5 Health Trends to Try in 2017

The best thing about moving into a new year is that it’s a great time to clean the slate and start fresh. Why not shake up your health and fitness routine in 2017 with something different, whether it’s a new superfood on your plate, a new superdrink in your glass, or a new exercise in your arsenal? Check out these five hot health and fitness trends for 2017.

The Latest Supergreen: Moringa
Giving kale a run for its money, the leaves of the moringa tree are high in calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, and they’re also a source of protein. Fresh moringa isn’t currently available in the United States — it’s only grown in the Caribbean, South America, and Africa — so it won’t be in your salad bowl any time soon. But dried moringa powder is showing up in energy shots, bars, and teas. And since it’s grown in Ghana and Haiti by female farmers working to support their families, you can feel good about purchasing it too.

The Newest Superdrink: Plant Waters
You’ve probably heard of coconut water, but how about aloe water, artichoke water, cactus water, or maple water? Plant waters are one of the best things to happen to the drink industry, because they’re a great alternative to sugary sodas and sports drinks. Plant waters hydrate, have an appealing taste, and may provide other health benefits too. Cactus water, for instance, contains electrolytes and antioxidants, so it’s a great post-workout drink.

The Next Natural Food Coloring: Spirulina
Increasingly more food companies are starting to replace artificial colorings with natural alternatives. Red and yellow shades are easy to achieve with spices such as turmeric and paprika, but greens and blues were trickier until just recently, when a candy-maker started using the blue-green algae called spirulina. Juice Plus+ is one step ahead of this trend. We only use natural food colorings such as black carrot juice, elderberry, and annatto in our Vineyard, Orchard, and Garden chewables.

The Ultimate Exercise Motivator: Fitness Trackers
The key to staying motivated to exercise may be as simple as getting concrete feedback on how you’re doing. A fitness tracker can count your steps, keep track of calories burned, and monitor your heart rate. While fitness trackers like Fitbit and Jawbone aren’t exactly new, they are becoming ever more popular. The American College of Sports Medicine recently rated fitness trackers as the most important fitness trend of the coming year.

The Best Exercise Hack: Convenient Exercise
Would you exercise more if you didn’t have to go to the gym to do it? The increasing popularity of body weight exercises — which use your own body weight for resistance — is because they don’t require any special equipment and can be done almost anywhere. Old-standbys like pushups, pullups, and squats are all making a comeback.

Would you rather get the same results from an hour of exercise from just 15 minutes? High-intensity interval training (HITT), which intersperses moderate exercise with short bursts of high-intensity activity, has been shown to provide greater benefits than continuous moderate exercise, without causing as much perceived fatigue.[1],[2] HIIT makes exercise convenient by taking less time, which means you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

What new foods or exercises will you try in the New Year? Share with us in the comments below!

References
[1] Andersen, Charlotte Hilton. 8 benefits of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Shape. http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/8-benefits-high-intensity-interval-training-hiit

[2] Schroeder, Michael O. Is high-intensity interval training your get-fit answer? U.S. News & World Report. July 9, 2015. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/07/09/is-high-intensity-interval-training-your-get-fit-answer

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-next-hot-trends-in-food-1476670682