The biggest health and wellness trends over the past 12 months

Last year we predicted the health and wellness trends we thought were going to be big in 2019, how many did you try?

A IS FOR... AIR QUALITY

Thanks to the advent of smart air purifiers, it’s never been easier to keep a tab on the air quality of your home and in 2019 pure air inside the home will be a huge trend.

B IS FOR... BRAIN HEALTH

From doing puzzles to keep the mind active to eating neurological boosting foods, in 2019 the focus will be on brain health.

C IS FOR... CHROMOTHERAPY

This practice uses colour to restore balance to the mind, body and spirit. For example, red helps to fire us up and motivate us, while blue promotes feelings of peace and calm.

D IS FOR... DRINK UP
Drinks are no longer just to keep you hydrated. In 2019 they’re all about adding nutrition. From green juices to gut-healing drinks, 2019 is the year that you make your drinks work for your health on a new level.

E IS FOR... EXCITING EXERCISE
Say goodbye to slogging it out in a gym, over the next 12 months exercise is getting an energising upgrade. From rock climbing to aerial yoga, the trend is to find a type of exercise that lights you up, with the idea being that if it’s exciting, you’re more likely to keep it up.

F IS FOR... FASTING

Intermittent fasting, that is. More and more research is showing that intermittent fasting (fasting one day a week, for example) can have a hugely positive impact on our health. From reducing inflammation in the body to lowering cortisol levels, intermittent fasting is set to become the new norm.

G IS FOR... GUT HEALTH
As more research emerges about the impact gut health can have on our immune system, the more people are incorporating probiotic foods, bone broth and prebiotics into their diets.

H IS FOR... HEALING
From Reiki to Angelic healing, more people are turning to these spiritual practices as a way to rebalance the energy centres of the body, encourage relaxation, and banish stress.

I IS FOR... IMMERSION FITNESS
This refers to full body workouts that you can do from the comfort of your own home. The concept is that it is possible for you to get gym-worthy results without having to pay expensive membership fees.

J IS FOR... JEWELLERY

Think expensive gold and sleek sliver looks as wearable fitness tech becomes more stylish and subtle.

K IS FOR... KINDNESS

Kindness is set to be a huge trend. You can hop aboard this trend a little early by reading the work of Dr Kristin Neff, an expert in the field of self- compassion (or self-kindness). On her website, www.self- compassion.org, she offers a detailed explanation of the practice and simple exercises to get you started.

L IS FOR... LEGUMES
High in protein and carbohydrates but low in fat, it’s easy to see why legumes are becoming so popular. In 2019 expect to ditch your courgetti and instead pick up legume pasta and rice for an extra nutritional hit.

M IS FOR... MINIMALISM

Practicing minimalism helps to declutter your brain, offers a sense of freedom and is fantastic for easing feelings of stress. Make 2019 the year you embrace a life of less.

N IS FOR... NATURE
Exercise is all about getting out into the fresh air, engaging your muscles on different types of terrain and experiencing the mood-boosting benefits of time in nature. Whether it’s hiking, climbing or cross country running, expect to see more outdoor classes and workout options springing up as we move through 2019.

O IS FOR... ORGASMS
How many orgasms are you having and, more importantly, are they leaving you satisfied? Orgasms have a host of health benefits from boosting our immune system to reducing stress and making us happier, so it’s essential that you’re having them. Whether alone or with a partner, 2019 will see everyone talking about and investing in their own big ‘O’.

P IS FOR... PREVENTION
As the years pass, more and more people are waking up to the idea that prevention is most certainly better than the cure when it comes to health. Expect to see lots of books, articles and classes about how you can boost your health and put systems in place now as a method of prevention.

Q IS FOR... QUICK WELLNESS

Forget slogging it out at the gym for hours and instead make exercise more manageable by squeezing in quick sessions while you can. In a bid to get people more involved in exercise, many experts are now recommending moving more when you have five or ten minutes to spare. Try doing squats while you wait for the kettle to boil or doing press-ups during the ad break of your favourite show.

R IS FOR... ROWING
When it comes to a decent cardiovascular workout, 2019 will see people ditching their spinning classes in favour of hitting the rowing studio. Rowing is brilliant for toning the upper body and building strength.

S IS FOR... SOUND HEALING

The benefits of sound healing are numerous and include relaxation, lower blood pressure, relief from depression and anxiety and can help with chronic pain. From gong baths to singing, a qualified practitioner will help you find whatever type of sound healing is best for you.

T IS FOR... TRANSPARENCY

Moving into 2019 the call for more transparency on food labels is getting louder. People want to know what exactly they’re eating and the government is cracking down even more on how our food is packaged and labelled.

U IS FOR... UNFORGIVENESS

(and letting it go) – Did you know that holding a grudge can be incredibly detrimental to your physical and mental health? In 2019 it’s all about letting things go. Remember, choosing to forgive someone doesn’t mean that you condone whatever they did – it means that you care enough to set yourself free.

V IS FOR... VEGAN
Google Trends shows a worldwide increase in the interest in veganism from 2004 to 2018 and it’s believed that this will continue to rise as we move into 2019.

W IS FOR... WATER
Staying hydrated has always been important and in the coming year, how we imbibe our water is set to get sexier. From swish glass bottles designed to keep your H2O cold, to bottles with crystals in them, so your water absorbs positive energy before you drink it, staying hydrated is the ultimate trend.

X IS FOR... (E)XTREME ACCEPTANCE
There’s a great sense of peace that can be found in accepting our lives for what they are in this moment. Instead of beating yourself up, adopt a compassionate approach and practice acceptance. Acceptance has been shown to improve our moods, boost our optimism and lower stress levels.

Y IS FOR... YOGA

Yoga remains on health trend lists year after year and for good reason too. This gentle workout is so effective at inducing feelings of relaxation and peace and for helping to improve balance, flexibility and overall strength.

Z IS FOR ZZZZ

HYGIENE Everyone is going to be talking about sleep hygiene in the coming year. Sleep hygiene refers to your habits around sleep – when you go to bed, what type of mattress you sleep on, how good the quality of your sleep is etc. In 2019 it will be all about investing in healthy sleep habits that will ensure we’re all getting enough shut eye.