A HEALTHY YOU
2024 Nutrition Trends
As we transition out of 2023 into 2024, it’s exciting to see what healthy nutrition trends are emerging.
In my role as a health and wellness coach over the past 15 years, I notice my clients have increasingly tried to improve their knowledge of nutrition and they are more determined to eat in ways to achieve optimal health. Overall, Americans are taking a more proactive approach to what they are putting in their bodies. I also find they are experimenting more and trying to incorporate different foods into their diets.
About one in three Americans, or 89 million people, have prediabetes and are at an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. More and more, my clients are replacing sugary or carb-laden foods with high protein snacks that don’t disrupt blood sugar — such as almonds, cheese, walnuts, avocado, eggs, and unsweetened Greek yogurt. We’re seeing more Americans opting for gluten free alternatives to adopt more of an anti -inflammatory diet as the link between gluten and inflammation is more widespread. My clients are looking to incorporate food for disease management and prevention such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats from nuts and avocados.
Other nutritional trends that appear here to stay include the awareness of proper hydration as the connection between hydration and both physical and mental health is apparent. In addition to increased water consumption, there has been a huge uptick in selecting foods and drinks focused on supporting gut health. Interest in topics like gastrointestinal health grew 60% this year compared to last year on EatingWell.com. Experts are expecting that fermented foods and probiotic- and prebiotic-rich ingredients will be a primary focus for the year to come as people try to really focus on optimal gut health through diet.
Energy drinks are not typically considered a health or wellness product in that they are often high sugar with all sorts of unknown additives. Despite that, the demand for energy drinks remains high but the new trend will be for a clean, lower sugar energy drink. These products use natural ingredients such as green tea and honey to boost energy levels.
About the Author
Cynthia Conigliaro is the Sales and Marketing Director for Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm focused on employee emotional wellbeing and organizational culture analysis. For almost five years she has worked alongside the owner of OWLS to design and implement mental health related employee wellness trainings and workshops for organizations across the United States.
For almost 15 years she has had her own health and wellness coaching business. Cynthia works with individuals and groups and runs virtual and in person workshops for employees on a variety of health and wellness topics relating to both physical and mental health. She is an Infinite Possibilities Certified Trainer and a Resilience and Life Coach. She has been a volunteer with the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) for the past 4 years where she sits on both the Programs Committee and the Marketing Committee. Cynthia has her Master of Social Work and her Master of Business Administration from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Spanish from College of the Holy Cross.
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