The health and wellness market sure is a tough one to penetrate. The combination of consumers getting wiser and information being more widely available, makes it difficult for “fads” to stick around. The global wellness economy was valued at $4.4 trillion in 2020. Surprisingly down $500 billion from 2019. So, in this article we will talk about the top health and wellness trends for 2023. The trends that are here to stay!
1. MEDITATION 🧘
Meditation is a practice that has been around thousands of years. Yes, Thousands! It dates back to ancient Egypt, China and obviously, Buddhism. While we know biohacking isn’t a real thing, Meditation is the closest thing to it.
Meditation can come in many forms. It involves deep breathing, slow in-and-out breaths. Slowing down your heart rate, activating your parasympathetic nervous system and paying attention to your breathing. Daily meditation has endless health benefits. This includes reduces stress, increased blood flow, decreased inflammation, better brain function from increased oxygen and so much more.
These days, it’s easier than ever to get involved. Hundreds of YouTube videos are there to help you on your mindfulness journey. From brief, 5-minute meditation sessions to 90-minute yoga videos. Not to mention apps like Calm and Headspace that provide content to help you meditate. From calming music to verbal guides, you have all of the tools to take control of your mind in 2023.
2. SAUNA AND INFRARED SAUNA 🥵
This is one of the biggest health and wellness trends of 2023. What was once a cultural practice shared by the Slavic and Scandinavian peoples, is now being widely utilized around the world for its health benefits. Sitting in a sauna has tons of valuable health benefits. It has thermogenic effects, which increases internal body temperature and helps you burn calories. You find this in sports, especially among UFC fighters, which they use saunas during weight cuts. Among the other health benefits is increased blood flow and reduced inflammation.
Benefits Of Infrared Sauna
There is some disagreement (as there always is) in the medical community in regards to the health benefits of saunas. All people aren’t built the same. Those with heart issues are not encouraged to spend long periods of time in the sauna since it’s a burden on the heart. Depending on your age and fitness level, you should always consult with a doctor if the sauna is right for you.
While not everyone has the funds or space in their home for a sauna, businesses have come to the rescue. Many gyms now have saunas available for use. There are even businesses that offer only the sauna experience. You can even buy portable saunas from Amazon at fairly reasonable prices.
3. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY ⌚
This is perhaps the largest subsector of the health and wellness market. While we have many products and services that claim to have health benefits, the only way to see if that’s accurate is with wearable technology.
It’s important to differentiate activity trackers and actual health wearables. Activity trackers… do just that. Track what you’re doing. From heart rate to steps and distance. We’ve said it many times, these are more so motivational devices. Health wearables provide insight, data and analytics into the inner working of your internal health. And how do they do that?
Smart wearable devices like the AIO Smart Sleeve have a feature called heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is a biomarker that closely studies your heart rate pattern. The variability arises from beat-to-beat variation of your heart rate. The higher the variability, the better. HRV gives users insight into stress levels, recovery, resilience and the overall effects of the environment on their body. With this tool you can assess which diet works for you, which workout works for you and even how your body is affected by hot and cold therapy. The possibilities are endless.
4. COLD THERAPY 🥶
There are different forms and names for this particular trend. Cold therapy, cryotherapy, polar plunge; the list goes on. The theme is immersing yourself in (ice) cold water for seconds / minutes at a time. Cold therapy actually has a long history. In the former Soviet Union, mothers used to leave their infant children outside in the cold for short periods of time to strengthen immune systems. It was believed that the Romanov’s (Russia’s royal family) had greatly weakened immune systems because they never went outside.
In modern history, cold showers and ice baths have been made popular by guys like Wim Hoff and Joe Rogan. This is quite a popular recovery method among many pro athletes as well. If you can master it, it helps you build resiliency, boost immune system, reduce inflammation and help you control your brain and body. The mindfulness aspect of this method should not go unnoticed.
5. SLEEP 😴
This is one of the most important, yet obvious health and wellness trends to take over in the past few years. Since the 1980’s, Western culture has normalized working 24/7, and 4 hour sleeps. This is the only way you get ahead. But research has shown the negative health effects of poor sleep patterns.
Poor sleep can lead to tiredness, poor recovery, reduced digestion efficiency, lack of focus, poor decision making and more. People are really starting to listen to the advice of doctors and sleep experts. Burning out and working 12 hours will lead to poor output as opposed to 8 hours with complete focus.
The sleep industry is also massive. From sleep apps, to sleep trackers, mattresses and supplements, the importance of sleep is finally getting the attention it deserves. Sleep is certainly more than a trend. It’s something to practice and master, which will result in tremendous benefits in any era.
6. LOW CALORIE ALCOHOL 🍷
Whether you are looking to relax or let loose on the weekends but want to do it in a healthier way, there are tons of options available. The growing number of health-conscious people across the world has created a booming industry. In the beginning, it was only a few small companies offering low calorie alcohol beverages. But now we see giants like Heineken and Budweiser entering the lucrative space.
