17 Wellness & Lifestyle Trends 2022
The 2022 wellness & lifestyle trends have taken a different shape than in years past. While health and wellness have been on the upswing for some time, it’s now further punctuated by our experiences after the pandemic. Today, consumers are shifting to more sustainable/ eco-friendly products and introducing plant-forward diets as the environment and chemical usage become more important. It’s also not surprising we’re also seeing an upswing in mental health-related activities. We’re all interested in digging deeper, spending more time looking inward, and focusing on our purpose (whatever that may be!?) As a result, our culture is moving towards taking better care of our minds and bodies and everything that goes with it. So, let’s dive into the top wellness & lifestyle trends 2022!
Trending Wellness & Lifestyle Trends in 2022
Gut Health
With 70-80% of your immune system in your gut, it makes sense to take a look at your gut health more seriously. There are a lot of factors that can affect our gut from our diet, and chemical exposure to antibiotics. While there is a lot of bio-individuality regarding gut health, Alexander Khoruts, MD, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, shares that a general rule is a good diet — mostly plants and fewer meats and processed foods. And variety is key!
2. Forest Bathing
What is Forest Bathing? It’s a ritual originating in Japan called shinrin yoku. It is a practice of spending time in nature to benefit from the healing powers in the forest. The idea is it helps re-balance your mind and body. Tangible benefits from studies include reduced stress hormones, improved immunity, lowered blood pressure, and improved recovery from illness.
3. Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy has been popular with athletes since 2015, but it’s become mainstream for individuals wanting to improve their overall wellness. You’ve probably noticed these shops popping up everywhere as it’s become almost a $ 7 billion market almost overnight. (And set to double in the next 8 years) ! Most users make Cryo part of their routine to take advantage of the recovery and joint pain benefits and to reduce inflammation. Other perks include; weight loss, better skin, and improved mood. It’s quick too. Just 2-4 minutes in a chamber set at ~200 degrees below zero BRRR!
4. Meditation
You’ve probably heard your sister, cousin, or co-worker talking about their meditation routine. It’s all the hype now. But what you probably didn’t realize are the many different types available these days. From guided meditation from apps like Calm and Headspace to zenning out 5 mins in your car – the possibilities are endless. Not to mention the benefits span far and wide from stress reduction to decreased blood pressure. There’s really no downside to jumping on the bandwagon?
5. IV Therapy & Drip Hydration
You’ve probably seen IV drip boutique shops around town or noticed IV therapy available at your favorite spa. The options go way beyond the typical salt pack IVs for hangovers you may have heard of before – there is an IV for just about anything! And I do mean anything. From body detox to weight loss, to libido boost, to fitness recovery – these shops have you covered for any ailment. People are flocking to get their arms pricked with fluids flowing in faster than you can say, ‘Body Detox, please’.
6. Complete Collagen Peptides
Celebrities swear this might be the fountain of youth, and they might be right? Jennifer Aniston has been said she adds a scoop to her morning smoothie everyday to keep her skin youthful. Collagen peptides are small protein that is easily digestible and naturally found in the body. However, as we age we start to lose collagen – and menopause puts the decline in overdrive. Peptides help plump the skin and smooth out wrinkles – in addition to easing joint pain & strengthening muscles and bones. WIN-WIN!
6. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)
PEMF is gaining popularity in treating everything from cancer to sleep disorders. There are many different electromagnetic devices and treatment centers available but the concept remains the same – it produces a healing electromagnetic field that targets our cells to improve function, detox, rejuvenate, and increase energy production to create healing at the cellular (deepest) level. PEMF also puts your body in a parasympathetic state (calming) to significantly reduce stress and promote relaxation.
7. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) Supplements
If you haven’t heard of NMN you’re not alone. NMN recently gained popularity after David Sinclair, the father of longevity, published his book, Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don’t Have To. He shares his research on mice taking NMN and draws compelling conclusions that lead us to believe we need to take the supplement to live long and healthy. Even with human studies only taking place this year, NMN is flying off the shelves and also available as an IV infusion.
8. Psychedelic Wellness
Like it or not, psychedelics for health and wellness are having a moment right now. I heard this morning that we’re now in a ‘Mental Health Pandemic’ and psychedelics are proving to be highly effective for anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, and several other conditions. Investors, pharmaceutical companies, and wellness practitioners are keying into the trend likely making this a mainstream option. USA Today coined it the next big trend in mental health earlier this year and celebrities such as Will Smith and Megan Fox are praising their results publicly.
