Top 5 Wellness Trends For 2021

Top 5 Wellness Trends For 2021

It’s time to close the books on 2020 and look forward to the new year. We spoke to Dr. Deanna Minich about what we can expect to see popping up for 2021 wellness trends. There are a few surprises on the list, even for us!

Move over kale, it’s time for broccoli

For years, many people have had a love for all things kale, especially in green smoothies and other creative recipes. However, the trend that’s picking up is kale’s cruciferous brother, broccoli. Not just the florets, but all the many forms of broccoli, including leaves, stalks, sprouts, teas, diced ‘rice’, and more. Steaming broccoli is a good strategy to maximize its detox potential—you can even find it in certain superfood powders for an easy morning broccoli boost.

Sulforaphane, one of its main rockstar phytocompounds, seems to win over many other nutrients when it comes to what it can do for the body’s ability to defend itself against oxidative stress, and broccoli sprouts have the highest levels. Pro tip: including some powdered mustard seed with steaming your broccoli will maximize sulforaphane, too.

Breathe in, breathe out

When it comes to detox, most times we hear about the gut and liver. However, 2020 brought to light the importance of the lungs with a focus on the spread of COVID-19 and even the wildfire smoke pollution on the West Coast. In 2021 wellness trends, we expect even more emphasis on the lungs as it relates to detoxification: clearing, cleansing, and supporting through air filters, breathing techniques, essential oils, and respiratory-supportive nutrients like echinacea, elderberry, and even zinc. Protecting the mucus membranes is the name of the ‘detox’ game!

Probiotics are in the backseat, prebiotics are the driver

In 2020, there was a surge of literature around different fibers and their role in the gut microbiome. Terms such as ‘postbiotics’ and ‘parabiotics’ began to emerge in the science. We now recognize that what is truly essential in proper elimination is getting the gut milieu right for the growth of the ‘good guy’ bugs. Fermented foods, short-chain fatty acids, and even polyphenols are the detox mantra for the gut, and have the right amount of complexity and value-add for helping healthy microbes to flourish! Expect more on fermented foods on the go in 2021, targeted fats for the gut in beverages, and even specific polyphenols in supplements to foster microorganisms for a desired benefit.

Cooking can make a food toxic

One of the hottest items in cleansing is not just food, but how the food is prepared and in what pan/pot. It’s the number #1 question I get when people wake up to living a more ‘Lifestyle’. With more people being at home and working virtually, there will be more interest in how to cook for the best detox potential. Air fryers have been big, but that might change as people learn more about the inflammatory effects of crisp, fried foods. Also, we are learning from studies that adding culinary spices to foods before cooking them can help reduce their toxic compounds.

It’s not just the person, it’s the planet

Packaging innovations, whether compostable, plastic-free, organic, and an emphasis on regenerative agriculture is on everyone’s minds, from companies to consumers. People are buying not just for what’s in the package but for what the package is made of, too. The experience of a pandemic has made the global population aware of our environmental imprint and just how much the environment changes our health. When we treat our environment with care, we are doing ourselves good, too.

Thanks for reading our 2021 wellness trends! We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year’s Day!

Written by the Clean Team

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