2023 Wrapped
Best Health & Wellness "Trends" of the Year
The health and wellness version of Spotify wrapped, except instead of telling you that you listened to 8,000 minutes of Taylor Swift’s 1989 album (that dropped in October), I’m going to take you through what I think were some of the best health trends this year that people should definitely take into 2024, and the trends that for the love of god need to be left behind.
In Our Healthy Era
1. The thing that I noticed become super popular amongst women this year was getting off of hormonal birth control. I don’t have a single friend who hasn’t gotten off of it or is not at least considering it. The pill is great for preventing unwanted pregnancy, but as for other reasons it is used - acne control, painful periods, weight management… all of these concerns are signs of a problem that can be solved through diet and lifestyle choices and using the pill only masks the issue. There are 2 great books on this topic if you’re intrigued - This Is Your Brain on Birth Control by Sarah E. Hill, and Beyond the Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten.
2. In 2023 we said goodbye to Tide!! The realization of how so many products in our home are filled with toxic chemicals and fragrances has blown our minds. Laundry detergent was a big one, but also air fresheners, cookware, skin care, feminine care products!! Brands like Branch Basics, Caraway, Salt & Stone, and Osea have crushed it this year as some of the best brands for non-toxic products.
3. Move over Apple Watch, there’s a prettier tracker in town - the Oura ring. When I got mine in 2022 everyone thought it was just an abnormally big ring. This year I had so many people ask me if I’d recommend it, and I am here to officially say… hell yes. This ring has given me in-depth insights into my sleep, my stress levels, my cycle, and my workouts. Treat yourself this Christmas - use my link and get $40 off :)
Hate to see her go, but love to watch her leave
These might be a tad controversial… but what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t tell you the hard truths?
1. Greens powders… Everyone is drinking them. Look back far enough on my Instagram feed and you will see I was one of the first to ride this train. That is why I am here to tell you that they are a scam (for the most part). If you just included more whole foods in your diet, you’d reap the benefits the greens powders claim to provide. They cannot replace a well-balanced and nutritious diet.
2. One of the first newsletters to come out of Weekly Bites was on the topic of sun exposure. This year I saw so many people develop a fear of the sun. Extra big hats, long sleeves in the summer, and layers upon layers of sunscreen. I assure you the chemicals in your sun bum and banana boat will cause more harm than the sun. We obviously don’t want to burn, and too much exposure to UV rays can also be bad, but the damage that happens due to sun exposure has so many underlying causes. Plus, too little sun exposure prevents us from getting essential vitamin D.
3. I blame influencers for this one… Diet coke. I really don’t even need to explain this one. Drinking it every once in a while won’t kill you, but I draw the line at buying it to have at home. The brands Poppi and Olipop have better coke alternatives.
-Jennell
