With each new year comes a plethora of burgeoning new trends in the health and wellness sphere, and now that we’re almost at the halfway point in 2024, it’s clear to see those that are set to stick around for the rest of the year and beyond.
Much like last year, there’s still an emphasis on holistic health practices that focus on the mind, body and soul as one. Plus, with new and innovative tech advancements being unveiled by the day, the ways in which we’re monitoring and tracking our wellness metrics is changing quickly.
Whatever your health goals are this year, these are the growing health trends that are transforming the way we think about health and wellbeing and that could prove to be vital allies in your journey towards optimal wellness.
Personalised nutrition
One size does not fit all when it comes to nutrition, as everyone has their own unique set of needs and dietary requirements. For a long time, the health and wellness industry failed to acknowledge this, but in 2024, that has all changed, with personalised nutrition now gaining traction as we seek more customised approaches to diet and nutrition that are in alignment with our individual goals. This exciting trend takes factors like genetic predispositions and metabolic profiles, as well as lifestyle factors into account to create entirely bespoke nutrition plans. With the rise of at-home DNA testing kits and digital health platforms, there’s now greater access to personalised nutrition insights and guidance, too, empowering you to make informed choices about their diet and illuminating the path towards optimal health.
Mindful movement
The mind and body were once thought to be two separate entities, but over recent years, science has advanced and there’s now a clearer understanding of the connection between them. It’s thanks to this that mindful movement practices like tai chi and qigong, along with more niche forms of yoga, are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, placing an emphasis on mindfulness, breath awareness, and gentle movement to promote relaxation, stress reduction, and physical fitness. It’s all about slow, intentional movements and conscious breathing, and helping those who practice to gain a greater awareness of their bodies whilst also reducing stress levels and improving strength, flexibility and balance.
Digital wellness
Wearable health and wellness tech is a trend that has been on the rise for some years now, and in 2024, it’s continuing to gain momentum. Fitness trackers are becoming more advanced, and there is a plethora of health monitoring apps now available to smartphone users, covering everything from sleep to heart rate and fertility. We’re also seeing a surge in telemedicine and online healthcare services as people increasingly seek out remote consultations and solutions that they can access from anywhere, anytime.
The ability to track physical activity, monitor vital signs, access personalised health coaching and connect with healthcare providers remotely has made health optimisation more accessible overall, and as a result, we’re more empowered to become more proactive in managing it in order to lead happier, healthier lives.
Medical cannabis
Medical cannabis is gaining recognition for its potential therapeutic benefits in managing a variety of health conditions, including chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, and insomnia. Releaf are the UK’s leading experts in medicinal cannabis and have reported a surge in the number of individuals turning to its natural products, which interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to regulate mood, sleep and pain levels.
It wasn’t so long ago that there was a real stigma attached to the use of cannabis as a medical treatment, but it seems society is now coming around to the idea as its benefits become increasingly apparent. Although further research is still needed in order for scientists and medical professionals to be able to see a full picture of its efficacy and safety, the rise of trustworthy brands like Releaf, and the level of knowledge and expertise they have to share, has gone some way towards building confidence in day-to-day users and today, more people than ever are giving medical cannabis a try in the hopes it will help with their ailments and give them an improved quality of life.
Sleep optimisation
It wasn’t so long ago that sleep deprivation was worn as a badge of honour by the ‘hustlers’ of the world, and to some degree, it still is. But as our understanding around the importance of quality sleep and its role in our overall health and wellbeing grows, more of us are putting down the 3pm coffee and swapping late nights for early bedtimes in a bid to prioritise this crucial element of essential self care. Sleep has been shown to have a profound impact on physical and cognitive health, and there’s now a greater widespread emphasis on good sleep hygiene and healthier sleeping habits to ensure that we’re getting our full eight hours a night. Advances in sleep tracking technology have also helped with this, and by providing users with key metrics on the amount of time and the quality of sleep they’re getting, have made it possible to easily identify areas for improvement.
