With spring finally here, it’s a good a time as any to start thinking about bettering your health and wellness. Making choices that will boost our health is something everyone should try to do, especially parents. With the average child catching between six and 10 colds each year, it’s important to take your kids to a family health clinic for regular checkups and try your best to keep your family as healthy as possible. While this can be difficult to do, it’s important we do our best. So to help you get started, we’re going to talk about a few health trends people are jumping on this year.
For starters, more and more people are giving plant-based diets a try. Whether it’s because of growing health and nutrition research regarding plant-based diets, wanting to reduce their environmental impact, or wanting to limit their food waste, people are definitely eating more greens. This could mean going full vegan, going vegetarian, or simply eating more fruits and vegetables. On the far end of the trend, daring foodies are eating more sea vegetables like kelp, wakame, and kombu. These types of vegetables are not only yummy additions to your next meal, but are also rich in iodine, which the WHO shows 72% of people worldwide are deficient in. Eating fresh produce allows people to not only get the nutrients they need, but also helps them think mindfully about where their food comes from and the impact it has on the environment.
Another big focus this year is on gut health. With the processed foods so many people eat today, more and more people are experiencing issues with inflammation and gut health. Gut health is affected by a variety of factors, like diet, medications, and stress. Upset stomachs are never fun, and people are making positive changes to make their tummies feel better overall. Whether it’s taking natural probiotics, changing their diets, or getting more exercise, people are giving their stomachs the attention they deserve.
Another trend that seems to be emerging this year is staying in instead of going out. Yes, millennials are all about trying new restaurants and, of course, Instagramming their food. But more people are actually choosing to cook at home instead of going out to eat. This trend may be due to a number of factors. First, more people are finding a routine that works for them and sticking to it. Part of their routine may involve cooking at home. Additionally, this may be a tactic to have a better work-life balance that so many people nowadays struggle to achieve. Another factor could be that people don’t have access to restaurants that offer the healthy food options they’re looking for. Cooking at home more often can also be a great option for families with children who have food allergies, which 5.4% of children have, according to the 2014 National Health Interview Survey. But whatever the reason, cooking at home can not only save money, but can also allow you to cook your family a healthy meal — and get some family bonding in time too.
Overall, people are turning away from questionable diet practices like extreme dieting and juice cleanses to instead focus on overall physical and mental health. By making a few changes in your diet, choosing to stay in instead of going out to eat, and doing some research on nutrients you may not be getting enough of, both you and your family can have a happy and healthy year.
