wellness trends
The global wellness economy was valued at $4.3 trillion as of 2017 and it isn’t surprising at all. According to the 2018 Global Wellness Economy Monitor from 2015-2017, the wellness economy grew 6.5% annually, which is twice as fast as global economic growth and the wellness industry now represents 5.3% of total global economic output. In other words, wellness is everywhere.
To help you identify the ones that will be all over your office and the food your coworkers will be telling you to try, Well+Good‘s team of wellness experts spent months researching and vetting emerging trends and topics. Some of them may sound a little strange (and hope you like cauliflower) but you will soon be hearing, reading and seeing your coworkers become obsessed with them super soon.
The Rihanna Effect
Workout brands are continuing to get more inclusive when it comes to sizes as well as shading and along with so many other things, we have Rihanna to thank for that. The average American woman is usually between sizes 16 and 18 but most stores tend to only carry 0 through 12. But these retailers are missing out as the size inclusive market (XXS to 5XL) is currently generating $21 billion a year worldwide.
Feminine Hygiene
The feminine hygiene market continues to grow and is expected to reach $46.8 billion by 2022. Led by companies like LOLA, Thinx, Sustain Natural, The Bloomi and Knickey, an organic underwear company for women. Founder Cayla O’Connell Davis says, “Women’s wellness is certainly at the forefront of conversations these days, which is then permeating and influencing the consumptive behaviors of women in the market – finally! While some may deem it a trend, I think it is simply a natural progression from the organic food movement and natural products focus that has taken over the beauty industry of late.”
“As consumers, women have begun asking more questions about the provenance of our products; the health impacts the ingredients may have on our bodies, and in turn, brought some of these previously niche products to the mainstream market,” Davis added. “I think that we have finally tapped into the fact that what we put on our bodies matters just as much what we put into them, and that has paved the way for body-peripheral products to enter the household — such as organic skincare products, plastic-free kitchenwares, natural cleaning products, and now organic cotton undies!”
IV Drips
Because sometimes healing crystals just don’t cut it. IV Drips are the new energy boost go-to hangover cure. Made up of a cocktail of nutrients to rejuvenate your immune system, it is quite a bit more effective than Pedialyte. But according to Well & Good, they aren’t just for curing hangovers.
Different combinations of vitamins and minerals can enhance your skin, combat jet lag, help with muscle soreness, and improve digestion among other things.
CBD goes mainstream
Thanks to the farm bill (Cannabidiol) and its popular use in beauty products get ready to see CBD everywhere including in coconut oil, body lotion, face serum, cold-brew coffee, sports salve, lip balm, water and dog treats. Greg Avetisyan, cofounder of the CBD store Topikal Everything Hemp, told NBC News, “Though not medically proven, CBD’s main purpose is to help alleviate inflammation. So when people use CBD by itself, they’re getting the medicinal benefits of the plant without the psychoactive effects. It treats a lot of different anxieties and pains.”
And people love good new beauty products that promise to help them fix their life in some way and also make their skin great.
MCT Oil
The Keto Diet has been reigning supreme the last few years thanks to its huge celebrity following. And now the MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil will be available to the masses. Known for their ability to increase stamina and focus and help with cravings, the masses will now be able to access them in vegan coffees, granola bars, and Bulletproof’s Brain Octane oil.
Shorter Workouts
Rejoice if you find dragging yourself to a workout is the hardest part of your day. According to W&G experts are becoming more aware of cortisol, which is released when you workout. Cortisol is considered catabolic because it breaks down tissue so too much of this can be a bad thing. This is leading a shift towards shorter workout classes as well as tools like cryotherapy to help keep cortisol levels stable. But don’t worry if you think a short workout doesn’t make an impact.
Pete McCall, certified strength and conditioning specialist (C.S.C.S.), and host of the All About Fitness podcast, told Women’s Health, “If you do 15 minutes at the right intensity, that’s all you need. So while HIIT is going to continue to be popular, we might see it in different forms and times.”
One-Stop Wellness (at Work)
Perhaps your office offers a gym option, a nap pod or maybe even holds yoga classes, but get ready for employers to start embracing one-stop wellness shops. In 2019 workplaces will start to offer workouts as well as spa and healthy food options, says inc.com.
“Workplaces are no longer leaving the struggle to implement work-life balance to the employee. You have to recognize that it takes employees time to commute to the gym or go get a holistic treatment. If you can bring these things directly to the office and your time-crunched team, it’s not just appreciated, it helps balance what their inbox and work demands are throwing at them,” Well+Good co-founder Melisse Gelula told Forbes.
Fats are PHAT
Low fat diets and calorie counting out, fat on fat in. With the rise of popular diets such as Whole 30, Paleo, Keto and a we’re seeing a trend towards filling our plates with good-for-you fats. These high-fat diets are known to aid muscle growth, cognitive function, and skin health. Additionally, the keto diet has long been used to treat several medical conditions – you can read more about them here. This next year, we predict high-fat products such as Ghee, MCT Oil, Coconut Butter, and Avocado Oil will be flying off the shelves.
“Along with these phat fats, higher protein and low-carb combos will continue to trend across simple and easy snacking categories, from avocados to medicinal mushrooms. New integrations of fat sources — like keto-friendly nutrition bars crafted with MCT oil powder, coconut butter–filled chocolates, snacks affectionately called “fat bombs” and a new wave of ready-to-drink vegan coffee beverages inspired by butter coffees — are busting on the scene allowing consumers to get their fat fill with convenient treats,” Whole Foods says.
Cauliflower-mania
Hope you like cauliflower because you are going to be eating a whole lot of it. It has already invaded pizza and pasta and now it is coming from snacks. According to W&G, sales for packaged cauliflower products grew 73% last year.
“High fiber foods are one of the biggest nutrition-focused wellness trends on the horizon for 2019,” said Tanya Zuckerbrot, founder of the F-Factor Diet, a high-fiber diet plan. “Fiber is the secret nutrient for losing weight without hunger, boosting energy and living a healthier life.”
Probiotics With a Shelf Life
We all know that probiotics in the form of pills or supplements have been trending for quite some time now. They’re not only great for our gut and digestion, but also provide nutrients for glowy, youthful skin and strong hair. In 2019, we’re going to see a rise of brands in the health food space who will make it easier for you to get your daily intake of probiotics beyond the run-of-the-mill supplements, with no refrigeration required.
According to the Whole Foods 2019 Food Trend Report, “Wellness-focused brands are making it easier to get more probiotics in your day by adding functional probiotic ingredients to your pantry staples through products like granola, oatmeal, nut butters, soups and nutrition bars. Another unexpected place shoppers can find probiotics is in the cleaning aisle with brands like Counter Culture Probiotic Cleaning Tonic, an all-purpose cleaner that utilizes probiotic cultures and essential oils. Even beauty brands are including pre- and probiotic-based ingredients through sunscreen and other topical body care.”