The industry is expected to grow by almost $3 billion from 2020 – 2025. This isn’t just a short-term trend. There’s a strong feeling that this will be around for a very long time. Who knows what innovations we’ll see? Now you have seltzers, low calorie beers and pre mixed drinks. Plenty of options for those who want to drink whilst watching their figure.
7. MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS TRENDS 2023 😇
We briefly touched in this one earlier. Mental health can be quite a complicated topic and the way its treated has seen a dramatic shift over the past few years. Doctors were originally eager to diagnose people for mental health disorders to sell antidepressants and other medication. While some of that still occurs, there are new ways to deal with mental health and depression.
Online therapy has become a life saver for many people over the pandemic. Companies like BetterHelp and Talkspace provide those struggling with mental health issues a safe space to talk and sort out their problems. Mental health is such a crucial part of your overall health. It doesn’t have to be embarrassing or taboo anymore. Getting help could jumpstart your life and give it a different meaning. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please find help. It’s not hard to find these days.
8. BRAIN GAMES 🧠
It’s always a good idea to keep your mind sharp. The brain is so complex, we are still discovering new things about it every year. One thing’s for sure, using it doesn’t hurt. Training your brain will improve cognitive function, memory and can even prevent things like Alzheimer’s in the future.
While there are apps like Lumosity that help with mental fitness, you can do other things to keep your brain active. Sudoku, crosswords, painting, playing music and other creative activities. Learning a new language is one of the best things you can do for your brain. We have seen an increase in companies that provide a platform of brain games and activities. This will surely continue in the coming years.
9. MAKING EXERCISE FUN 🤸♂️
You don’t have to lift things up and put them down in order to burn some calories. Not only are new gyms being opened up every month, we’re also seeing creative entrepreneurs put their own twist on activities. Like F45 gyms that offer a fun, group workout while utilizing wearable technology. If you’ve ever tried indoor rock climbing, you know how intense of a workout that could be. I barely made it out alive. And let’s not forget about goat yoga or dog yoga, or lizard yoga.
Mixing it up when it comes to your physical exercise can help you from getting bored of working out. At times, going to the gym can become boring and stale. Here’s a way to change the rhythm, shock your system and do something different. There are certainly some interesting health and wellness trends in this category, but it doesn’t look like it will go away any time soon.
10. CORPORATE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS 🏢
Corporations around the world make billions of dollars on the backs of billions of employees who only earn a fraction of that revenue. While we have come a long way from 14 hours shifts in brutal conditions, we still have a long way to go.
Corporate wellness or workplace wellness programs come in many forms. The main goal is to help employees achieve better health, encourage better lifestyles and engage with staff. Companies are partnering with service providers to offer discounts on health products for staff, mental health support, activity monitoring, free training sessions, healthy food options and more.
The most important input of any company or business is its employees. If employees are happy and taken care of, productivity improves and profit increases. Few companies have realized this and have invested millions to ensure their staff is taken care of. Companies like Grokker, Trueworth Wellness and Exos are among the few that are leading the way in the corporate wellness space.
11. SENSORY DEPRIVATION TANK 🌚
Imagine the profound silence of the deepest ocean trench or the vast emptiness of outer space. These are the kinds of places that the mind journeys to when using a sensory deprivation tank. Or as I like to call them, floatation therapy vessels.
Floatation therapy vessels are designed to create an environment devoid of sensory inputs – no sight, no sound, no touch. You’re placed in a tank filled with water that’s super-saturated with Epsom salt, which allows you to float effortlessly. The water and air are heated to the same temperature as your skin, essentially making you lose the sense of where your body ends and the water begins.
Benefits of Deprivation Tank
This has a profound effect on the brain. It’s as if someone has hit the mute button on the noisy world outside. This silence gives the brain a chance to turn inward, and it’s in this state that some people find deep relaxation, creativity, and even a heightened state of consciousness.
the prolific podcast host and MMA commentator, Joe Rogan. Rogan is a vocal advocate of sensory deprivation tanks and uses one regularly. For him, the tank serves as a tool for introspection, idea generation, and mental relaxation.
12. FOOD SENSITIVITY TEST 🍳
The story of food sensitivity testing is a relatively recent chapter in the book of medical science. Unlike food allergies that trigger an immediate and often severe reaction, food sensitivities are more insidious, causing a range of symptoms that can appear hours or even days after consumption. This delay makes it difficult to identify the offending food, hence the need for testing.
every person’s body reacts differently to different foods, almost like each of us is an individual puzzle. For instance, while broccoli might be a superfood for many, for others, it could be causing bloating, headaches, or other symptoms. Food sensitivity testing is the key that helps unlock each individual’s unique dietary puzzle.
Let’s weave in the story of tennis champion Novak Djokovic. He was struggling early in his career, often fatigued and out of breath during matches. Traditional medical tests couldn’t pinpoint the problem. It wasn’t until he underwent food sensitivity testing that he discovered he had a sensitivity to gluten and dairy. After eliminating these from his diet, his performance improved significantly, and he went on to become one of the greatest tennis players in history.