We are now a few days into the new year.

So with 2019 now firmly upon us, here are some health and wellness trends that we can expect to continue to flourish well into 2019.

1) Eco-Friendliness And Sustainability 

Many people are becoming more aware about sustainability and eco-friendliness for some time now and this trend is expected to flourish further in 2019.

For example, in Singapore, more running races are taking on the conservation and sustainability theme, such as the Safari Zoo Run for 2019 and the Income Eco Run, which has been going on for the last few years now.

Last year, there were a few environmentally friendly races, too, encouraging runners to, for instance, bring their own bottles, and these had included the On The Hills 10k, The Green Race Ultra and Force Of Nature Ultra.

IKEA has also been all about conservation for the past few years, with plastic bags being chargeable and customers heading to the store being encouraged to bring their own bags when they go shopping there. 

In the new year, expect to see more people embracing the reduction of waste, recycling and other ethical practices in their personal lives as well as in their businesses. As well, biodegradable plastic bags and packaging should become more popular and there may be a surge of people buying in bulk and bringing their own containers instead of purchasing small quantities.

2) Bio Hacking

With more people becoming aware of their bodies and living healthier lives, more people will be trying out different things to help their body systems perform at their optimum.

This trend is commonly known as Bio Hacking and it is where you would use small hacks to upgrade the way that your body functions. Such hacks may range from changing sleep patterns to consuming superfoods and taking supplements such as Astaxanthin.

The trend is set to continue in 2019, with people focusing on identifying personal food sensitivities, sleeping more and even meditating, with the aim of trying to undo their bad habits that may have been gleaned over the years.

3) Skin Treatment

People are always looking at taking care of their skin in their bid to have a pristine complexion, and 2019 will be no different, but the difference is that in the new year, more people will be focusing on natural methods to improve their skin health.

Trends may include using collagen boosting and marine based products, customised beauty treatments, usage of gem stones and botanicals for treatment, and the rise in gut health to support skin health and wellness.

4) Hydration 

We need to hydrate to stay alive and come 2019, water is set to get a makeover, with nutrient water and designer water continuing to hit our shelves. 

And as well, new varieties of alkaline waters and waters infused with other gases such as hydrogen, oxygen and essential oils that apparently provide health boosting properties will continue to be a mainstay in the supermarkets.

Personally, I have tried alkaline water before, and though the taste appears to be the same as normal water, I guess only time will tell at whether the health benefits are worth the extra cost.

5) Plant Based Diets

More people are getting into ‘clean eating’ and becoming more aware of the cruel practices of the animal agriculture industry and its sometimes cruel treatment of animals for food and negative effects on Mother Earth, and are choosing plant-based diets over eating meat.

6) Fitness Competitions

Whether it may be running races, triathlons or CrossFit competitions, more and more recreational athletes these days, are taking part in fitness competitions and posting photos on Instagram of their sporting activities. 

And this trend is definitely there to stay and flourish in 2019, too, with more organisers launching such events to cater to the masses. For instance, in running, there are events almost every week to choose from, with several of such events even being held in the same day occasionally.

For those who are thinking of going into running or triathlon competitions for 2019, the Coached programme is there to help to kick-start your training on a positive note.

Conclusion 

So with such health and wellness trends potentially making it big in 2019, which ones of these will you be trying out? 

And which ones do you predict may simply be passing fads – and what will be here to stay?