3 powerful health foods and supplements that you can expect to see everywhere in 2024.
Staying well doesn’t have to be complicated: eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly and prioritise sleep and you’re certain to feel the benefits. But beyond the basics, there are plenty of things we can do to give our wellbeing an extra boost, from stress-relieving techniques, such as breathwork and meditation, to longevity-boosting treatments and gut-friendly hacks.
Perhaps the most popular intervention is the practice of adding supplements and health foods into our diets; you only need to look at the hype surrounding ingredients such as sea moss over the last 12 months to see just how many of us are looking for new foods and nutrients to support our wellbeing.
And as we move into 2024, we can expect even more of these wellness-boosting ingredients to enjoy some time in the limelight. That’s according to Holland & Barrett, whose 2024 trends report identifies several key foods beginning to make a name for themselves in the wellness industry. Here are three of the ones you’ll be seeing everywhere next year.
1. Tremella and turkey tail
If you’ve found yourself on wellness TikTok at all over the last year, you’ll know that mushrooms have become big business. As we head into 2024, that interest is only set to keep growing. That’s thanks to a pair of mushrooms that have dominated Chinese medicine for centuries: turkey tail and tremella. While lion’s mane and reishi may have reigned supreme in 2023, Holland & Barrett predicts that these two mushrooms will be popping up everywhere next year.
But what makes these mushrooms so special? Early research suggests they could provide neurological benefits – something the experts predict we’ll all be paying more attention to over the next 12 months.
Research into tremella has found it has the potential to be a neuroprotective agent, with a study in mice suggesting the supplement could improve learning and memory ability. It’s also becoming an emerging ingredient in the beauty industry, with a 2014 study finding that the polysaccharides found within tremella could reduce the effects of sun-induced ageing on the skin.
When it comes to turkey tail, most of the research has looked at its potential as an immune-supporting agent and gut health aid, but there have been a few studies that have looked into its impact on brain health, too. One clinical trial and several laboratory studies have found that the compounds within the mushroom have antioxidant properties, making them potentially neuroprotective.
Of course, more research is needed to prove these benefits, but as research into mushrooms continues, you can expect to see more fungi-focused supplements and health foods hitting the shelves.
2. Zynamite (mango leaf extract)
The sweet and tasty fruit aside, emerging studies have revealed that the mango tree could offer even more benefits. Mango leaf extract – of which a trademarked version has been made called Zynamite – is growing in popularity as a supplement due to early research which suggests it can support mental alertness, reaction time and even reduce fatigue.
The leaf can be brewed in tea or consumed in a supplement form, but as we move into 2024 we may see more companies incorporating the ingredient into their products. Rachel Chatterton, head of food development at Holland & Barrett, says mango leaf extract is likely to grow in popularity as more of us look for natural ways to stay energised. “Coffee is still the go-to for customers wanting to boost their energy levels, but we’ll increasingly see solutions which incorporate food and supplements to further enhance energy levels,” she explains.
3. Haskap berries
Haskap berries have long been known for their antioxidant properties, but we can expect to see them reach the mainstream as we move into 2024. Celebrated in Japan as ‘the elixir of life’, these berries contain up to four times more anthocyanins – a type of antioxidant naturally found in foods – than blueberries.
While haskap berries may look similar to blueberries on the outside, it’s inside where the difference is to be found; blueberries have a pale green interior, while the inside of a haskap berry is dark purple, which shows us it’s bursting with anthocyanin goodness. Those benefits aside, research into the potential of haskap berries for boosting sports performance is also exciting.
Indeed, one study into the impact of haskap berry consumption in runners found that the berry could increase the amount of time runners could perform before reaching fatigue and lead to a 2% increase in running time performance. Another study found that the supplement could help to boost cognition and blood pressure in older adults – suggesting that the berry could have widespread potential within the health and wellness industry.
