Social media trends tend to come and go within the blink of an eye, but when it comes to health & wellness, you know we're all for it!

Let's talk about some of our favourite health and wellness trends of 2023...

Dry brushing

Dry brushing is an Ancient Ayurvedic medicine technique / holistic practice which has been used for thousands of years.

Although more research is needed, many believe that dry brushing may have certain benefits, such as boosting circulation & lymphatic drainage (1), along with other benefits such as removing dead skin cells.

The practice involved brushing your skin in clockwise circular motions, working from your feet upwards. It is recommended to dry brush before the shower.

Superfoods

Now, we don't like talking about superfoods as a trend, as they are here to stay and have been for centuries, but superfoods have become a social media trend (one we can get on).

What are superfood powders? Superfood powders are a blend of fruits and vegetables that have an impressive nutritional profile. They are usually high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a great addition to your diet. Many use superfood powders in their smoothies, as a drink, or in recipes.

It's thought that each individual superfood has its own health benefits. Some examples of superfood powders are Maca root, Baobab, Moringa, Camu Camu, Barley Grass, Spirulina, Chlorella, Wheatgrass, Cacao, and Lucuma.

Shop our Superfoods range here

Cold Water Therapy

Cold water therapy... also known as ice baths or cold water plunging, involves submerging yourself in freezing cold water for a short period.

Why would ANYONE want to do that? Well, along with freezing cold water, many believe that cold water therapy comes with its own health benefits. 

Cold water therapy became a big hype thanks to Wimhof, aka the 'Ice Man'. Wimhof is notorious for his cold temperature tolerance, teaching others how to handle cold temperatures. Wimhof has broken several records related to cold exposure including: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts, running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefoot, and standing in a container while covered with ice cubes for more than 112 minutes (2).

It is believed that cold water therapy may have benefits such as enhancing your muscle recovery process, helping circulation, boosting the immune system, managing stress, improving mood, and helping with sleep (3).

It is noted that cold water therapy may not be for everyone. Those who have high blood pressure or cardiovascular conditions should seek medical/professional advice before trying cold water therapy. 

Functional Mushrooms 

Mushrooms took the wellness world by storm in 2022, and we've been here for it. Not only are they notorious for their delicious taste, but mushrooms are more than just a delicious meal addition. With documentaries like 'Fantastic Fungi' on Netflix, it's hard to ignore the magic of mushrooms.

Mushrooms have been around for centuries and are known for their health benefits. Functional mushrooms are mushrooms that possess both edible and medical properties. Some functional mushrooms are Lion's Mane, Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, Shiitake, and Turkey Tail.

Each functional mushroom is believed to offer a range of benefits, like reducing stress, boosting the immune system, providing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, helping with energy levels, improving focus and concentration, and so many more (4).

Functional mushrooms are most commonly taken in capsule or powder form. Our favourite way to incorporate mushrooms into our daily routine is to add half a teaspoon of our organic mushroom powder (of choice) to our coffee.

Shop our full Mushroom Collection 

Importance of Gut Health 

Looking after your gut is an important factor for your overall well-being. It's responsible for absorbing nutrients, the digestive system, and other bodily functions. There are links between bad gut health and mental health, immune diseases, autoimmune diseases, and other health conditions (5).

Thanks to the likes of social media such as TikTok making '#guttok' a thing, many people are more aware of the benefits of good gut health. While it's a great thing that gut health is being highlighted, it's important not to fall for the false claims and FADS.

Our top tip for good gut health is to manage stress levels, have adequate sleep, and eat a well-balanced, varied diet that includes different vegetables along with the right intake of fibre.

Eating fermented foods such as kimchi, kombucha, kefir, and sauerkraut are all great additions for good gut health. These foods contain living microbes, known as probiotics, which are essentially good bacteria for your gut (6).

Our favourite supplements linked to gut health are Probiotics & prebiotics, fibre supplements, and Glutamine (click on any name in bold italics to shop).

Please do your research or speak to a professional before taking new supplements to make sure they're the right fit for you.

(too much fibre can have a negative affect on your gut health, so it is important to include the right amount of fibre in your diet and not go overboard).

Cycle Syncing 

A wellness trend for females: 'cycle syncing'. If you menstruate, you most likely know the discomfort that can come with it, i.e. cramping, bloating, and fatigue. 

Many believe that your menstrual cycle is usually one week, but your menstrual cycle is a four-phase cycle that can affect your energy levels and mood. Learn more in our 'Herbs and Adaptogens For Your Menstrual Cycle' blog here.

The term 'cycle syncing' basically means living in sync with your menstrual cycle, this could be tweaking your gym/exercise routine, diet, or lifestyle habits in alignment with which phase of your cycle you're in.  

The benefits may include feeling more energized, balanced, less mood swings, and so on (7). 

Hiking 

It's a well-known fact that any form of exercise is good for the mind, body, and soul, but we want to talk about one exercise in particular that has become a powerful wellness trend in 2023.

If you're a big lover of spending time outdoors, hiking is the perfect exercise for you. With beautiful scenery and plenty of health benefits, hiking is one of our favourite ways to exercise.

Hiking is believed to offer a number of health benefits, from bettering your heart health to improving your mental health (8).

It doesn't stop there, hiking is a great way to take in the beautiful scenery while getting your natural vitamin D intake and unplugging from day-to-day stressors. Also, if you join a hiking community, there's an opportunity to get social and make friends with like-minded people.

Our top tips for hiking are to keep well hydrated, wear suitable clothing for the weather, comfortable/sensible shoes, know your surroundings, and take well-known/popular routes. 

Grounding 

Grounding, also known as 'earthing', is a technique that allows people to connect with nature, this could be walking barefoot on the grass, the sand, or even in the mud.

The idea is that the electrical charges from the earth have a beneficial impact on your body. Some of the benefits noted are that grounding may decrease fatigue, ease pain, improve inflammation, help with circulation, and improve general well-being (9).

Sound Healing/Therapy 

Sound healing is an ancient practice that is believed to help heal the body, mind, and spirit (10). The practice is over 40,000 years old and was once used by indigenous Australians who used ancient digeridoos in healing rituals.

Our favourite form of sound healing is a sound bath. Sound baths are usually performed by lying down on a yoga mat and listening to instruments such as crystal baths, gongs, chimes, or even the human voice itself. It is thought to be 'spiritually cleansing', drifting you into a deep meditative state. 

It is thought that the vibrations can heal. Frequencies are used in the same way as breath and meditation, to influence shifts in our brainwaves. Sound therapy activates our parasympathetic nervous system, the opposite of the fight or flight response (11).

Some of the benefits believed to come from sound therapy or baths include lowering stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It is also believed to help with pain management, improve sleep, and may even help with certain diseases/illnesses (12).

Oil Pulling 

Last but not least, we're leaving you with one of our top wellness trends. 'Oil Pulling' is another Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing an edible oil around your mouth for anywhere from 5-20 minutes (13). 

It is thought that oil pulling could have several benefits, such as reducing harmful bacteria from the mouth, keeping gums healthy, reducing plaque, and helping with overall health (14).

We recommend Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for oil pulling as it's all-natural, pleasant tasting, and has a high content of lauric acid. Check out our blog on 'Why our coconut buckets are a MUST have'.

The takeaway

We hope you enjoyed this blog and found some inspiration for your next self-care day. Which one was your favourite? Let us know in the comments!

Make sure to share this blog with anyone who would find this blog interesting or useful.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE * content included in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice. Please speak to your GP before trying any new remedies. 

*If you have health conditions, please double-check with your GP & research before taking any new remedies.