighter, your wallet fuller, your days busier. Feel your step get bouncier, your mind calmer, your nights sleepier. Most people who do Dry January see a whole host of obvious benefits that make Dry January the perfect start to the New Year. • On the inside A month alcohol - free has a lot of benefits: research published in 2018 , conducted by the Royal Free Hospital and published in the British Medical Journal, found that a month off: • Lowers blood pressure • Reduces diabetes risk • Lowers cholesterol • Reduces levels of cancer - related proteins in the blood. • Long - term change The real magic happens when Dry January is over. Dry January helps people to drink more healthily year - round. Research conducted by the University of Sussex has found that six months after Dry January more than 70% of people who take on the month with Alcohol Change UK's Try Dry app or coaching emails are still drinking more healthily. On top of that, they have boosted levels of wellbeing, and much more besides. How can it be that just a month off has a long - term impact? Being alcohol - free for 31 days shows us that we don’t need alcohol to have fun, to relax, or to socialise. It helps us learn the skills we need to manage our drinking. That means that for the rest of the year we are better able to make decisions about when we dr ink and how much, so we can avoid slipping into drinking more than we really want to. That's extra good news, because alcohol is linked with more than 60 health conditions, including liver disease, high blood pressure, depression and seven types of cancer. In fact, alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death, ill - health and disability for people aged 15 - 49 in the UK. Cutting back on alcohol long - term reduces your risk of developing these conditions. Like tobacco, alcohol can cause cancer ....... None of us want to hear the word “cancer” but any level of regular drinking raises the risk. That’s because like tobacco, alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen which can damage our DNA. So, the more you drink and the more often you drink alcohol, the more you increase your risk of developing at least seven types of cancer – including bowel, breast, mouth, throat, liver and oesophageal cancers. It’s not just heavy drinkers who are affected. Even small amounts regularly can increase the risk of cancer. And any type of alcohol can cause cancer... whether it is wine, beer or spirits. The best way to reduce your risk is to cut down. To keep risks low, the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance is to dr ink no more than 14 units a week spread over 3 or more days. 14 UNITS EQUALS: 6 standard (175ml) or 4 large (250ml) glasses of wine; 6 pints 4% beer/lager or 7 double (25ml) spirit measures. Veganuary 2024 Since Veganuary launched in 2014, millions of people all over the world have taken part, and research shows that many more get involved without officially signing up. What is Veganuary? Veganuary is a non - profit organisation encouraging and supporting people worldwide to try vegan in January, and throughout the year. Every year, we invite people to try a plant - based diet for 31 days without judgement and provide plenty of resources, tasty recipes and expert tips. When did Veganuary start? Veganuary was co - founded by Matthew Glover and Jane Land in 2013. The first Veganuary campaign took place in January 2014 when around 3,000 people took part. We’ve grown exponentially since then and in 2023 we celebrated our 10th birthday. We launched a documentary to mark the occasion. Time flies when you’re changing the world! Millions of people all over the world have taken part in the last decade and we’re pretty proud of that. How to Pronounce Veganuary How do you pronounce Veganuary? The word is a combination of ‘vegan’ and ‘January’ and we pronounce it ‘ vee - gan - you - air - ee .’ The official Veganuary pronunciation has been a subject of debate for years and we always say pronouncing it is the hardest thing about participating. Now, we can finally put this to bed. HOW TO DO VEGANUARY 1. Simply sign up for Veganuary All you need is your name and email address, and we’ll do the rest. Throughout your 31 - day challenge, we’ll send our exclusive celebrity cookbook, meal plans, nutritional advice, recipes, information and so much more straight to your inbox. 2. Eat vegan Next, make some simple swaps to your food choices and try to eat vegan throughout January (or for 31 days after you sign up, whenever that may be). 3. Get stuck in Enjoy the exciting products being released for Veganuary and beyond, keep an eye on our social channels for updates and announcements and get involved in our Facebook group. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VEGANUARY? Does Veganuary have any benefits? Our participants think so! Many people enjoy the exciting (and sometimes surprising) benefits that come with switching to a plant - based diet. The most commonly reported benefits include: increased energy • improved mood • better skin • lower cholesterol • desired change in body weight • better skills in the kitchen World Religion Day 2024 World Religion Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in January every year, and is a reminder of the need for harmony and understanding between religions and faith systems. On this day, communities of different faiths have the opportunity to get together and listen to each other, as well as celebrate the differences and commonalities that the delicate intermingling of culture and religion brings. There are approximately 4,200 religions around the world. While many people live their lives without religion, faith in a higher being or power works for the majority of people. Whatever the reasons, we are all for the idea of people being unified despite differences, and celebrating them. HISTORY OF WORLD RELIGION DAY The first official observance of World Religion Day (as it is known today), was in 1950, but the concept began a few years prior to that. In Portland, Maine, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’í Faith hosted a talk in Eastland Park Hotel in Octobe r 1947, culminating in the decision to observe an annual event, then known as World Peace Through World Religion. By 1949, the event began to be observed in other parts of the U.S. and grew more popular. By 1950, it came to be known as World Religion Day. On this day, at various different locations, many authors, educators, and philosophers are invited to speak on world religions and the importance of establishing and maintaining harmony between them. It’s a great forum for learning more about other religio ns and cultures too, and a chance to intermingle socially with people of different faiths and worldviews. Since this concept was the brainchild of people from the Bahá’í Faith, it is worth exploring what this faith is and tracing its historical