HEALTH

We’ve watched many fads come and go and waited to see which seemed like they were sticking around for 2019. Here are the home remedies, gadgets, lotions, potions, and movements we think might actually work, the ones we’re not quite sure about, and the ones that are probably BS but still have curious staying power.

Lip care is essential

Frankly, it’s amazing that the skin care industry has only recently realized that they can make us as obsessed with caring for our lips as we are with the rest of our faces--especially when there’s cold, dry air attacking our mouths, and a stick of Burt’s Bees doesn’t quite cut it. The market is currently glutted with lip-

Our faces have become gardens

This metaphor goes surprisingly far: First, we begin by making the soil fertile -- as in, making sure your skin’s microbiome is healthy with a balance of good bacteria. You’re best off doing that through diet, but there’s some evidence showing that topical prebiotics and probiotics might be beneficial in treating conditions like eczema and acne too. You might want to add some dirt, or, well, clay, to your regular mask routine.

"Clean" beauty replacing "natural" beauty

Sometimes we still buy skin care products because the labels are cool. But overall consumers are getting smarter about ingredients. We aren’t falling for things labeled "natural" or "green" without turning the bottle around and reading what’s in them. Arsenic and lead are also products of nature, after all!  We have a better idea of which things are possibly or probably bad for us. (Think: parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, etc.)

Nontoxic is not a sexy word to put on those bottles and websites, though… so "clean" took its place. Whole brands, sections of Sephora, and many a magazine product roundup are dedicated to this catchall category. Is a lot of this still marketing speak? Yeah. Will we still use some of the "dirty" products too? Of course we will.

Food trends

With the beginning of the new year typically comes a new set of resolutions, and for a lot of us, it starts with what’s in our pantries and fridge. Gone are the days of low-fat diet products, smoothie bowls, and kale. Even gluten-free snacks are losing steam.

Rather, 2019 is a year filled with juxtapositions: From plant-based refreshments to saturated-fat flavor bombs and from marijuana-laced snacks to gut-healthy eats, it seems we all have pretty opposing ideas about what’s "good" for our health. But no matter your wellness strategy, you can expect some new tasty products to support it.

Crickets are creeping into breakfast

The next big thing in the protein movement is surprisingly small. In an effort to find a more sustainable answer to North America’s obsession with protein, insects are becoming a big deal. A market that was estimated at $33 million worldwide in 2015 is expected to exceed $50 million by 2023 in the United States alone. In addition to using fewer natural resources compared with animal protein, cricket protein contains three times the protein of beef, twice the iron of spinach, and more potassium than a banana. Today, we’re seeing the little jumpers find their way into protein powders, bars, and ready-to-eat snacks (if you’re feeling extra brave).

The cheesier, the better

The low-carb keto train has officially left the station and is full speed ahead, meaning cheese is back on the table as a legit healthy choice. And as fellow cheese fiends, we can’t think of a better announcement to make. Market research experts have estimated that the global cheese snacks market is expected to rise more than 5 per cent by 2025. Expect to see lots of packaged dried cheese options for low-carbers, cheese-flavored chips and crackers, and protein-rich "snack packs" with cheese at the fore.

- Courtesy: greatist.com