There seems to be a new fashionable health fad every other week, or is it just me?
They seem to range from the expensive and weird to the potentially sensible offerings. With the majority of us switching on and trying out a healthier way of living, we are constantly being bombarded with the latest health fads that we should be trying in order to achieve better health and well-being. There is so much out there it can be hard to decipher what to take seriously and what to kick to the curb. To be honest, I tend to ignore a lot of it, but tune in from time to time because it is interesting. On the contrary, there are some health fads that I’ve tried, love, and now couldn’t live without. Here are some of my current favourites, which I have incorporated into my lifestyle with relative ease.
Coconut oil
I can’t get enough of this stuff at the moment and as mentioned in last weeks Tried and Tested post I adore this little miracle in a jar. Of course, there is its generic use as an alternative to cooking oil, but there are so many other beneficial uses for coconut oil. During my pregnancy, I’ve been slathering it on practically every day as a moisturizer on my bump and rest of my body, leaving my skin feeling silky smooth. Another one of my favourite methods to use it is in my smoothies or as an alternative to butter in my baking and to make homemade raw chocolate.
Warm water and lemon
Gillian McKeith was on to something when she encouraged everyone to start drinking this wonderful natural elixir first thing in the morning. Healthy living bloggers brought it to my attention and as Beth explains it has many health benefits. For me, it feels like a mini detox every morning that flushes out the toxins from the day before. It’s become a habit that I struggle to live without and is now part of my daily routine.
Chia seeds
When I first heard of chia seeds I was intrigued and both scared by them. They don’t look very appetising and to be fair are quite bland in taste. However, their nutritional value is immense as well as their protein content. I like to use them in overnight oats, chia seed puddings or sprinkled over yoghurt and cereal.
Pre-work out snacks
This is a take it or leave it one for me and really depends on how I’m feeling at the time. At the moment, I’m only working out in half-hourly stints so sometimes feel that I don’t need a pre-workout snack. If I’m working out in the morning and feeling hungry I will have one, but if I’m still full from the night before then I tend to go without and still feel fine.
Green smoothies
Ahhh…this is possibly one of the best blogging discoveries ever! I remember sipping on my first green smoothie and being totally surprised by how wonderful it tasted. Now I make them regularly each week for breakfast or as a snack. Check out my post on green smoothies for the low-down on these super green wonders.
Omega-3’s
The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have been well documented for a while now. Not only are they proven to increase the health of your heart but they’re also known to increase cognitive function. I tend to get my fix by eating fatty fish such as salmon or mackerel at least 1-2 times a week as opposed to taking supplements.
What crazy healthy fads have you come across recently? Have you taken any on board? How did they work for you?
I do find it funny how there’s always something new to sell as well. In the paper yesterday I was reading about this new ‘health retreat’ that said too much exercise made you fat. When I read the article in more detail what it was ultimately saying was how important it is to focus on nutrition, recovery and real foods which makes far more sense but obviously doesn’t make quite as a dramatic headline!!
There is always something new out there, it’s all very interesting I must say. Ahhhh the media and their sensationalist headlines drive me mad!
I absolutely love coconut oil for cooking and skincare.
It’s so great isn’t it!
I have heard a lot about the lemon juice thing, haven’t tried it myself though.
It’s so great! I love it!
I’ve only really used coconut oil for doing curries and stir fry, I really need to branch out more! I love using chia seeds though, they keep me so full from breakfast!
You can use coconut oil in so many ways, it’s quite surprising actually. Glad your on the chia seed bandwagon! 🙂
I love coconut oil for internal/external use, it’s so versatile. I am a big superfoods fan, recently got into mushroom products from 4sigma foods and baobab and really liking those.
Those mushroom products sound interesting Lauren. I’ve never tried baobab before either.
Great post Jemma! I don’t know if they can be classed as ‘fads’ but I swear by kombucha every morning and fermented cod liver oil butter blend with dinner at night (unless I’m eating oily fish.. which is a lot of the time!).
I really like coconut oil and chia seeds, and have them a lot in things. I don’t like the idea of warm water and lemon though- I can just imagine the acid wearing my teeth away! I like trying new foods though and although some are better than others (I don’t think I will buy coconut flour again once I have used up my current box) they are good for a change.
Someone else mentioned the acid and teeth thing to me – need to read more in to that. I’m quite into my dental care so would hate think that I’m ruining my teeth with lemon water.
I totally agree. There is always something new that someone is saying it a “must have”. But some of them I have kept in my diet, most of the ones you have listed above. I do love my daily green smoothie 🙂
I agree that some of them are actually pretty good. It’s the more sensationalist ones that tend to be rubbish.
Coconut oil is my go-to for so many things! Hair care, moisturizer, bubble baths, cooking, I just LOVE it!
Green smoothies and coconut oil are my fav! Especially when you put them together. That hint of coconut flavor is SO yummy.
So true, plus the added benefits of the healthy fat in your green smoothie too. 🙂
I need to try green smoothies everyone seems to love them! ,the colour does slightly put me off though.