roots. As a religion, Bahá’í first emerged in Persia (modern - day Iran), in the 1800s. There are three core principles of this faith — unity of God, unity of religion, and unity of all mankind. It is a monotheistic faith, believing in a single god, and that the spiritual aspects of all religions in this world stem from this single god. Another central tenet is the belief in the innate equality of all human beings. Thus, all humans have the same rights and responsibilities. If you look at it, the Bahá’í Faith is an all - encompassing one that recognizes the commonalities between all religions, so Baháʼí believes that all fait hs have common spiritual goals too, especially since religions are ever - evolving. HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD RELIGION DAY Attend an interfaith event Many different organizations hold interfaith events on this day, where people can get together and hear about the beliefs and philosophies held by others of different faiths. These events are great spaces for eminent speakers, writers, and spiritual leader s to share openly about what they subscribe to, and why. Engage with other religions World Religion Day provides the perfect opportunity for people to step out of their individual bubbles and engage with the beliefs and spiritual ideologies of others. It’s about dialogue and the freedom to both express and listen; most importantly, it’s a time to learn from each other. This day reminds us that religion does not have to be a taboo subject, and everyone has a unique story to tell. Try out a different religious experience Religion is often inextricably linked with culture, so why not experience the best of both by attending a religious event of some sort, outside of your own? Whether it is going to a mosque or temple, or celebrating a religious festival you are not familiar with, it’s a great way to make inroads into different community groups and build relationships. Facts around Religion you may not know • In Catholicism, there is a patron saint for nearly everything, including coffee, beekeepers, and headaches. • Wicca is not an ancient religion Though it sounds like it would be ancient, considering its roots in European fertility cults, Wicca was introduced in the 1950s. • Mormons have limited beverage options Mormons are forbidden from drinking beverages like tea, coffee, or alcohol; soda, however, seems to be okay. The “Qur’an” mentions Jesus more than Muhammad Though this is not a popularity contest, the “Qur’an” apparently mentions Jesus Christ five times more than Muhammad. • Hindus can also be atheists - While Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, it is also possible to be a practicing Hindu and an atheist — the moral and ethical code remains the same. WHY WORLD RELIGION DAY IS IMPORTANT It purports to unite people - We love any day that seeks to bring people together, irrespective of differences, and this day fits the bill exactly. Whatever one’s religious beliefs and culture, the longing for acceptance and unity will be a fundamentally human one that unites us alread y. Interfaith harmony - World Religion Day offers people across the globe a chance to get to know others of different religions better, and seeks to foster a better understanding of religious differences through peaceful means such as dialogue. A chance to experience something different - The various interfaith and religious events organized by communities around the world are an exciting opportunity and opening for people to immerse themselves in spiritual experiences different from what they know. And so much of it is cultural that we see it as a win - win. Diet Resolution Week – 1 st – 7 th January 202 4 Diet Resolution Week is celebrated from January 1 – January 7 every year. The first week of the year makes it the perfect time to make a resolution to diet and eat healthily. It is never too late to start eating healthy. Making a change in our diet can go a long way when it comes to increasing our quality of life and having more energy as we get older. It improves our physical health and our overall mental wellbeing. Watching what we eat is an important part of taking care of ourselves. The History - An English doctor called George Cheyne started the first public diet. He consumed large quantities of rich food and drink which made him overweight. Cheyne began a meatless diet that included only milk and vegetables. This diet helped him become healthy. George Cheyne publicly recommended his diet as a solution for obesity. In 1724, he publis hed his work “An Essay of Health and Long Life” where he recommended healthy lifestyle choices like exercise, getting fresh air, and avoiding rich foods. In 1797, John Rollo, a Scottish military surgeon, published his work “Notes of a Diabetic Case.” Rolo wrote about how a meat diet can be beneficial to those who have diabetes. This diet was developed for those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes. In 1863, an Englishman called William Banting wrote a booklet called “Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public.” Banting advertised his version of a healthy diet, popularly known as ‘Banting’. This diet comprised four meals per day which included meat , greens, fruits, and dry wine. William Banting aimed to create a no - carb diet that we are all now familiar with. He eliminated foods like sugar, starch, beer, milk, and butter. This pamphlet was contemporary and relevant for years beyond William Banting’s time. Modern diets have also been inspired by his diet. Banting became popular for a cool advertising gimmick in the form of a question on the pamphlet saying, “Do you bant?”. This catchphrase popularized the diet plan. In 1918, Lulu Hunt Peters wrote her book, “Diet and Health: With Key to the Calories.” This became the first weight - loss book to achieve bestseller status. It was also the first weight - loss book that promoted counting calories. It was estimated that over 1000 weight - loss diets have been developed by 2014. Questions • Health and S afety - What actions could you complete to keep yourself safe when drinking Alcohol? • Safeguarding - What is your company process if you notice a person struggling with Alcohol addiction ? • Equality and D iversity - M any people who have encountered problems with alcohol feel there is a stigma that prevents some from talking openly about their issues. How would you address this issue? • British V alues - How do you think the law should address the issue of underage drinking, and what should the penalty be for shops supplying alcohol to those underage? • Prevent - Children that misuse alcohol and other substances are at more risk of being targeted by extremist groups. Why do you think this is the case? • Maths - The formula for working out units using ABV is: Strength (ABV) x volume (ml) ÷ 1000 = units – How many units are there in a pint of strong lager (ABV 5%)?