The “health and wellness” industry has become exactly that — an industry. What started as a value to achieve or simply just implementing a few healthier habits here and there has evolved into the full-on commodification of products and practices that swear up and down to help you achieve your health and wellness goals. With the internet and social media as its world stage, health and wellness-related trending hashtags, influencers and companies have permeated mainstream consumerism and influencer culture. The top trends are no longer just “what colors are in this season,” it’s “what is everyone’s new favorite way to incorporate celery in their diet.” You don’t even have to look for it to see or hear about the latest hard-to-pronounce additive for your drinking water or that menacingly obscure yet lauded new product eliciting the question of, wait, I’m supposed to do what with that exactly? á la celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, the patron saint of health and wellness influencer culture.
This is not meant to act as a deterrent from practicing certain wellness-oriented habits or wanting to achieve certain health goals, but rather a helpful guide as to which trends are actually beneficial and worth following and which ones are, for lack of a better word, a hoax.
- Chlorophyll water
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If you’re on TikTok at all, you may have come across users raving about the benefits of adding liquid chlorophyll to water and drinking it one to two times a day. Chlorophyll plays a key role in keeping plants green and healthy but also brings vitamins, antioxidants and even therapeutic properties to the table. Fans of chlorophyll water rave about their skin getting better and increased energy levels, other proposed benefits include reduced inflammation, immune support, detoxifying the body and even acting as a natural deodorant. And while the idea of drinking green, chlorophyll-filled water might sound slightly off-putting, it doesn’t taste gross! Most drops are flavorless and some may even have a slight mint flavor to them. Some drinkers even add sliced lemon or lime to their chlorophyll water for an extra citrusy kick.
While studies do show that taking chlorophyll supplements can have the listed benefits as well as several others, there still isn’t enough sufficient evidence to say whether or not it will work for everyone or if it is an absolute must-do. Experts say that eating a diet of chlorophyll-rich veggies will reap those same benefits naturally.
The verdict? Eat your greens, but go for it! If you’re looking for a little boost and want to achieve the benefits of chlorophyll, drinking liquid chlorophyll in water might just do the trick as long as you don’t go overboard with it. Plus, it’ll help make sure you’re drinking more water throughout the day which is always beneficial. You can purchase liquid chlorophyll from health food stores and even on Amazon.
- Vitamin IV drips
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Vitamin IV drips — notedly, not the kind you would receive at a hospital or in any medical setting by a professional — are a celebrity fave. These vitamin IV drips are not administered by medical professionals, but rather administered at boutique “clinics” and offered by companies specializing in IV drips to restore hydration and cure hangovers, boost your immune system and energy levels, boost mental clarity and even help clear skin. Tons of celebrities including Ariana Grande, Chrissy Teigen, Miley Cyrus and Rihanna all have had their IV drip fixes at one point, and receiving these infusions is pretty much up there with every other unconventional celebrity health and wellness fad.
Vitamin IV drip treatments have been a thing for a while now, and most studies and medical professionals continue to suggest that vitamin IV drips are probably not the move. The bottom line is that there is not enough research to prove or disprove some of the supposed benefits and if you’re overall pretty healthy, there’s really no need for you to seek out a vitamin IV infusion. Medical professionals also warn against some of the health concerns and adverse effects these vitamin IV infusions can cause.
Most IV mixtures administered by these clinics and companies are not FDA regulated and can lead to nausea, dizziness, fatigue as well as some other pretty serious side effects such as blood clots and inflammation of the veins. Kendall Jenner was actually hospitalized due to complications from receiving Myers’ Cocktail. Additionally, people with certain health concerns or conditions are not ideal candidates for these infusions, which is another reason such treatments should be under the vise of your doctor or a professional who knows your medical history.
So while there is some wavering on the benefits of vitamin IV drips, it’s probably safest to go without these treatments for the sake of safety and your wallet.
- Oil pulling
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Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing oil in your mouth in order to remove bacteria and promote oral hygiene. Ayurveda is an Indian natural, wellness-based system; in Sanskrit, it translates to “the science of life” and is considered to be the oldest healing science.
The oral hygiene benefits of oil pulling include protection against cavities, gingivitis, and works to remove bacteria from your mouth. All it requires is taking a tablespoon of oil (most recommend raw coconut oil) and swishing it around in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes daily before spitting it out and then brushing your teeth.
Oil pulling is actually one of Gwyneth Paltrow’s daily health and wellness practices, and she even offers an oil pulling kit on her website Goop. But you definitely don’t need to spend a lot of money on purchasing whichever oil you choose for oil pulling. Raw coconut oil, along with the other kinds of oil effective for oil pulling such as sunflower and sesame oil, can be purchased at most grocery stores, health food stores and even online.
While there are some misconceptions and debates about all of the benefits oil pulling offers, the general consensus is that it is a simple and natural practice that can reduce bad breath, remove toxins and bacteria and promote overall healthy dental hygiene. Note, oil pulling isn’t meant to replace your entire dental and oral care routine but is rather a complementary practice to add to your routine that’s worth trying out for yourself.
- Pretty much anything that’s “metabolism-boosting”
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“Metabolism-boosting” has essentially become one of the health and wellness industry’s staple buzzwords. There is seemingly always a current flavor of the month when it comes to new ways to boost your metabolism, whether it’s lemons, apple cider vinegar or actual manufactured products with magical metabolism-boosting benefits.
Most companies and their metabolism boosters claiming to promote weight loss and other benefits seldom actually have a significant impact on weight loss. If anything, these products and their claims often contribute to today’s dangerous and toxic diet culture. A perfect example being the recall and discontinuation of Rae’s Metabolism Drops. After these supposed “metabolism-boosting” liquid drops went viral on TikTok, there was growing concern about people, particularly young and impressionable users, beginning to misuse the product which eventually lead to the company pulling the product completely.
Dieticians and other professionals frequently maintain that these new products or fads are mostly just hype and not sufficiently backed by actual science. So, it’s probably best to avoid buying into these trends and products even if the claims and promised benefits are tempting.
When it comes to trying out something new, do your own research, contact your doctor or seek advice from a medical professional to be on the safe side… Overall, it’s important to do what feels right for your body and ditch what doesn’t.