The 2022 Health Trends You’re Going to Want to Start Now

Looking ahead to 2022’s health trends, changes in diet, fitness, and self-care are all important. 2021 felt hopeful after we had received vaccinations that allowed us to see the end of the tunnel. However, 2022 is full of uncertainty. The good news is? If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that true wellness should actually make us Feel better. Health trends are less about the latest supplement or best workout. They are more about growing, healing, and improving our quality-of-life. 

Melissa Rifkin, registered dietician, shared her predictions about the year’s health trends. Rifkin is a prominent voice in nutrition. She is all about sustainable, nutritious, delicious ways to eat. Here are the nutrition trends Rifkin believes you will be adding to your diet in 2022. 

1. Prioritizing microbiome health

So you already know that gut health is important, and while you might already take a probiotic supplement, Rifkin predicted that we’ll prioritize adding gut-friendly foods to our diets with not only probiotics (like in fermented foods such a kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, etc.) But with Prebiotics too. “We have heard about probiotics for years now, and prebiotics (the ‘food’ source for probiotics) will continue to become more of a focus in gut health,” Rifkin said. In other words, that probiotic supplement or spoonful of sauerkraut isn’t really going to do anything if the beneficial bacteria doesn’t have “food” to keep it alive. Enter prebiotics. This is a type of fiber that acts like food for probiotics. You can find it in foods like bananas and dandelion greens as well as garlic, onions, and even onions. 

2. Stress management: Eat healthy

Since 2020, when stress became a constant in our lives, we have all become more conscious of stress relief through our exercise routines (hello yoga flows!).), self-care (shout out to my CBD bath soak), and work life (let’s normalize Actually Take a lunch break. In 2022, we’ll be more aware of stress management with our diets too. And no, I’m not talking about bingeing a pint of Ben & Jerry’s after a long workday. “We will hear more about how stress can negatively impact the body and what various ways to manage stress,” Rifkin explained. Rifkin explained that adaptogens will be emphasized (more info below), brain-healthy foods, and more awareness of the impact caffeine has on stress levels. You can start by adding more foods that promote brain health, such as leafy vegetables and fatty fish. Next, you can try matcha or decaf coffee to see if your stress levels change. 

3. Adaptogens in food

The world became aware of ancient superfoods Ashwagandha (Maca) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (Ayurveda) after they took over supplements and wellness routines. “Adaptogens are compounds that help alleviate stress and reduce anxiety. These are typically of plant origin and may be a helpful tool in stress and anxiety management,” Rifkin said. Although you may have already seen adaptogens in powdered or pill form, you can expect to find them in more foods such as chocolate bars, teas and yogurts. This is a great way to reduce anxiety. MONAT Immune Support is a good supplement.

4. Grow your own produce

Even if you don’t think you have a green thumb, you’re about to get one. “From herbs to fruits and veggies, there are benefits to growing produce at home,” Rifkin explained. “You have more control over the amount of chemicals your food is exposed to, and gardening may actually help improve health by encouraging the consumption of produce, getting you outside more, and as a form of stress management.” In other words, people (even in cities) are relying less and less on grocery stores and food suppliers and growing their own when possible. If you don’t have a backyard or it’s too cold where you are to get outside, an indoor herb garden can do the trick (try it on a windowsill or with a light that mimics sunlight). No matter how you decide to grow your own produce, you’ll get healthier, cleaner, and cheaper herbs or veggies in every meal.

5. The power of leafy greens: harness its power

OK, so eating leafy greens is nothing new (doesn’t the majority of your paycheck go to Sweetgreen too?But the food and the health world will continue to rely on the power and versatility of spinach, Kale, and Arugula.Oh my!!). “This year, you’ll likely see a push to include more greens in your diet,” Rifkin predicted. “Fiber, vitamin K, folate, and magnesium are just some of the nutrients found in these nutritious veggies.” For an easy place to start, aim to get leafy greens with two meals a day, whether that’s adding kale to your omelet, ordering a side salad with takeout, or DIYing a smoothie with spinach for an afternoon snack. You can also expect your favorite greens to show up in more sections than the produce aisle, from kale gnocchi (shoutout to Trader Joe’s) to tortilla chips made with spinach. The vegetables your mom forced you into eating as a child will only continue to grow in popularity in 2022.