In the world of wellness, trends can be so ephemeral it’s almost impossible to keep up. This doesn’t prevent us from trying, particularly when they promote a more active lifestyle, encourage holistic health, drive sustainable living, and encourage getting super-duper cozy. (Hint, hint.) Read on for our take on the five wellness trends you should be watching in 2017.
Mushroom Magic
Mushrooms are arguably the OG super-food, loaded in everything from anti-inflammatory agents to immune system-boosting antioxidants. In 2017, watch out for the continued explosive growth of ‘shrooms, with brands like Four Sigmatic leading the charge. From reishi coffee to lion’s mane elixirs, Four Sigmatic’s entire line features the mighty mushroom packaged in unexpected ways: Hot cocoa cordyceps, anyone?
Adaptogens Everywhere
From ashwagandha to amla, adaptogens are everywhere. But what the heck are they?! In short, adaptogens are herbs that help your body better “adapt” – whether that’s boosting a depressed immune response, regulating your hormone response, or helping the body cope with stress. Given their versatility, it’s no wonder that adaptogens are so popular. We recommend Sun Potion as a quality resource for not only purchasing an adaptogen, but for researching them, too!
Zero Food Waste Movement
According to the website ReFed, food waste represents a $218 billion loss annually in the United States plus occupies 21% of our total landfill volume (!). Encouragingly, there’s a crop of new companies and initiatives that are tackling this crisis head-on. MISFIT Juicery, a Washington, D.C.-based food brand, is reusing “ugly” produce and scrap food waste to create cold-pressed juice while Blue Hill’s Dan Barber has launched the wastED initative, which encourages top chefs to create menus using food that would traditionally get tossed. Consider this one not a trend but an enduring philosophy we all should be supporting in 2017 and beyond.
Athleisure Gone Totally Mainstream
Leandre Medine (aka the force behind The Man Repeller) recently argued that cropped gym leggings can be worn everywhere – including to a wedding. While we’re not quite ready to embrace that viewpoint, it’s clear that athleisure wear is here to stay in a big way in 2017. Continue to watch the oh-so-cool Outdoor Voices, keep an eye on the gym-to-office (seriously!) brand ADAY, and grab yourself some trendy Allbirds while you’re at it. Being active has never looked so good – or been so easy.
Hygge-ing
Everyone is freaking out over hygge, the Danish word for “cozy.” It’s a part lifestyle, part philosophy that is arguably the driving force behind the Denmark’s status as the happiest country in the world. A welcome respite from the “go-go-go” lifestyle of the Western world, hygge instructs participants to get comfortable (ideally with plenty of blankets), light some candles, eat wholesome and nourishing Scandinavian food (i.e. porridge), and connect with close friends. In short, it sounds like good old-fashioned self-care, so we’re all about it.