Natural Grocers revealed its sixth annual top ten nutrition trend predictions, a composite of health, nutrition, and food trends for the coming year.
Developed by the company’s team of health and wellness experts in collaboration with its purchasing and analytics teams, the predictions include healthspan, sensible indulgences, functional flavors, pet nutrition, and saying goodbye to burnout.
"As we look back at another year in which our communities have felt the obvious and hidden effects of a global pandemic, there is no denying that people are changing how they approach their health," said Shelby Miller, Natural Grocers' manager of scientific affairs and nutrition education, in a statement. "People are considering how their everyday choices affect their long-term health, and our trends for the coming year reflect how those decisions are intricately tied together to shape our wellbeing and our ability to thrive and flourish.”
Natural Grocers' nutrition education team, consisting of health and wellness experts ranging from registered dietitians to certified natural foods chefs, collaborated with the retailer's purchasing and analytics teams and studied consumer-shopping preferences, pored over the latest research, and assessed the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on communities to predict these rising and shifting trends:
• From Lifespan to Healthspan: "With a growing realization that healthspan is as important as lifespan, in 2022, we will focus not only on how long we can live, but also on how healthy we can live those years. This will look like supporting health with diet, lifestyle, and supplements not in mid- to late age, or only when a health issues arises, but throughout our lives," according to the retailer.
• Supporting Immunity Becomes a Daily Practice: "We know that getting sick is inevitable, but we've also come to understand that by nourishing our immune system every day, even when we aren't sick, it will be primed and ready to go when the inevitable happens, making symptoms less severe and the duration shorter. In 2022, we will continue to give our immune system the nutrients it needs to function optimally—on a daily basis," said the retailer.
• Our Pets Get Healthy Too: "Pet ownership skyrocketed during the pandemic, and just as we took an increased interest in supporting our own health and wellness over the last two years, pet owners are now applying the same high standards when shopping for their furry friends. As pet owners become increasingly conscious pet parents, we'll see a continued increase in the demand for organic pet food and treats," said Natural Grocers in a statement.
• Women and BIPOC-Owned Health & Wellness Businesses Will Continue to Shine: "Women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) have always been an integral part of the entrepreneurial backbone of this country, and the health and wellness space is no different. This industry is growing exponentially, and with that growth, we will see more women and BIPOC-owned businesses bring their expertise, creativity, and knowledge to the mix. In 2022, we will continue to highlight and support these businesses—which run the gamut from supplements to body care to natural foods," the retailer said.
• Pollution Nutrition: "It is estimated that air pollution leads to at least seven million deaths worldwide every year. Exposure is associated with asthma and lung dysfunction, neurological damage, heart disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. Not to mention, it significantly reduces healthspan (see trend #1). We recognize air pollution as a serious health hazard, and now we are beginning to understand the importance of protecting our bodies from its negative health effects. We are also coming to realize that conventional agriculture is a major source of air pollution, and that our food choices can have an impact on improving air quality. Enter the idea of pollution nutrition," the retailer said.
• Healthy Snacking & the Rise of "Sensible Indulgences”: "Savory snacks, cookies, and ice cream sales surged as we turned to snacks for comfort, but the pandemic also piqued our interest in finding snacks that feel indulgent, but are healthy. In 2022 we'll see the continued rise of what we're calling sensible indulgences," said the retailer.
• We'll Triumph Over Burnout: "Treating the physical symptoms of long-haul COVID has been a point of focus for scientists and physicians recently, but in the meantime, many people are struggling with the emotional long-haul of living through a pandemic. As the pandemic and all that comes with it continues to drag on, many of us are in a state of languishing burnout. We're realizing that we can't run from the things that stress us, but we are learning that we can support our ability to handle the things that stress us and triumph over burnout," said Natural Grocers.
• A New Look at Metabolism: "A new study published in the journal Science shows that metabolic rate doesn't decline as early as we thought. Instead our metabolism plateaus from our 20s to our 50s and doesn't decline until well into our 60s and 70s. This has caused a significant paradigm shift because it means we have so much more control over our metabolism than previously thought. But with this control comes responsibility. This is why in 2022 we'll see an increased demand for products and lifestyle habits that help maintain metabolism by preserving muscle mass and supporting mitochondrial health," said Natural Grocers.
• Virtual Wellness Is Here to Stay: "The COVID-19 pandemic launched our world into virtual everything: virtual therapy, virtual meetings, virtual school. Even when the pandemic is over, virtual wellness isn't going away and we will continue to seek services that we're able to access from the comfort of our homes."
• Flavor Meets Function in the Kitchen: "We've long known that herbs and spices make our food more flavorful, and now we're learning that those herbs and spices that make our food taste so delicious also make it healthier. This is a trend on flavor that highlights the growing demand for functional ingredients, spices, and herbs that increase both the flavor and nutritional value of our favorite foods. In 2022 ingredients like cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, basil, thyme, sage, and rosemary will take center stage in the kitchen, not just because they add wonderful flavor, but because they are also chock-full of health-supportive properties," said the retailer.
Related: Capitalizing on Social Media Trends; Slideshow: Whole Foods Predicts 2022 Trends.