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January = Health Kick
2022… that sure crept up on us didn’t it! Those last few weeks of the year are always the same aren’t they? We spend time with our nearest and dearest and indulge in good food. Yet, when the new year arrives, we all suddenly feel the need to drastically change our lives, make goals and become ‘better’ people. Whatever happened to, “life is too short”? This is what many of us tell ourselves for the remaining 10 months of the year; that is if you get to February before giving in on your “health kick”…
Will 2022 be any different? Our answer to you is, it could be. 2021 was the birth of the “sustainability” buzzword and now we are in 2022, why not let us implement that, not just within our planet but in our food and eating habits too. Firstly, let’s just say that life is too short to worry and deeply stress about the pressures of “new year, new me”- you’re awesome just as you are. However, making positive and minor changes to your everyday life is certainly more sustainable.
Now, when it comes to improving our everyday lifestyles, most people immediately think of their diet. After eating a lot of food over the Christmas period, it’s time to feel nourished and re-energised again!
Of course, not all of us have eaten badly over Christmas. Many of us may have filled our tummies with nutritious, delicious Sykes House Farm meat accompanied by seasonal vegetables this year. If you have been following our socials, we have been supplying you with amazing recipes too (if so, let us know what you think in the blog comments)!
So why would you include meat in your “sustainable new year new me” attitude you may ask? We can come up with so many reasons, but to make this short and sweet, we have chosen the important ones. Did you know that meat is packed full of iron to deliver oxygen around your body? Zinc is also a key component within meat products as it keeps your immune system strong whilst Vitamin B12 nourishes your nervous system.
The biggest, and arguably best, benefit of having a meat-based diet are the sources of protein it provides. “But can’t I just eat a protein bar or drink a protein shake”, you may ask. Protein found in meat and poultry is “complete” because it contains all the amino acids essential for health; they occur naturally unlike factory made items.
After a sweaty workout session, (burning off those biscuits and chocolates you may have eaten over Christmas) it is important that you give your body what it needs… and in that is protein. Remember these five keywords: build, repair, oxygenate, digest and regulate.
Build- Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage and skin. Not only is this important for those of us that are gym-obsessed, but for all of our general health and wellbeing too.
Repair- After your gym session, a source of protein will build and repair any tissue to prevent injury and keep your body strong. The reparation of our body will also prevent injury in everyday activities too.
Oxygenate- Red blood cells contain a protein compound, haemoglobin, that carries oxygen throughout the body. This helps supply your entire body with the nutrients it needs.
Digest- A lot of the dietary protein that you consume each day goes into making enzymes, which aids in digesting food, and making new cells and body chemicals.
Regulate- Protein plays an important role in hormone regulation.
But how much meat should we be eating? Now, unfortunately there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ answer as each body is different. It is beneficial to work out how many grams you should be intaking for your body size. The amount of protein you need in your diet will depend on your overall calorie needs. The daily recommended intake of protein for healthy adults is 10% to 35% of your total calorie needs. For example, a person on a 2000 calorie diet could eat 100 grams of protein, which would supply 20% of their total daily calories.
There’s also a difference in health benefits depending on the way you cook your meat. Here are some tips to make healthier choices whilst eating your favourite Sykes House Farm products.
- Choose a leaner cut of meat.
- Grill over fry, as it reduces the need of using unnecessary oil.
- When roasting, sit the meat on a metal rack so that any fat can drip off.
Now that we have got you thinking about food, it would be mean of us to not share some delicious, healthy recipes for your January cooking that, of course, include the best of the best… Sykes House Farm meat!
Garlic Rosemary Pork Chops Recipe
Spicy Chicken Legs and Cauliflower Couscous with Cherries, Pistachios, and Mint Recipe
Which one of those recipes tingles your taste buds the most? They are all a 5* rating from team Sykes! We hope that your January, and 2022, is fulfilled with happiness, positivity and lots of great food, take care.
