7 new trends that are shaping the health and fitness landscape

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2017 has been a tremendous year for health and wellness. Technology has pervaded the wellness landscape and provided fitness enthusiasts with all the tools they need to achieve their wellness dreams. This year has also seen the rise of several new and unusual trends that are shaping the health and fitness landscape. Here are a few fads that you may want to try out this year.

Cool yourself with cryotherapy

Cryotherapy has exploded in the fitness scene over the past couple of years with new cryoclinics opening doors all over North America. For the uninitiated, cryotherapy is a technique where users enter a cryogenic chamber and allow their bodies to be exposed to very low temperatures of around -200 to -250 Fahrenheit. You will not be allowed to wear heavy clothing either.

The point is to expose your cells to the cold in the hope that it activates receptors and releases endorphins. Don’t worry about freezing to death yet because the sauna is in a controlled environment and participants will only need to be in the chamber for one to three minutes depending on their tolerance. For a one minute session, they are pricey too with a $45 price tag attached.

Giving new life to ugly vegetables

It is no secret that a lot of food in America goes to waste every year. And most of the times, the reason for wastage is ridiculous like – the carrots are not the right shade of orange or the potatoes are not good looking. To combat this crusade against ugly vegetables, several restaurants have cropped up across the US that serve delicious food made exclusively from these ugly vegetables.

Some of the unique menu items offered include rejected carrot mustard, yesterday’s oatmeal and off-grade sweet potatoes. And what’s more – the food at these establishments are cheap selling, in some cases, for 1$ or lesser. Give these vegetable ugly ducklings the chance to become a beautiful swan. The next time you go to Whole Foods or your local market, try and pick perfectly good vegetables that are blemished and do your bit to help food waste problem in the US.

The Keto Diet

You’ve probably heard of the paleo diet but have you heard of the keto diet. This is the latest and one of the most searched wellness trends this year. The ketogenic diet or keto diet aims to provide all your body’s energy needs through high fat and no card meals. While it may have resurfaced in recent years, this is not a new trend. Doctors have long suggested the keto diet for people with Alzheimer’s and people with neurological disorders.

 Infrared Saunas

Infrared Saunas in contrast to cryogenic chambers use a type infrared heat wave to heat the body up. Unlike traditional saunas where temperatures can go up to 210 Fahrenheit, infrared saunas can do the job in as low as 120 to 140 Fahrenheit. It is like sitting inside a microwave except that instead of microwaves, the heat wave used is infrared. This technique is extensively used in hospitals in incubation machinery. The benefits of this type of sauna include relaxed muscles and joints and a pleasant relaxation.

Health and Wellness Utopia

What started with health and wellness retreat has now grown into health and wellness tourism with several boutique agencies cropping up across the US. These “travel agents” will help you plan a travel across the world whether it is for a spiritual journey or to rejuvenate your body.

Boutique Group Training

Whether you are a CrossFit, SoulCycle or PureBarre enthusiast, these boutique training groups have cropped up all over the country and are the new fad in fitness. Besides providing much needed motivation through group workouts, these trainings also specialize in specific techniques that will help spruce up your fitness routine.

Wellness at Work

What was once work and play has now become workplay. A few years ago, offices started opening gyms but now a whole new trend of working out while you are working has emerged. And employers are supporting this trend more than ever! Employers have begun to realize that a healthy employee is more productive and have started creating programs that reward working out and losing weight.