11 TRENDS THAT DEFINITELY WILL HIT DENMARK IN 2017

Interest in health and well-being has never been greater, and it’s not going to be less in 2017, I can promise you that. So what’s next in this wonderful, sometimes weird world of wellness?

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1. Longevity Foods

Longevity Foods will replace Superfoods. See Ya, Acai - the new superfoods are:

The black garlic is fermented garlic. It's long been valued in Asia, and has recently had its debut in Danish shops too. The black garlic has twice as many antioxidants as fresh garlic, can help us stay younger for longer and is cholesterol lowering. Its gentle, sweet flavour makes it a versatile superfood too. You can add it to any recipe in which you'd use fresh garlic, from pasta dishes to soups and stews. And the best part? No garlic breath.

Avocado oil. While the coconut oil is well-known for its many health benefits, those promises haven't been without some scepticism. As those doubts continue to surface, we're seeing avocado oil spike. Avocado oil has many health benefits including lowering blood pressure and helping relieve arthritis and psoriasis.

Dragon fruit. This beautiful though slightly strange fruit is more than just a pretty face and will probably land on a few more lunch plates this year, when it dawns on us just how extremely rich it is in vitamin C and carotenoids. It helps keeping us young and supple, and it does its part in combating diabetes, arthritis and acne and in keeping the heart healthy.

Nutritional Yeast. Also known as "nooch," this longevity food is actually deactivated yeast. Unlike its cousin, it won’t rise during baking, but it's a rich source of vitamin B12, a nutrient that boosts the energy, protects the brain, and promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails. It's also a complete protein (a protein source like meat, eggs, and milk that contains all nine essential amino acids), so it's a great addition to vegetarian and vegan diets. Its cheesy, nutty flavour makes it a great healthy topping for salads or salty snacks like popcorn.

2. Mushrooms

- Not the psychedelic ones or the ones we put in the chicken and mushroom pie. No we are talking species like: reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion's mane, himematsutake and turkey tail. These mushrooms have the ability to protect our bodies from toxins and help balance out the stressors we constantly face and they have never been needed as much as today. Many sorts of mushrooms possess anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, boost the immune system, provide protein, and contain beneficial antioxidants. They are also considered to be adaptogens and they're also one of the few natural sources of vitamin D with anywhere from 140 to 2,000 IU per 100 grams of mushrooms.

They are available as supplements, but they are also very likely to show up as a mushroom latte on the trendy cafes menus soon like this SHROOM SHAKE from Lifehouse in California.

3. Watermelon Water

Watermelon Water will take over from coconut water. Watermelon is a powerful source of vitamin-C plus flavonoids such as lutein, lycopene, and beta-carotene. These antioxidants protect the body against free radicals, which can cause inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, strokes, and heart attacks. Especially the substance lycopene is a magnificent skin renewer, which is particularly effective in reducing damage caused by the sun.

4. The Ketogenic Diet

The Ketogenic will become the new paleo. Keto is one of the most popular wellness trends at the moment and dozens of Keto Instagram accounts, cookbooks, and podcasts are now starting to emerge. While plant-based diets are still beloved and going strong, people are intrigued by the potential neurological benefits of this high-fat, low-sugar diet that has been used as an effective treatment for epilepsy since the 1920s and is now being studied as a therapy option for conditions like Alzheimer's and autism.

The main goal of the Ketogenic diet is to train your body to rely on fat (instead of glucose) for fuel. When you restrict your intake of carbohydrates you enter a metabolic state called ketosis in which the body produces ketone bodies from fat to use as energy. Ketosis is a totally normal evolutionary adaptation for times when food was not quite as plentiful and available as it is now.

5. Adaptogens

Adaptogens are a specific class of plants known for their ability to heal the body's adrenal system, thereby helping it cope with stress. We call them adaptogens because they're able to identify the specific needs of your body and act accordingly. They've been utilized in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Rhodiola / Arctic root (Rhodiola) is the most well-known adaptogen in Denmark at the moment and is known to improve sleep and relieve anxiety and stress. Other adaptogens include ashwaganda, astragalus (cortisol reduction), tulsi (anti-aging), rhodiola and more. You can buy most in supplement form.

If I'm to highlight one possible adaptogen that many more probably will add to their smoothies in 2017 it will be the maca powder made from a Peruvian root vegetable. Maca is believed to promote energy, stamina, fertility, and sex drive. It’s also a rich source of B vitamins; vitamins C, D and E; iron; copper; and potassium, maca powder unarguably provides a simple way to increase your micronutrient intake.

6. Palo Santo

We want to clear the air. The ancient practice of smudging, or purifying a room with the smoke of certain sacred items, is thought to clear negative energy from a space. Palo Santo is a sacred wood used for this purpose—it's in the same family as myrrh and frankincense. Sage is also an option.

This trend is connected with our increased focus on reducing the physical stuff in our space by minimizing and clearing our clutter. We want to own less, have less mess and a more simple life.

7. Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and it’s one of the proteins that helps keeping our skin smooth and our joints supple, but as we age our ability to effectively produce it diminishes and the Western diet offers up few such opportunities. A growing number of people however have discovered that the secret to glowing skin, shiny hair, strong nails, flexible joints and healthy digestion is to eat this fibrous protein. Eating collagen is also an effective way to minimize recovery time after workout.

8. Sobriety

In the past, if someone said they were "sober," it usually meant they were a recovering alcoholic, but over the past few years, a shift has started to occur.

With our preoccupation in all things health and wellness, green smoothies are up and drinking is down. In fact, juice crawls are replacing bar crawls, and "sober is the new drunk" for the millennial generation.

There also seems to be a growing need for real connection between people, where drugs and alcohol disconnects the genuine connection to other people and to our own true self and thus also the ability to find and fulfil our purpose.

We've already seen that spark of this trend in the US, as evidenced by the popularity of events like Daybreaker, offering pre-work morning-dance-parties and mindfulness/music/meditation events.

The popularity of these alcohol-free shindigs is only growing, and in 2017, we'll see even more of a shift toward mindful interactions and refreshing alternatives to booze

10. CLEAN BEAUTY COUNTERS

Women are now reading the labels on their beauty products as carefully as food labels. They’re scanning moisturizers for ingredients to avoid and seeing skin care as an extension of their health. As a result, chic, cleaner beauty products are getting way more accessible.

11. Sauna Reinvented

From theatrical Sauna Aufguss events to jaw-dropping amphitheatre saunas... sweating will get more spectacular, social and fun in years ahead.

Although Sauna Aufgus has been known in the Nordic countries for quite a few years now, the old sauna traditions will be dusted off and lifted to almost event-like levels according to "Global Health Summit".

The new sauna trends:

Huge, hip, new sauna amphitheatres where 50-300 people sweat communally.
Architects reimagining saunas as cool community spaces (with music, food, bars, and talks on art and culture)
More saunas deep in nature (floating on lakes, etc.)
Trendy “urban sweat lodges” using infrared saunas

12. Mental Wellness

Stress, noise and the constant attention to the digital devices have increased the demand for tools to rediscover calm and improve quality of life. In recent years, yoga and meditation classes have popped up in several wellness studios all over the world. And inspired from New York and LA yoga and the wellness industry in Northern Europe will also go a step further and expand with sound healing, visualization, aroma therapy and dream meditation.

2017 Health & Wellness Trends