By Sophia Smith
We all want to live long and feel good in our bodies. The health industry is constantly changing and evolving, and people are now more aware than ever that they must take responsibility into their own hands if they want to stay fit.
The latest trends tell us about scientific breakthroughs that aim to provide us with easy ways to improve our wellbeing, and we’ve decided to examine them more closely and figure out which ones are actually worth your time. Here’s the rundown of the most important trends.
Vegan meat
The meat industry is harmful for the environment. While it’s not as dangerous as burning fossil fuels, it does contribute to the ever-growing threat of global warming. Even if you aren’t an animal rights’ activist or an environmental advocate, reducing meat intake could still be of interest to you. Namely, excessive meat in your diet can actually harm your health in several major ways: from causing weight gain, to increasing your risk of cardiovascular diseases and even cancer.
Does this mean you have to forego the taste of meat forever? Not at all. Health and wellness trends show that vegan meat alternatives are not only becoming more popular, they’re becoming more delicious as well. Meatballs, burger patties, and even bacon – you can have anything you like, and it will taste great.
While our carnivorous habits have been pretty essential throughout centuries, humankind never used to eat as much meat as it does now. Our ancestors did eat it, but in far lesser quantities than the average person today. The point is, while meat can certainly be nutritious and healthy, our bodies need a variety of different nutrients to stay healthy, and too much of meat-based protein can lead to serious problems.
And no, you don’t have to go fully vegan. Simply reducing your meat intake with the help of vegan alternatives can go a long way to improving your health.
Prevention over treatment
A large part of modern medicine focuses on treating symptoms, rather than treating the root cause of a disease. But what if, instead of patching up our declining health, we focused on actually making people stronger and more resilient? Health trends aim to take a more functional approach to medicine and treat illnesses based on a patient’s individual needs. They are also supposed to encourage a generally healthy lifestyle and good habits that will build a stronger barrier against illnesses and other issues.
To increase resistance to chronic diseases, we must pay attention to our health at a more cellular level. The powerhouses of every cell in our body – the mitochondria – tend to lose their energy-generating capacity as we age and engage in unhealthy habits. To restore our body’s natural strength and resilience, we must feed our mitochondria and help it make more energy that will ultimately power up our bodies.
How do we do this? Health experts recommend simply eating more nutritious food and including certain supplements into our daily routine. Consider extra doses of antioxidants and vitamins like niacin, as well as nutrients like phosphatidylcholine (PC) and vitamin-like compounds such as pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). These ingredients can improve cellular health and function when used regularly.
Gut health on the rise
Gut health is closely related to our overall wellness, and health trends show that doctors all around the world are slowly picking up on this fact. The sheer amount of processed foods we consume on a daily basis has taken its toll on our bodies, and now experts seek to heal our ailing guts and reduce inflammation levels in our bodies.
In general, the path towards good gut health is simple: reduce the intake of processed and gluten-filled foods, and eat more veggies, dairy-free foods, and probiotics. You might also want to stock up on fermented foods because they can help replenish the good bacteria in your intestines, and fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal because they can aid digestion.
Mental health apps
Help is now always within your reach – in fact, it’s right there in your pocket. Mental health awareness is growing, and so is our need for access to affordable, quality care. While an app won’t (and shouldn’t) replace an actual psychotherapist, it can encourage good mental health habits and be used to ease stress and anxiety with simple exercises in mindfulness. Mental health apps can be used for all sorts of things: mood tracking, meditation aid, workout reminders, breathing exercises, and heaps of other helpful activities.
Instead of constantly serving as a distraction or a point of stress, tech will now continue to improve and work to keep our mental health in check. If you’ve never used an app like this before, you could try some from this list.
If you educate yourself about health and wellness, you’ll increase your chances of leading a good, long life. While you don’t necessarily need to follow every health fad that pops up, simply being aware of scientific and medical advancements can really benefit you in the long run.
