This post is a part of Sprig & Vine’s month of wellness 2019: expect Good Food Good Vibes all January long! We will be posting content throughout January that will help you kickstart the year feeling well and good, with healthy eating hacks, feel-good recipes, and tons of wellness inspiration.
If last year was any indication, the global wellness world shows no signs of slowing down. In 2018, we saw CBD go mainstream, embraced the healing powers of magic mushrooms, and the Keto diet took over the world (See our wellness trends for 2018 here). According to experts, innovations to boost consumer health and well being will definitely continue to grow this year, but with greater transparency than ever before. In 2019, wellness will become more open and accessible. Also an important theme will be a return to ancient practices that have withstood the test of time, in an effort to make wellness simpler, fuss-free, and fit into our busy schedules.
Let’s take a look at some of the top health + wellness trends we’ll be following in 2019:
CAULIFLOWER MANIA CONTINUES
This veggie has easily become the rockstar of the health world, and isn’t going anywhere. From pizza crusts, to healthier mashed potatoes or mac-and-cheese, and “rice,” the cauliflower has transformed our eating habits. The growing popularity of plant-based, low-carb, and gluten-free diets has played a large role in cauliflower’s dominance in the health food world, as it adapts easily to many recipes.
CALMING NERVES WITH CBD
Incase you haven’t noticed, CBD went mainstream last year. CBD, or cannabidiol (found in hemp oil) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and anti-pain properties. This year, we’ll be seeing a lot more of it, with a wave of new CBD products in the market — from balms, skincare products, and pain-relief patches to sleep-aid tinctures and more. As research and regulation around CBD gets clearer, expect to see it on bathroom shelves across the world.
SLEEPING MORE, SLEEPING BETTER
In 2018, sleeping more became a thing. We saw a shift in attitude towards sleeping, as it started getting recognised as an important and fundamental part of overall physical and mental health. In 2019, we’re going to see ways in which we can get better quality sleep. More people are establishing nighttime routines with less screen time (the iPhone even has a night mode that emits less blue light), and turning to sleep logs or sleep journals in efforts to optimise their sleep cycles.
EATING FATS TO GET FIT
With the explosion of the Keto diet that places an emphasis on high fat and low carb, as well as the realisation that healthy fats actually aid weight-loss, eating fats to get fit is a mantra that will run through 2019. Think MCT oil or butter in bulletproof coffee, cooking with ghee, coconut butter filled chocolates and protein bars, and a new wave of snacks called “fat balls” that are great for those who practice intermittent fasting.
HEALING CRYSTALS AND MYSTICISM
Crystals, tarot, palo santo, sage sticks, sound baths were big in 2018, as mysticism and an element of spirituality entered the approach to wellness. Though healing crystals are an age old tradition in many parts of the world, they’ve entered mainstream wellness in a big way now. The beauty industry especially is embracing the trend. Semi-precious stones are blended into formulas to balance the skin’s energy, and facial massage tools like the jade roller or the gua-sha embrace the powers of crystals to heal the skin from within.
FLAVOUR INSPIRATION FROM ASIA AND OCEANIA
Flavours from Asian countries and regions along the Pacific Rim (Hawaii, Philippines etc) are finding their way across global kitchens, as ingredients like sambal, or shrimp paste are appearing in pantries, grocery stores, and menus everywhere. Tropical fruit is getting a ton of attention too — guava, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mangoes, pineapples are all immensely popular. Expert modern cuisine in 2019 to be greatly inspired from flavours and ingredients of these regions.
MODERN DAY AYURVEDA
The increase in popularity of Ayurveda spurred a boom in khichri cleanses and adaptogens like ashwagandha; turned turmeric into a global obsession; and made ghee a pantry staple. As this 5000 year old practice comes into mainstream consciousness, there’s been wave of products that have flooded grocery store isles. Consumers are seeking science-backed and time-tested forms of alternative healing as opposed to trendy fads, making Ayurveda their go-to choice. Individuals and practitioners are trying to make Ayurveda more accessible to people, simplifying it to fit into modern day schedules and allowing an individualistic approach to holistic health.
MARINE OBSESSION
In the past couple of years, we’ve seen a rise in ‘faux-meats,’ or plant-based “meats” to replace animal protein. This year, it’s the turn for plant-based fish products, made with pea or potato protein, and fish-free tuna. Also gaining popularity are “marine munchies,” seaweed based snacks and food items, from kelp noodles and seaweed chips, to more interestingly — puffed water lily (lotus) seed snacks. Also known as makhana in India, these puffed and roasted seeds (often flavoured with spices) an immensely popular superfood snack here, is set to go mainstream.
CLEAN BEAUTY, GREEN BEAUTY
Consumers are getting smarter about reading ingredient labels, and are staying away from cosmetics and beauty products filled with toxic ingredients and chemicals. We have a better idea of what’s bad for us, and are looking for cleaner, greener products made with ingredients we actually recognise. While retinoids have always been the standard in skincare for years, this is the year that bakuchiol, a gentler plant-based retinoid alternative, will take the skincare world by storm. We’re also turning to home remedies and natural ingredients to take care of our skin — think clay masks, homemade ubtans, etc.
RECLAIMING WELLNESS
When your wellness routine that is designed to make your life more balanced is stressing you out, it’s time to switch things up. Often (and largely due to the pressures of social media), wellness becomes another item on your to-do list that you just don’t have time to get to. The wellness industry is booming, but that means our Insta feeds are flooded with the perfect #selfcaresunday picture, food magazine worthy meals, and workout inspiration. This pressure to engage in wellness can be overwhelming, exhausting, and anxiety inducing.
In 2019, the aim is to reclaim wellness, to streamline and simplify practices. It’s a year when we get honest about which self-care practices we can fit into our schedules without losing our minds over it. The idea is to return to the point where you can actually enjoy the practices and routines you cultivate, and get that self-care mojo back.
Which wellness trends are you most excited about in 2019?
Let us know: leave a comment, or tag @sprigandvine.in on your photos on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #goodfoodpractices
