Health trends often become popular because they promise us improved well-being, vitality, and sometimes a sprinkling of glamour. While not every trend is backed by science, many celebrities have taken to promoting health and wellness habits that could have potential benefits. Here are three celebrity-fueled health trends that have gained significant popularity recently.
The CBD Revolution
CBD, a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, has become a buzzword in wellness circles, primarily due to the endorsements it has received from celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kim Kardashian. This revolutionary substance is reputed to relieve pain, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep – and its rise in popularity parallels the increasing legal acceptance of cannabis and its derivatives in many parts of the world. Plus, it’s just so readily available – take a trip to onefarm.com, buy it at your local grocery store, and it’s simply everywhere.
Naturally, celebs want to make money, and what perfect way to do so than through the latest trends. Celebrity-endorsed brands have introduced CBD in various forms: from oils and capsules to lotions and bath bombs. However, despite the fervent endorsements, scientific studies on CBD’s benefits are still emerging.
While early findings show promise, especially in areas like managing epilepsy, potential users should be aware that the FDA does not regulate CBD in the same way it does drugs and other health supplements, making product quality variable.
The Intermittent Fasting Wave
Intermittent fasting (IF), hailed by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Jackman are crazy about, is another trending health strategy. This eating pattern involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. The most popular method, 16/8, consists of fasting for 16 hours and restricting your eating to an 8-hour window.
While IF has been praised for weight management and improved metabolic health, it’s worth noting that scientific research has not definitively confirmed these benefits. The effectiveness of IF seems to be highly individual, with factors like sex, age, and health status influencing the outcomes.
The Plant-Based Diet Movement
More celebrities than ever are embracing plant-based diets, inspired by both health reasons and environmental concerns. High-profile stars like Joaquin Phoenix, Ariana Grande, and Lewis Hamilton have publicly shared their commitment to plant-based eating. Lewis Hamilton, in fact, even made his dog part of the plant-based diet movement.
Research supports the health benefits of plant-based diets, including reduced risks of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Despite these potential advantages, it’s essential to ensure a well-planned plant-based diet to cover all nutrient needs, especially for those used to omnivorous diets.
Detox Diets
These diets, followed by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, involve a period of extreme dietary restriction with the aim of ‘detoxifying’ the body. However, there is little scientific evidence to support these claims, and our bodies have natural detoxification systems (like the liver and kidneys). These diets can often lead to nutrient deficiencies and are generally not recommended by health professionals. Under the correct guidance by professionals, the detox diet can sometimes be effective.
The science behind detox diets is based on the premise that toxins accumulate in the body and can be removed by certain dietary regimens. However, it’s important to note that the concept of detox diets is not well-supported by scientific evidence.
The body is already well-equipped with natural mechanisms to detoxify and remove waste and toxins. Your liver, kidneys, digestive system, skin, and lungs all play a critical role in this detoxification process.
Here are some key points to consider when it comes to detox diets:
Limited Scientific Evidence: There’s little to no scientific evidence that detox diets actually remove toxins from the body. Most of the research on detox diets involves animal studies or small human studies.
Short-Term Weight Loss: While some people may experience quick weight loss with a detox diet, this is usually due to fluid and carbohydrate loss, not fat. The weight is typically regained after resuming a typical diet.
Potential Nutrient Deficiencies: Detox diets that involve fasting or severe restriction may lead to nutrient deficiencies. They can also cause low blood sugar, potentially resulting in fatigue, lightheadedness, and irregular heart rhythms.
Digestive Health: While some detox plans include high-fibre foods, juices, and fluids, which can aid digestion, some methods like colon cleanses or enemas, can actually disrupt the gut microbiota and cause digestive issues.
Keto Diet
This diet, popularized by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Halle Berry, is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. While it can lead to weight loss, it’s often difficult to maintain, and its long-term effects on health are not fully understood. Some people may experience adverse effects such as low energy, nutrient deficiencies, and an increase in ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.
Your body’s primary energy source is glucose, derived from carbohydrates. When you significantly reduce your carbohydrate intake and replace it with fat, your body has to adapt to using fat as its primary energy source. This shift from harnessing glucose to fat for energy results in the production of molecules called ketones, which are used as fuel by the muscles and the brain. This state is known as ketosis.
The keto diet has many benefits, such as increased energy, treatment for epilepsy, and the control of blood sugar levels – but it can also have multiple negative side effects. Many people attempting the keto diet have to heavily restrict their diet, leading to nutrient deficiencies and the ‘keto flu’. Initially, your body will reject the diet as it goes into ketosis, leading to people feeling as though they have the flu before coming out the other side again.
As with any health and wellness trends, it’s vital to remember that what works for one person, celebrity or not, might not work for another. But are these celebrity-fueled health trends worth trying? Absolutely they are, if it works for you. Celebrity-fueled trends can sometimes shed light on valuable health strategies, but always consult with healthcare professionals and consider personal health goals and needs before making any significant lifestyle changes.