9. Brain Health
The latest trends and studies into the brain focus strongly on longevity and disease prevention, (Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, depression, OCD, etc.) What is fascinating are all the new things we can do to improve our brain health today. From sauna and cold therapy – to light exposure and brain exercises – to diet and hormone management – we have so many tools at our finger tips!
All of this (and many other things) help activate different areas of the brain. If we don’t use various areas of our brain, we start to lose them. (So to speak) Additionally, our lacking area will be the first area our body attacks when we get a neurodegenerative disease. Andrew Huberman, the Scientific Researcher at Stanford, is probably the most knowledgeable person I’ve heard speak on the brain. Check him out.
10. DNA Testing
Companies such as 23andMe and AncertryDNA are gaining popularity as people are becoming more interested in their DNA as it relates to their health and future well-being. (Not just about family heritage.) Depending on what test or package, these tests offer a snapshot into what genes you carry and how much you *might* be at risk for certain diseases. Let me reiterate, these tests are NOT saying you will get Alzheimer’s or type 2 diabetes… BUT knowing this or that runs in your family helps you live a lifestyle of prevention.
.
11. Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic Living
Consumers are getting smarter about the products we bring into our homes and the repercussions to the environment. Businesses are taking note and the market for sustainable and non-toxic products is expanding rapidly. We all buy a lot of stuff, but even a small shift towards less toxic products can lessen our toxic load and make a big difference to the environment. Cleaning and beauty can make the biggest impact the fastest since these products can be absorbed into our bloodstream and into our waters. But even switching out your Teflon cookware can be a big step in the right direction. (We’re loving this GreenPan Swift Healthy Ceramic Nonstick pan set on Amazon, highly recommend it.) Also, check out the Grow Ensemble blog for more tips!
12. Infrared Sauna
While you might be wondering why infrared is different than a traditional rock or steam sauna, it comes down to its ability to radiate deep into the core of your body without the temperature exceeding 170 degrees. Therefore, you’re likely able to stay in the sauna much longer to receive the true benefits of heat exposure, up to an hour. These include: detoxification, improved circulation, pain reduction, boosted immune system, and improved metabolism – not to mention you’ll leave in a better mood! No wonder these infrared sauna facilities are popping up all over?
14. Grounding
So what is this ‘grounding’ you might be wondering? You actually have probably done it many times before without even realizing you were doing something amazing for your mind and body! Grounding, also known as Earthing, is a therapy that involves connecting the earth (ground) with your feet to receive the negative electrical charges from the earth to neutralize your positively charged ions – basically, connecting with the earth’s healing energy. It is thought this is a similar effect to antioxidants on our immune system. So go ahead, get outside!
15. Plant-Focused Nutrition
With about a zillion diets out there promising a variety of results, many people are getting smarter and moving away from extremes, and focusing on something as simple as ‘Plant-Focused Nutrition’. What does this mean? This eating approach simply puts emphasis on mostly plant foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds) while still allowing flexibility for some meat and animal products, just limited. There is more and more research coming out all the time promoting plant foods over meat consumption for longevity and overall health and everyone seems to be taking note. Even fast food chains – have you tried Burger King’s Impossible Burger? Eek.
16. Wearable Tech
As a generation brought up in tech we want to track everything and know our progress as it’s happening. The new generation of wearable technologies continues to stay on trend and is equipped with heart rate, stress, and even blood oxygen detectors. This enables us (and even sometimes our healthcare providers) to accurately monitor vital signs in real-time. Everything from our smartwatches to the new glucose monitors, wearable tech will stay at the top of the list for a long time.
17. Web 3.0
You’ve heard of Web3 as it relates to blockchain, cryptocurrency, and NFTs. But this new wave of the Internet is going to shift all industries, including health and wellness. As a matter of fact, it already is. A UK-based company, BlockFit, is offering a ‘Train-2-Earn’ concept on Web3 comprised of 10,000 NFTs divided between standard, and elite memberships. Users can use NFTs to gain access to classes, online coaching, and community courses. By completing training, users have the ability to ‘level up’ and move up to elite levels unlocking more premium features as they go. Users can even rent their membership to others through their membership rental program.
What are the top wellness & lifestyle trends for YOU?
Your choice! Yes, you get to decide how (or what) you want to incorporate from the top wellness and lifestyle trends 2022. Take a minute and think about how these may enrich and enhance your life. Do you need more mindfulness, better gut health or maybe it’s time to finally lessen your toxic load?
Wrap up
The last few years have certainly helped us to take a step back and take better care of ourselves both mind, body, and soul. But will the next big tech movement create more isolation and provide less community? Let me know what you think and if you’ve tried any of the Wellness & Lifestyle trends 2022!