Not to be a bummer, but can you believe summer is almost over? From food swaps to surprising hacks for reducing blood pressure, there’s a lot happening in wellness right now.
We picked out five health trends this week that are easy to incorporate into your day-to-day life.
1. Make zucchini your go-to summer veggie 🥒
Zucchini is an iconic summer staple packed with gut-healthy fiber (which most Americans could use more of), plus vitamins and minerals that support your skin and heart.
It’s also a low-calorie, low-fat food that you can add to everything from salads and sautés to smoothies and even brownies.
2. Frontload your calories before 7 p.m.⌚
There’s no perfect meal schedule that fits everyone’s needs. But research shows that frontloading your calories earlier in the day helps with weight management and other health markers.1
Try moving up mealtimes gradually, like having a hearty breakfast and lunch while keeping dinner light and before 7 p.m. If your mornings are too busy, don’t stress. The key is finding a consistent schedule that’s best for your body and sticking with it.
3. Swap matcha for hojicha 🍵
The ongoing matcha shortage is pushing some tea drinkers to try an alternative: hojicha. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s a roasted green tea that’s also rich in antioxidants.
Hojicha has much less caffeine than matcha, making it a good option if you’re sensitive to caffeine.23
4. Use a HEPA air filter at home 🫁
Breathing easy at home or the office might feel difficult these days, especially if you live in an area with a lot of pollution. Poor air quality does a number on your physical and mental health, but there are some things you can do to improve it.
In one study, people with high blood pressure who used HEPA air purifiers at home for a month saw their systolic blood pressure drop by about 3 mm Hg.4 It may not seem like much, but even small reductions can help lower health risks linked to high blood pressure.
5. Rethink your morning OJ 🍊
Orange juice has long been a breakfast staple, but its sugar content is getting more attention. The FDA recently proposed lowering the natural sugar content required for pasteurized orange juice to help offset citrus farmers’ struggles with crop yields.
While 100% OJ does provide vitamin C and hydration, it lacks the fiber of whole fruit and can spike blood sugar, leaving you with a midmorning crash.
SOURCE: Top 5 Wellness Trends to Try This Week: Eat Earlier, Swap Your Matcha, and Rethink OJ