These top 8 food and fitness trends may help you achieve optimal health in 2024

The new year means adopting fresh food and fitness trends that will bring you a better version of yourself. There were more than several highlights throughout the year, but a few are definitely better off staying in 2023. Let’s focus on bringing the options that will keep us fit in 2024!

What Optimal Health Looks Like

Before diving into the best trends, it’s key to set the record straight about what optimal health really is. A 2023 study finds that many groups around the world have a high risk of developing body image concerns due to many variables. One key factor is a discrepancy between their perceived and ideal weights.

Many people often glamorize thinness as a benchmark for health. However, this idealization may result in habits that can actually set back both your physical and mental well-being. It’s essential to recognize that every person’s optimal health is different because each one has their own body shape and type.

When getting into a food or fitness trend, don’t obsess over staying thin or keeping with what society dictates to be the right diet or activity. Instead, focus on avoiding diseases and doing what makes your body and mind feel good.

Fitness Trends To Follow

The options and routines can seem limitless when you want to work out your body. For this, let’s dive into a few fitness fads that you can take until the end of 2024 and beyond.

1. Fitness Tracking

Smartwatches have fitness-tracking abilities that can help you check different metrics. People use them for their workouts, but they also work for your day-to-day activities. And with the integration of AI, they’ve come a long way from just tracking movements and counting steps.

For instance, these wearables can now analyze the body’s position and provide training suggestions with AI. Some can even record your sleep patterns and send out motivational messages when it detects stress.

Fitness tracker apps on mobile devices are also quite useful to try out. There are variations that will let you record how much exercise you’ve done and list the meals you’ve taken throughout the day. If you really want to take it seriously, you can even input your water intake.

2. Wild Swimming

With more and more people set to travel this year, there’s no shortage of travel activities to try out. While hiking and cycling are staples, there’s a high chance that wild swimming will appear in the trends.

Whether it’s a swim at a local river or in the open ocean, it can feel exhilarating to be in the natural water. Plus, you can burn around 200 calories with a 30-minute light swim. For reference, a whole spoonful of peanut butter constitutes 200 calories.

3. Partner and Group Exercises

Partner and group workouts are another popular option as the world continues to heal from the pandemic. Aside from moving and sweating, you get to grow closer with different people throughout the exercises. Since optimal health is a balance of physical, mental, and social health, this is definitely a trend to try out in 2024.

4. Yoga

People have been teaching and doing yoga for centuries, so it stands to reason that it’ll stick for years to come. No complaints, though— these exercises help strengthen your muscles and improve your flexibility. The meditation aspect is also perfect for centering yourself amid everything going on in your life.

Food Trends To Get Behind

After working on your fitness, it’s essential to thank your body with good food. You deserve to eat a healthy and balanced meal every day, and these trends should help you achieve that.

5. Plant-Based Protein Powders

Proteins are necessary nutrients for your body but often come in heavy forms. Think potatoes, rice and eggs. However, you can now swap it out for plant-based protein powders. These are perfect for a pre-workout smoothie.

Plus, there are vegan plant-based protein powders packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It’s the perfect option if you are abstaining from whey and other animal ingredients. Or if you just want a nice fruity taste to your protein shake.

6. Sustainable Produce and Packaging

Sustainability is starting to gain a lot of traction in many aspects of life and food is included in the mix. About two in three consumers look for food with clean ingredients and high nutritional value from their local community.

Aside from economic efficiency, many people are also assessing the packaging. Paper straws had a notable moment and they’re starting to spread in convenience store lunch boxes and drink cartons. While edible packaging is still in the works, it’s worth supporting.  

7. Social Eating

To accompany group exercises, it’s only fair to note group meals. Families and friends are encouraged to eat together for multiple reasons. For example, a 2023 study reveals that social eating can boost self-esteem in teenagers. It also motivates regular eating habits throughout the week. If you find yourself missing breakfast, lunch or dinner, call in a loved one.

8. Skin-Clearing Food

The avid desire to have clear skin in the last few years sparked curiosity about what food can help you achieve that dewy skin. To answer the question, fatty fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids can soothe inflammatory skin conditions. Red grapes and tomatoes are also high on the list, but remember that each person’s skin may react differently to these foods.

Become Your Best Self in 2024

Feel free to pick out a couple of these points to try out, but remember that food and fitness trends will always come and go. In the end, just see what sticks with your routine. If it keeps you feeling balanced and healthy, that is more than enough.