Plant-Based Food Orders Spike in Veganuary

Plant-based food orders in the UK spiked in January 2021, according to takeaway and delivery platform Deliveroo. Searches within the app for vegan food increased by 153% and orders by 117%, which is thought to be due to the large number of people participating in Veganuary. Last year more than half a million Brits joined in with Veganuary, pledging to eat a vegan diet for the first month of the year.  

According to reports from Deliveroo, more than 15,000 restaurants across the UK have added plant-based vegan dishes to their regular menu in response to this demand. Michael Kern, Craniosacral Therapy teacher and former Osteopath, has been vegetarian for nearly 50 years and advocates the benefits of a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle for animal welfare, for health reasons, and for the wider benefit of the planet. 

 

Taking on Veganuary 

 

Veganuary has proven a popular project to raise awareness in the UK. In 2021 there were an estimated 582,000 participants. An official survey found that 85% of them planned to make permanent changes to their diet following the month. Approximately 40% intended to remain vegan, while the rest planned to reduce their overall meat and dairy intake to varying degrees – at least halving their prior intake. Almost two-thirds of people surveyed maintained a completely vegan diet throughout January, while the remaining third drastically reduced their meat and animal product consumption.  

 

Reasons to Try Vegan 

 

Around 35% of vegans cite concerns about climate change as one of their main reasons for changing to a plant-based diet. According to the Veganuary survey, almost half (46%) of the 2021 participants cited animal welfare as their primary reason for switching their diet, while 21% of respondents wanted to help protect the environment, and a further 22% experimented with Veganuary for personal health reasons. Improved health metrics experienced by participants included higher levels of energy, improved mood, better skin condition and weight loss. 

 

Longevity of Results 

 

An estimated 40% of people who participated in Veganuary plan to stay vegan, while only 10% state they will not be making any lasting changes to their diet. Veganuary has been running in the UK since 2014 and was launched in the US in 2019. Increasing numbers of restaurants and other food outlets and brands are now improving their plant-based offerings as a result of the growing demand.  

How Babies Can Benefit from Cranio

Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle way to trigger the body’s natural self-healing capabilities: it helps to resolve traumatic imprints, allows us to process stresses, and supports the nervous system to down-regulate. The gentleness of this approach makes cranio perfect for babies.  

Helps with Head Bruising 

Craniosacral Therapy can be beneficial for babies who have experienced difficulty during birth and who may, as a result, have bruising to the head, forceps marks, chignon caused by vacuum extraction, cephalohematoma or an abnormality of head shape. 

It can also help resolve any underlying physical or emotional tensions that can be left behind in the baby’s system, even after these marks have disappeared.  

Adjustment After a Long, Difficult or Fast Birth 

The birth experience, particularly if it was prolonged, very fast, with medical interventions, or was by C-section, can result in the baby experiencing ongoing physical and emotional distress. According to Craniosacral Therapy teacher Michael Kern, these birth imprints can effectively be processed and resolved by helping to restore natural rhythmic movements within the body and supporting the body’s natural tendencies to find health, This leads to happier and more well-adjusted babies. 

Can Make Breastfeeding Easier 

Craniosacral Therapy is often used to support breast feeding. If a newborn is struggling to latch onto the breast, it could be due to unresolved stress, pain or discomfort, or as a result of the after effects of medication administered during the experience of birth. Tightness in the jaw or throat regions, or compression of cranial bones resulting from a difficult birth can impact on tongue sensation and the ability to easily feed. 

Soothes Crying 

Babies who inconsolably cry, or cry with a high pitch may also be supported with Craniosacral Therapy, which can resolve the imprints of birth trauma. It can also allow the baby to move through ‘memory crying’, in which their birth story can be revisited and resolved. A deep listening to the intelligence in the body is key to this practice.  

Babies Diagnosed with Tongue Tie 

Tongue tie may be another cause of feeding difficulties, but there are some issues that can mimic the symptoms of tongue tie, such as fascial restrictions, cranial nerve dysfunction and nervous system activation. All these may be amenable to treatment.  

Can Resolve Torticollis/Head Preference 

Some babies present with torticollis, which can be an uncomfortable condition that can also create difficulties with latching onto the breast. Tortocollis may result from unresolved compressions experienced during the birth process, or by patterns that develop in the uterus before birth. It is sometimes indicated by a baby’s habitual preference to lie on one side, and not on the other. Craniosacral Therapy sessions can be of great benefit!

Fascia-nating New Research into Fascia

In recent years an appreciation of fascia’s function in the body has become more understood in the wellness community. For more information about fascia, see the attached PDF. 

Explaining the Human Body: What is Fascia?

Michael Kern, founder of the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust, has written about the important role played by the ‘living matrix’ of fascia in maintaining our health, so helping to dispel the myth that fascia is an insignificant part of the body.  

There is still a lot more research needed on this topic, but many practitioners are now recognising fascial motion and function as a major contributor to health.  

Healthy Fascia, Healthy Body 

Fascia is a type of connective tissue that’s extensively found throughout the body, so it’s understandable that the health of fascia reflects the health of the whole, and vice-versa. Healthy fascia can make it easier to recover after exercise and plays a significant role in the regulation of the central nervous system. Even cellulite may be reduced by increased fascial health.  

 

To learn about three main types of fascia found in the body, take a look at the attached infographic.  

Introducing the Three Types of Fascia

The Influence of Inertial Fascia 

The benefits of a healthy fascial system cannot be underestimated, but likewise it’s easy for lifestyle issues, stress or trauma to cause the fascia to become inertial and constricted, potentially creating a range of problems. Eating an inappropriate diet, not getting enough water or sleep, and not getting enough exercise are common factors that may affect fascial health.  

Restoring Fascia Health 

Healthy fascia is supple, hydrated and mobile, and regularly performing stretching exercises can contribute to overall fascial health. This, of course, is also good for the body as a whole. Stretching regularly can keep the fascia in a state of optimal hydration, suppleness and support.   

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy for Fascia Health 

Based on the principle that a healthy body physiology expresses subtle rhythms in all areas, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy seeks to work with these rhythms when they get out of sync or become inertial. Fascia can be a significant place of engagement for Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, since it can be an important factor that influences the functioning of the whole system.  The gentle and skilful hands-on approach of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy can provide an effective treatment for stressed or unhealthy fascia. 

For an overview of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and how it works, take a moment to watch the embedded video.