3 Viral Health Trends Worth The Hype
Health trends flood social media, but which ones truly deliver? As a personal trainer & health coach for five years, I have seen many trends come and go with only a few offering any meaningful benefit.
So, let's explore three health trends—fermented foods, wearable wellness technology, and recovery-focused wellness—that deliver real results, plus two overhyped fads to avoid.
Fermented Foods For Whole Body Health
Fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, and sauerkraut support one’s health in a multitude of ways. Many studies demonstrate that fermented foods significantly enhance microbiome diversity, which improves acne, skin elasticity, and gut health, while elevating mood, reducing cravings, and promoting healthier weight loss. By simply adding a serving or two into your diet daily, you’ll notice your health transform in a matter of weeks!
Quick Tip:
My favorite ways to incorporate fermented foods in my diet are blending kefir into a morning smoothie or tossing kimchi into a salad for a tangy kick.
2. Wearable Wellness Technology
Information is power! Wearable devices such as an Apple Watch and Oura Ring track sleep, activity levels, heart rate, and even glucose, delivering AI-driven insights to optimize your routine and improve your overall health status. Simply incorporating wearables can improve daily activity levels and help set realistic goals related to your unique health journey.
While some worry about obsession, I believe wearables are ultimately a net benefit for the health of our society. Use them to fine-tune your sleep & movement to fit your lifestyle and improve your habits!
3. Recovery Practices & Sustainable Fitness
Rest fuels progress & drives fitness gains. During recovery, your muscles repair and adapt to more difficult challenges, enabling stronger, faster workouts.
Recovery practices like mobility, sauna, cold plunge, and yin yoga are gaining traction on social media for good reason - they accelerate recovery, prevent injuries, improve sleep, strengthen immunity, and boost mental wellbeing!
Quick Tip:
I understand time and cost can limit access to certain recovery tools, but everyone can prioritize the most important tool, your sleep. A couple hours before bed, skip food and drinks, dim the lights, light a candle, and limit screens to prepare for a restful night. If your sleep is off, no recovery practice will deliver optimal results!
What To Avoid?
Anything promising a quick fix such as “superfood” or “greens” powders should be passed on. Not only do they fall short on providing life-changing benefits, they likely end up costing close to $100+ a month!
Additionally, any challenges that are far from sustainable for the long term, like the 75 Day Hard. Though well-intentioned, these challenges often lead to burnout, creating a false sense that health journeys involve a finish line.
Many health trends floating around the internet are futile. However, you can still discover evidence-based gems like fermented foods or recovery practices, and tailor them to your needs with a trusted expert’s guidance if desired. Find what works for you & always remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
