Why is gut health important when it comes to a healthy diet? Well, according to Dr. Sooraj Tejaswi, an Associate Professor at UC Davis:
“All food is broken down in the gut to a simple form that can enter the bloodstream and be delivered as nutrients throughout our bodies.”
The reason every form of life on this planet needs food in some way is so that we, as in everything, can exist. What we eat is broken down by the gut. From there, nutrients travel to the various systems in our bodies. Therefore, maintaining a healthy gut - which includes eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats – will remain a crucial aspect of a healthy diet for not only 2024, but also for many years to come.
Sticking to a diet is hard for a variety of reasons. Perhaps there is no time to prepare a healthy meal; maybe a diet requires a lot of expensive ingredients; sometimes, that piece of cake just looks too good to pass up. There is also something incredibly discouraging about failing to stick with a dietary plan, especially after a decently long run. An occasional mistake shouldn’t put a stop to your health goals. Therefore, 2024 will be the year that embraces flexibility.
For example, there are plenty of benefits to a vegetarian lifestyle. However, for some, cutting out meat all together might be asking too much. As an alternative to the rigidity of vegetarianism, there is the Flexitarian Diet, which focuses on a diet primarily made up of plant-based foods, but also allows for the occasional meat dish.
The practical benefits of a flexible dietary pattern, like the Flexitarian Diet, takes into account hectic schedules, as well as the periodic urge to eat a nice steak dinner. There does need to be a genuine effort to shift one’s diet to include mostly fruits, veggies, non-animal proteins, and whole grains, but one bad day won’t be the end of the world.
Parents, teachers, doctors, everyone has drilled in the importance of keeping our bodies healthy with plenty of exercises and, of course, a proper diet. However, come 2024, the brain and its health will start to become equally crucial. Although our bodies carry us through the day, it is our mind that makes us, us. A good book or an exciting night class might work the brain like a muscle, but an additionally robust diet will also have its benefits.
Sadly, as of now, there is no way to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease outright, but keeping a healthy, active mind through a diet filled with leafy greens, nuts, and berries can help lower the risks. Thus, something like the MIND diet will most likely grow in popularity over the next year.
This list might be focusing on the coming dietary trends of 2024, but that is kind of the reason why physical activity is here, too. In recent years, the emphasis on healthy eating and regular exercise working together as a unit rather than two separate steps has grown. To live a better lifestyle, a person should adhere to both sides of this coin.
When working in tandem, a proper diet and physical activity help prevent many serious health problems, which include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Or to put it another way, no amount of salad is going to do a person any favors if they spend their entire time lazing around the house. Alternatively, all those push-ups won’t matter much if a whole cake is for dessert.
It is easy to say that dieting is for a healthier life. However, what does healthy mean exactly? It is a word that can vary greatly from person to person. Health goals can go far beyond losing weight; other medical problems may take priority. Perhaps losing a few pounds to fit into a summer swimsuit doesn’t hold as high a value as controlling one’s blood pressure, mental state, or cholesterol.
A dietary trend for 2024 will be people seeing their health more narrowly. Eating a balanced diet is difficult in any form. Still, why swing at the broad strokes when a little finessing is all that needs doing? From the previously mentioned MIND Diet to the DASH Diet, which can help with hypertension, there is plenty of variety to meet a person’s specific needs.
U.S. News ranked the Mediterranean Diet as the best overall diet going into 2024. Thus, it should go without saying that there is a chance it will be trending over the coming year. Now, when hearing the word “Mediterranean,” stop imagining stacks of Italian pizza or Greek lamb. Think for fruits, legumes, seafood, and extra virgin olive oil, with limits on red meats.
Folks residing along the Mediterranean have historically lived longer, healthier lives than most Americans. Along with that, the Mediterranean diet can help reduce the risks of cancer, promote brain health, and control diabetes. So, if there is one diet to try in 2024, why not make it this one?
Here it comes. In all seriousness, hemp and its health effects have been on the rise for the past several years. There is no reason to think 2024 will be any different. More to the point, though, it is
Hemp seeds are nutritious; they help reduce heart disease; they are an excellent source of plant-based protein; the list can go on and on. Plus, hemp hits many of the other points listed above. Be it this year or much further in the future, you can expect this to be a recurring trend.
