2025 Wellness Trends: Should You Invest?
Current data insights from The Lab on the viability of trending wellness topics.
My current green juice line up - feel free to try out this deliciously fresh recipe.
Spinach, kale, apple, ginger, cucumber, lemon, celery
Hello readers,
I hope you’ve had an amazing week so far and are settling in well into our new space. Along with our upgraded space, part of my 2025 personal vision includes taking my whole foods cooking to the next level. Luckily, I was gifted a juicer attachment that has helped me enhance my breakfast every now and then. With my weekly produce market finds, the juicer attachment has proven to be an excellent and convenient tool to have on hand.
In honor of 2025 kicking off strong with a new space—and our first submission by my very own sister, who also created our logo—I’d like to explore the wellness trends that continue to stand out as strong candidates for the hottest topics of the year. More specifically, I’m curious whether they’re truly worth it or just more passing fads.
From my perspective, the rapid growth of influencers and content creators on social media has created a pretty intense sense of information overload for all of us. While many people are genuine and transparent with the information they share, I also think it’s important for consumers to proceed with caution and do their own research. Decisions about health and wellness should be made on an individual level—not solely based on societal trends.
Thankfully, if you’re feeling confused (as I have been many times), we always have data to help guide us in the right direction.
This Year’s Buzzy Wellness Habits
If you’re in this space, you’re probably aware of the shift in recent years toward prioritizing health. Increased mental health awareness, advancements in wellness technology, and greater accessibility to health research are just a few reasons this shift has occurred. However, with this explosive growth comes information overload—and the inevitable influence of consumerism.
Today, I want to explore a few of the ‘buzzy’ topics I keep coming across and leverage available data and research to help us determine which (if any) are worth investing our time and money in. In short, I’ve done some research so that you don’t have to. Though I will say—finding solid data on some of these emerging trends can be surprisingly difficult.
Beef Tallow for Skincare
Carnivore Diet
Sea Moss Consumption
Colostrum Supplements
If you are someone that has already dabbled in any of these specific areas, I encourage you to add your thoughts or own experiences to the discussion!
Beef Tallow for Skincare
I’m sure many of us have become more mindful of the ingredient lists in our skincare products, and it’s no surprise that the skincare industry has made a huge effort to incorporate as many natural ingredients as possible. Consumers have fully embraced this shift, driving the demand for more nature-based formulations.
Current trend: beef tallow resurgence in skincare with big brands reporting a huge increase in sales within the past couple of years.
Simple explanation: Cow fat that people are using as the base for homemade moisturizers, or completely on its own to achieve beautifully radiant skin.
Verdict: Potential Fad
By Valentina Bernal via Flourish
*Subjective relevancy scale = my 1-10 subjective rating on how relevant this qualitative data (key words) were in the research I found, including how often they came up.
As someone with generally reactive skin when it comes to any trendy new product, I don’t expect to be trying beef tallow anytime soon. Based on my research, most dermatologists and medical experts agree that while it may be harmless, it’s not their recommended choice for skincare. Testimonials and experiences vary widely—especially depending on where you look—but my personal advice is to trust the experts and consider the available research summarized here.
One last note on beef tallow, based on concluding studies from the National Library of Medicine.
Beef tallow may provide hydration and help with certain skin conditions, but research shows that other oils offer better moisturizing benefits, its side effects are unclear, and its environmental impact makes it less marketable—so while it has potential, it’s not a proven skincare must-have yet.
Carnivore Diet
Continuing on with the animal-based theme, let’s discuss the carnivore diet now. I actually hadn’t personally heard about this one until my boyfriend suggested I look into – so thank you to another one of our Lab members for bringing more discussion to the table.
Current trend: a diet focused solely on animal-based foods that excludes all things that are not meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, and selective dairy to provide ketogenic-like benefits.
Simple explanation: a diet plan where you eat strictly meat to allegedly burn fat more efficiently.
Verdict: Confirmed Fad
By Valentina Bernal in Flourish
In contrast to the beef tallow trend, extensive research has been conducted on the carnivore diet. Nutritional and medical experts overwhelmingly agree that following this eating pattern is ultimately not beneficial. In fact, the reason we’re analyzing the fat content of these foods is that eating only meat, poultry, and dairy completely disrupts a balanced diet. A carnivore diet would leave us lacking essential fiber, vitamins, and key nutrients—deficiencies that tend to catch up later in life.