Sophie
xx
http://www.pocockins.co.uk
Coconut oil is a big one right now. I love it too though!
I’ve been looking for a list of good ideas and snacks. I need to start eating more healthy!
So happy that you found this useful Alyssa.
Great post!! I totally never thought about using coconut oil in a smoothie. Great to know, especially since it has such great health benefits to it. Love this list. Bookmarked for sure!!! And checking out Beth’s reason’s of drinking lemon water. Thanks for sharing!!
Glad that you enjoyed the post Jamie. Got to love coconut oil. 🙂
I have heard I need to try Chia seeds. Ladiies at my work dump them into their water.
I’ve never seen that before.
I think one of my favorite ‘fads’ (not sure if it counts) has been the rise of pomegranate, Acai, and blueberry in popularity. I love finding them all over the place now!
It’s lovely to see healthy foods are so readily available now and accessible too all. 🙂
Have you tried cucumber in cold water? It’s so tasty. Infuses the water so well and gives such a fresh taste! I wish eating healthily wasn’t so expensive all the time. I eat healthily, but to keep costs down, the ingredients become rather boring!
Katie <3
I bet that is so refreshing. Thanks for the tip Katie!
AHHH I love all of this!! All these things are my absolute favorite!! Hmmm recent fad that I have tried…. probably oil pulling but I’ve been doing that for a while now. I want to try dipping my face is ice water in the mornings..
I’ve never tried oil pulling, but very intrigued by it!
Coconut oil is amazing! I use it as a hair treatment before I wash it. It works well to smooth skin (especially if you have keratosis pilaris) and the other bonus is that you’ll smell like a samoa cookie all day!
I can see it working well as a hair treatment. Need to try this! 🙂
You are right, there are soooo many health fads all the time. I am a firm believer in coconut oil, too! I seriously use it for everything, from cooking to makeup remover.
It’s so great isn’t it!
I love that you sifted through and found what you love. Such a good idea. There’s so much out there that it makes me nuts! I love coconut oil and I need to start drinking my lemon water in the morning again. I keep hearing wonderful things about chia seeds, but just haven’t tried them yet.
Chia seeds are wonderful. It’s true there is so much out there it’s hard to know what to believe.
I am beyond skeptical when it comes to health food fads, but I am most definitely on the coconut oil bandwagon. That stuff can be used for anything! It’s currently my favorite hair product 🙂
I seriously need to start using it in my hair!
Great list! I’m so into chia seeds and coconut oil at the moment.
I’m still not entirely convinced with the lemon water thing. It seems odd that it would really detox you. I’ve heard arguments against anything really detoxing your body when your liver is there purely for that function. However who am I to argue when I don’t do it regularly so can’t know the benefits you feel!
I love the lemon and warm water thing. Perhaps it’s the acidity of the lemon that helps to flush out your system. Chia seeds and coconut oil rock! 🙂
Man, it is hard to shift through some of the dumb food trends that hit. Your list is awesome and I totally agree with it. I have somewhat recently jumped on the chia seed bandwagon and I’ve been having chia seed pudding for breakfast a lot!
Chia seeds are so yummy! I love them in overnight oats too! Such a simple and easy breakfast – and super filling!
I live my green smoothies. Maybe it’s my love of coffee but the warm lemon water gagged me. I’m sure it would take some getting used to.
Chia Seed pudding is the best! You should try it!
Yes to all of the above! Coconut oil is pretty much the miracle oil. I have a huge jar that we just for hair and skin and another huge jar for use in the kitchen.
There are some crazy diet fads out there but I would have to say the ones you love are pretty solid. I have found all of those to help me at one point in time or another.
I love green smoothies! Chia seeds are another favorite! I have been wanting to try coconut oil in cooking, will have to do that soon.
My dad, who has 1,000 health problems, turned me on to coconut oil. LOVE IT! I really want to start making green smoothies in the morning. I’m not a breakfast eater, but I think I could drink it 🙂
Health or diet fads drive me crazy! My family is GF because of my daughter’s Autism- so we pay a lot of attention to new products.
I have been drinking green juices for months now and recently I stopped and gained weight and felt awful! Now Im back on them I feel great again, I really do think there’s a correlation. I also love warm water and lemon in the mornings too. 🙂
It’s really hard to figure out which fads are good and which are bad. I think trying to eat a balanced diet and exercising regularly are good basis for losing weight and being healthy.
I love green smoothies and I’ve really been wanting to try warm water/lemon. My SIL swears by it.
We have such similar bellies. I kept scrolling down, I’m like, “yes, yes, yes, yes ,yes.” hahaha!!
I am all over the coconut oil and chia seeds! Green smoothies still haven’t grown on me yet!
I’ve been on a diet/lifestyle change for 11 months now and love it. Coconut Oil is used a LOT… we buy so much of it!!
I really want to try out chia seeds! I’ve heard they’re great mixed into oatmeal!
Awesome that you’ve narrowed down what you love/what works for you! I myself cannot get enough chia seeds!