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With the New Year coming up, there are several predicted nutrition trends. As dietitians in the grocery store, we constantly see new products promoting health. Some are actually beneficial, others not so much. After scouring the internet, there are a couple predicted trends for 2018 to be on the lookout for.
Some of the top predicted trends in 2018 include:
Healing spices – turmeric
Adaptogenic mushrooms
Functional drinks – activated charcoal and collagen
Plant-based diet – nut-milk products and pulses
Craft kombucha
Probiotics
Jackfruit
Healing spices are still here!
Spices are a great way to add depth and flavor to your dishes. Turmeric, in particular, contains curcumin which has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory affect and may help improve symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may aid in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, and help to prevent cancer (here and here). While turmeric does show promise, many of these doses were very high (2-7g), an unrealistic amount to consume on a daily basis.
What can you do? Add spices! Try a turmeric latte, add curry powder to stir-fry dishes, add rosemary to roasted potatoes or put fresh basil in your pasta!
Why are people drinking mushroom coffee?
Adaptogenic mushrooms have recently been getting some hype as well. An adaptogen is a substance that, when eaten, may result in stabilization of physiological processes. While we know that mushrooms do possess a variety of beneficial substances, may help improve cancer treatment in vitro (and here), and may have anti-inflammatory properties, more research is needed to identify the active metabolites in specific mushroom species. A good rule of thumb? Eat mushrooms that you can buy in the store.
Functional foods?
Functional drinks will continue to be popular in 2018, in particular activated charcoal and collagen. While there are some benefits of these products, eating more fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean protein are better choices to keep you healthy and energized!
Plant-centric!
A plant-based diet has become increasingly popular, and for good reason. We know that eating more plant foods may provide protection against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity and some cancers. Further, they are environmentally sustainable which is incredibly important in this day and age.
Thus, plant-forward products are hitting the market with steam. Increasing in popularity are the kite hill products such as vegan ricotta, almond milk yogurt, and chive cream cheese. With the market looking for higher protein items, products such as ripple and Silk, may also show an increase in sales.
Additionally, pulses are still extremely popular. Pulses are the edible seeds of the legume family and include dry beans, dry broad beans, dry peas, chickpeas, cow peas, pigeon peas, lentils, Bambara beans, vetches, lupins and pulses nes (not elsewhere specified). Beans are awesome because they provide tons of fiber, are cheap and very versatile! I think most dietitians will be happy about this trend that is predicted to continue.
What is kombucha?
Craft kombucha is predicted to have a rise in popularity. Kombucha is made by combining a strong lightly sweetened tea with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast, or SCOBY. When the tea is at room temperature, the yeast and bacteria feed on the sugar in the tea, fermenting it. Vinegar and slight carbonation are also created, giving the kombucha a slight tangy flavor. Did you know that Harmons now has kombucha on tap? Bring by your growler and fill up on the good stuff.
Gut health is still here!
It seems like gut health is here to stay. Both prebiotics and probiotic foods are predicted to increase in popularity again this year. Here at Harmons, we have been writing about this for a while (here and here). The bottom line? Eat lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and choose probiotic rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and fermented vegetables to keep your gut happy all year long!
Jackfruit?
Jackfruit will continue in popularity this coming year. Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that is typically eaten as a meat replacement due to its “meaty texture”. For more information about jackfruit, check out what dietitian Laura wrote here!
What do you think the next big trends in health and wellness will bring in 2018?