My personal rule of thumb is to “eat the rainbow” as much as possible with every meal. I say this often, but I truly believe in balance. As much as I could eat cheese and grapes all day, every day, I know that’s not all my body needs. That said, I don’t intentionally cut out any foods—except for those I genuinely don’t enjoy.
I’d love to connect with anyone who has tried the carnivore diet or knows someone who has! It would make for an interesting personal review.
Sea Moss Consumption
This is one I’ve definitely seen a lot but had forgotten to look into. Most of what I’ve come across comes from content creators and influencers, so I was eager to explore any available research on its potential benefits.
Current trend: popularity around its benefits as a superfood claiming to improve digestion and increase energy levels provided by its carbohydrates, protein and fat content, and vitamins.
Simple explanation: a red seaweed that can be eaten for potential health benefits.
Verdict: Potentially real, potentially a fad
By Valentina Bernal in Flourish
The fiber content in sea moss appears to be negligible per 100g serving, which makes me question the widely claimed digestive benefits that contribute to its popularity. I’ve never tried sea moss, but I have a feeling I’d much rather enjoy a nice bowl of fruit over a spoonful of gooey seaweed.
A common theme I keep seeing with sea moss (and why I’ve categorized it as both a fad and real) is that while it can support overall health, consuming too much may lead to excessive iodine intake. As with many things in life—especially those with limited research—it seems to be most effective in moderation.
In short, once again, there isn’t enough human research to scientifically or confidently validate its widely acclaimed benefits.
Colostrum Supplements
What in the world is colostrum? Let’s explore another trend in the sector of nutritional/health supplements.
Current trend: powders, capsules, or liquid derivation from bovine colostrum gaining attention for its richness in antibodies, growth factors, and nutrients that support immune function, gut health, and muscle recovery.
Simple explanation: the first form of milk produced by mammals after giving birth that contains several health benefits.
Verdict: Potential fad
By Valentina Bernal in Flourish
First some quick context on the antibodies:
IgA (Immunoglobulin A): protects our mucosal surfaces such as our gut, lungs, and respiratory tract by preventing entry of harmful pathogens.
IgM (Immunoglobulin M): the first antibody our body uses as an immune defense to fight infections.
This visual highlights the potential source of immune benefits from colostrum. We can see that human colostrum contains much higher IgA, while bovine colostrum has significantly higher IgM levels. This suggests that colostrum supplements may support immunity, particularly in sports recovery and wellness applications.
However, since human colostrum naturally contains higher levels of IgA, it’s reasonable to assume that adding colostrum supplements to our diet may not be essential for overall health.
My final takeaway from this data and broader research is that while colostrum supplements may offer immune support, experts do not consider them a life-changing or essential protective supplement—our bodies already perform many of these functions naturally.
Will The Lab Members Try Any of These Trends?
As always, time will tell whether these trends will be sustained by consumers and the health and wellness market. With interests, technology, and research evolving so quickly, it’s only a matter of time before the next big health trend emerges.
Readers, if you decide to explore any of these wellness habits this year and would like to share your experiences, I’d love to include your insights in a follow-up post. Remember to always do your own research, make decisions based on your personal needs, and, of course, lean on the powerful insights that data provides.
Have a happy and healthy week!
“Eagerly anticipating some future event, passionately imagining something you desire, looking forward to some happy scenario – as pleasurable as these activities might seem, they ruin your chance at happiness here and now.”
Disclaimer: The analyses presented in this blog are purely exploratory and based on available data. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or health advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. This space is meant for discussing health, wellness, and mindful living habits through a data-driven lens.
References
Harvard Health Publishing. What is the Carnivore Diet? Retrieved from Harvard Health.
Vogue. Is Beef Tallow the Next Big Thing for Skin? Retrieved from Vogue.
National Library of Medicine. Nutritional Composition of Colostrum and Milk. Retrieved from PMC.
Rupa Health. Is There Evidence Behind Eating Sea Moss? Retrieved from Rupa Health.
USDA FoodData Central. Nutrient Profile of Food Item 168456. Retrieved from USDA.
Allure. Beef Tallow Skin Care: Is It Worth the Hype? Retrieved from Allure.
PopSugar. Beef Tallow for Skin: Dermatologists Weigh In. Retrieved from PopSugar.
National Library of Medicine. Beef Tallow and Skin Health: A Review of Current Research. Retrieved from PMC.
USDA FoodData Central. Nutritional Profile for Carnivore Diet Analysis. Retrieved from USDA.
National Library of Medicine. Colostrum Bioactives and Their Role in Human Health. Retrieved from PMC.
