Wellness Trends Looking Ahead At In 2023

As we know, the pandemic changed the way things functioned in almost every sector. For example, the tourism, hospitality, aviation and many other sectors took a massive hit but not the health and wellbeing sectors. These sectors suddenly became extremely important as people went through waves of issues with regard to mental and physical health. The economy was very fragile and also took a huge blow.  The majority of the population on the planet tried their best to increase their immunity and protect their loved ones.

Wellbeing has become an overarching goal for people nowadays. It affects the food we eat, the supplements we take, the sounds we hear, and even the way we design our homes. It is based on our physical, mental as well as spiritual welfare.

Nearly 80 per cent of consumers believe wellness is important, and it drives the global wellness market to USD 1.5 trillion. Within the last few years, many trends have designed people's wellbeing. Especially, after the pandemic, wellness has gained more significance.

As we have landed on 2023, let's glance at some prevailing topics that can be upcoming wellness trends of the year.

Plant-based Foods

The plant-based food sector is booming as investors pour billions into alternative protein companies and conscientious consumers swap meat for meatless meals. The demand for meat, egg, dairy and seafood alternatives is estimated to reach the USD 290 billion mark by 2035.

Plant-based foods, along with cell-based fermented foods, will make up a large part of this demand as consumers choose healthier and ethically sourced alternatives to meat.

As per several research reports, being healthier is the number one reason people eat plant-based protein products, with over half of consumers citing this reason. A key reason is that these products taste good and add variety to our diet (40 per cent more each). Concerns about the environment and animal welfare are also factors, likely even more so as covid-19 has helped raise awareness of these issues.

Strong consumer demand for more protein is plant-based meat. Now what is it? Well, it is a vegan meat made out of vegetable protein from soybeans, peas, wheat, rice, or combinations thereof. It is often listed as "protein isolate," "textured vegetable protein," or "defatted soybean."

Compared to meat-based products, these alternatives often contain about the same amount of protein and contain essential nutrients such as iron and B vitamins. It adds variety and nutrients, but if you are tolerant of eating meat, this can be a better source of nutrition.

Wellness Tourism

Wellness tourism is gaining traction worldwide, and going to be one of the upcoming trends in 2023. Wellness tourism is travel aimed at maintaining or improving someone's well-being. This can be physical or mental and there are different types of wellness. Activities can be mental, physical, or psychological, but they all promote good health in some way.

Wellness tourism is a concept which is widely gaining attention. “Covid made people realise the significance of health and wellness and that is contributing to the increase in wellness tourism. 2023 will further see this increase with a new wave of Covid. People have also realised that they need to invest in their physical and mental health and are not shying away from it. Your today is the future of your past, because of the choices that you made. So today make your choices with awareness to co-create the life you want. What you resist will persist. Accept with wisdom,” says Rajesh Singh, Founder, CEO, Happiness SOULutions.

Wellness tourism is growing rapidly for several reasons. First, there is a general shift away from the typical sun, sea and beach package tour model that has been the focus of many people's travels over the years and towards more alternative forms of tourism. In addition to this, there is a growing awareness and importance of wellbeing in general across society. People are more health conscious than ever and this is reflected in travellers’ vacation choices.

It improves people's wellbeing, whether it is by teaching people how to eat healthy or to give them space to recover from a particular trauma. By providing room for self-improvement, we can have a healthier population overall. People who are less stressed, healthier and more informed about their diet will make a healthy society.

However, there is often confusion among people that whether medical tourism and wellness tourism same, while they are two different forms of tourism.

Further Spiritual Awakening 

These days, people are much more driven towards spiritual wellness and enlightenment. Spiritual wellbeing is about strengthening the meaning and purpose of life, including morals and ethics. Life can be tough at times, and we often get lost in the process. But by surrendering to spiritual wellbeing, you can find the body, mind, and spirit sync you've been looking for.

In a view to rise in interest of people in spirituality, there are various spiritual awakening sessions, public engagements, and tutorials by spiritual leaders that have increased these days. Yet, in India, people opting for the spiritual path for wellness have a long way to go. In abroad, nearly 43 per cent of individuals go to church and follow spirituality, research says. However, it can be expected that in the wellness sector, the practice of spirituality will gain momentum with time.

Biotech Wellness Tools

It has been predicted that apps and digital platforms will be the new efficient mode of wellbeing. People will be using microcurrent facial tools, red light therapy devices and lasers.

More beauty and wellness tech products will flood the market and people will enjoy the benefits of using certain wellness tools from the comfort of their homes.

Mouth Taping

There has been an interesting development amongst wellness enthusiasts where a trend known as ‘mouth taping’ has been discovered. This involves only taping the mouth while sleeping and hence allowing breathing only through the nose which will lead to humidifying the nasal passages. It can be done only after a consultation with a doctor as it might not be the key to better health, for everyone.

Mushroom Mania

It has been proven that functional mushrooms have high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds that support aspects of health, like sleep, memory, and immunity. This also includes turkey tail mushroom, which has been researched for its protein-bound polysaccharides that stimulate the immune system. Other functional mushroom is the lion’s mane which escalates focus and memory, stress reduction, reduction in inflammation, and increased energy levels.

Addressing Mental Health

Nuffield Health’s 2022 Healthier Nation Index study revealed one in three adults claims their mental health has got worse in the last year. The same statistic is also true of physical health, with a third of UK adults reporting a decline over the last 12 months. Recently the rise in remote working has delivered many benefits for employees, including a greater work-life balance and a reduction in stressful commutes.

Micro workouts 

Micro workouts are seeming to become very popular in a short period of time. Removing the time barrier to exercise is a major factor in the growing popularity of this wellness trend. Being a low-intensity format it makes it easier to squeeze movement throughout the day. It might include a morning dance or a set of push-ups and squats before lunch, and yoga in the evenings to de-stress and unwind.

These are some of the trends that we are expecting to see in 2023 in the wellbeing industry and space.