By Tess DiNapoli
This year, more people are focusing on their health and wellness than ever, and there are some exciting new ways to incorporate healthier habits of living daily life emerging. Nutrition and exercise have been a growing interest in the past decade, and new advances in technology, increasing cultural awareness, and groundbreaking research have all contributed to a healthier overall society. This year is no exception, so read on to learn about some of the most exciting health trends of 2018 and what to expect in the coming year!
1. Combat Sports
The rise in popularity of combat sports like MMA and boxing over the past few years has also given rise to a surprising health trend. Practicing combat sports are fantastic workouts, and more and more gyms are offering classes in kickboxing, cage fighting, and krav maga. The purpose of combat sports as a recreational exercise is not just burning calories –– but burning off the stress of daily life. With no more than a heavy bag or sparring partner and a pair of boxing gloves, you can get fit and rid yourself of frustrations, which contributes to your mental fitness.
2. HIIT
HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, has taken the fitness world by storm this year. Advocates say it’s a fast, effective way to burn fat, gain stamina, and tone your muscle. The goal of this challenging training technique is to participate in simple, brief –– but all out, physically exhausting –– exercises, with short rest periods in between. Examples of HIIT exercises include sprints, jumping rope, butt kicks, trunk twists, cycling, and running stairs, all of which are done to complete exertion in approximately 30-second intervals, with 15 to 30 seconds of rest in between. Just remember recovery is important –– you don’t want to push your body too far with HIIT.
3. Plant Based Protein
More people are turning to plant-based diets, which many experts agree are healthier for you than diets loaded with meat. Plant-based proteins are high in fiber, which can help you feel fuller faster and enables you to consume fewer calories overall. These incredible sources of protein include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes –– You can make some delicious meat-free meals that give you everything a healthier body needs! This health trend is not only beneficial to you, but to the environment as well, which is just a little bit of extra food for thought!
4. Health Tech
From gadgets to gear, tech that helps you get healthy has caught the masses. Health trackers are all the rage and devices like FitBit and the Apple Watch can do much more than just track time and your daily steps. You can review your sleep patterns, count calories, and use apps to help you train and track success. New sports watches are getting more advanced with features such as 1650 feet of water resistance. There’s a ton of progress being made in this area, and it’s getting more affordable with each passing year.
5. Kettlebells Workout
Kettlebells have soared in popularity over the past few years, and are now some of the most popular workouts among fitness enthusiasts. With just one kettlebell, you can work your entire body from head to toe. These workouts are designed to build strength, stamina, and provide cardiovascular conditioning. You use more stabilizing muscles with kettlebells than with regular dumbbells and barbells, utilizing your whole body for complex movements and burning more body fat.
Looking to the Future
1. Fitness Supplements Yield to Lifestyle Support
Supplements are nothing new to those who work out heavily. Pre-workout, BCAAs and protein supplements are all familiar to the largest bodybuilders and anyone who makes the gym their second home. There is growing interest among more causal health enthusiasts in supplements that support more than just their workouts, but their general wellbeing. Expect to see a sharp rise in both CBD and kratom in the coming months.
2. Increased Focus on Mental Wellness
As we’ve already seen with the selling points gyms are adopting for their various classes, mental wellness is becoming a topic more and more health enthusiasts are concerned with. While this is evident in the growing popularity of the aforementioned CBD and kratom, it will also be a key aspect in the increasing popularity of fitness activities that blend the physical with the mental, such as yoga and mudras. These exercises will address the practitioner’s physical bodies by focusing on strength, flexibility, or stamina while promoting a more positive mental outlook.
3. Health by Subscription
Gym goers and diet clubbers have dealt with monthly memberships for decades, but monthly fees will make their way into more areas of home health and fitness. With the rise in popularity of monthly boxes and faster, more reliable shipping logistics, getting healthy, balanced meals delivered to your front door is easier than ever. Meanwhile, tech is able to beam personal trainers and targeted workouts to your phone, tablet, or connected workout equipment for a monthly fee. These subscription plans let anyone get the benefits of professionally designed fitness plans and nutrition from the privacy of their own home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry, collaborating with industry insiders and designers, getting insight on the latest trends.
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