There's always movement in the world of wellness. We've seen it all from wild dietary fads to ingredients and flavors. Check out some of our favorites below!
SELF-CARE
Many individuals live fast paced lifestyles with activities focused heavily on work and chores. From morning to night, some may find themselves in overdrive and exhausted. However, the constant on-the-go mentality has evolved and self-care is leading the way. Self-care isn't anything new, but more individuals are trying to secure more time for themselves. According to the World Health Organization, self-care is "the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider."* Self-care empowers individuals to focus their energy on overall health, including mental and physical wellbeing.
Self-care doesn't just mean pampering oneself at the spa or meditating — it includes things we often lose sight of like restful sleep, physical activity and quality nutrition. Self-care may sound like an easy task, but it can be a challenge to disconnect and prioritize. Start small. Secure adequate sleep each night to help restore energy. Participate in activities you enjoy. Practice intuitive eating. Proactively hydrate — sip on your favorite herbal tea or fruit infused water. Balance diet with nutritious meals and snacks.
PLANT
Plant-based diets have been around for centuries, but this year gained favorable awareness beyond vegetarians and vegans. Plant expanded mainstream due to personal beliefs, animal ethics, culture, consumer health awareness and more. It heightened even further thanks to media and influencers. We quickly saw plant just about everywhere from snacks, drinks, supplements to even fast food. So, which source is better, plant or animal? You may be surprised to learn that neither dairy nor plant is superior to one another. Both add value and are great options to help support goals and even have potential to help support muscle. Different protein sources contribute varying amounts of amino acids, calories and nutritional value. Protein quality also depends on the amounts and types of essential amino acids in a given protein source. Regardless of whether it is a plant or animal-based source, it's important to consume a variety of protein sources throughout the day as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
KETO
Chances are you or someone you know has tried the ketogenic diet. It is quickly becoming one of the most raved about diets of the year. The dietary approach is nothing new, but has recently re-emerged as a diet that may help to support weight loss and mental clarity. There are many variations of the diet, but in general, the ketogenic diet focuses on a high consumption of fat, moderate intake of protein and low intake of carbohydrate-containing foods/beverages. The dietary fat nearly triples from the recommend 20 - 35% to 70 - 75% of total daily caloric needs. The idea is to force your body into ketosis and switch your body's fuel system from carbohydrates to dietary fat. Depending on the person, it may take time for the body to adapt to the changes. Interested in learning more about the keto lifestyle? Check out our Five Simple Keto Tips blog post.