From reducing your carbon footprint to experimenting with unfamiliar foods and flavours, and creating new meals, there are so many benefits that come with switching to a vegan diet.
But, did you know that going vegan can also be beneficial for your sleep quality?
Phil Lawlor, Sleep Expert at Dormeo, discusses the top five sleep benefits you may feel by going vegan.
With more and more of us becoming increasingly conscious about our impact on the planet, it’s no surprise that so many Brits have already made the change to veganism. In fact, it’s now believed that there are over 600,000 vegans in the UK alone, with this number increasing by 62% in 2019 (Vegan Food and Living).
In a bid to start the new year off with good intentions, and in a much healthier way, plenty of people each year get involved with the new year’s challenge known as Veganuary. This is a commitment to eating only vegan foods for the whole of January (Veganuary). The challenge saw over 400,000 people take part in 2020, and this number only seems to increase year on year.
Not only does it introduce you to new foods, recipes, and a lifestyle change, but going vegan can also have many positive effects on other aspects of your life, including your sleep quality. Here, I will be sharing with you five sleep benefits you could feel by going vegan.
YOU CAN HAVE LESS VIVID DREAMS
<Body> While nodding off to dreamland can sometimes be a welcome break from the realities and stressors of life, having vivid dreams can leave us feeling disorientated and sluggish when we wake up.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March 2020, there have been more reports of vivid dreams and nightmares, and some of us are still experiencing these (Scientific American).
But changing to a vegan diet could help to tackle these sleep issues.
Vivid dreams are commonly associated with tryptophan, an amino acid which is converted into serotonin. Tryptophan is found in foods such as cheese, lamb, milk, eggs and fish; all of which are ingredients that you won’t find in a vegan diet. Therefore, avoiding these foods means you could be less likely to experience vivid dreams than others on a non-vegan diet might.
Similarly, the balance of vitamins and minerals ingested through a vegan diet means you’re less likely to feel bloated or disturbed during the night, which might also be causing your weird and wild dreams.
It’s important to note that a sudden increase of vitamin B6, which is present in many vegetables, can contribute to more vivid dreams initially. With this in mind, it’s important to introduce this vitamin gradually into your diet if you don’t usually eat lots of B6-rich foods.
IT CAN TAKE A SHORTER TIME TO FALL ASLEEP
If you frequently struggle with getting to sleep, you might be interested to know how veganism can help tackle this.
Vitamin B12 is found in many leafy green vegetables, which are staples in a vegan diet. This vitamin is key for regulating your sleep-wake cycles, meaning it helps you to feel sleepy at night and awake during the day.
Good levels of B12 have been linked to lower chances of insomnia, meaning you could find it takes you much less time to fall asleep when switching to a plant-based diet.
Some of the other main sources of B12 include red meat and fish, which aren’t eaten on a vegan di