20+ Hot Trends in Health & Wellness
Dec 29, 2014 01:40PM ● By Morgan Cásarez
The road to optimal health and wellness is paved with good intentions and more fads than you can shake a StairMaster at. Whether you’re trying to lose those pesky “last 10 pounds” or training for a marathon, chances are you’ve made at least one fitness goal in the new year, and we want to help you achieve it. With Style’s roundup of the best in health, wellness and nutrition by your side, 2015 is sure to be the year of your best you!
“Stem cell studies for many of today’s major diseases show improvements beyond what was originally expected. In studies of knee joints…85 percent of patients who had no cartilage, needed knee replacement surgery, [and] opted for nonsurgical options with stem cells show regeneration of cartilage. Although stem cell therapies are not yet FDA approved, I personally believe we will see them change the face of medicine as we know it. Vitality Medical is currently involved in three stem cell studies looking at joint disease, diabetes and COPD.”
Celia Remy, MD, owner, Vitality Medical Stem Cell and Aesthetic Medicine, vitalitymedicallaserandskin.com
Style suggests Image Skincare Prevention+ Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturizer at The Parlor in Placerville, theparlorbypenny.com
Ideally we could get all of the vitamins and minerals we need from the food we eat, but life doesn’t always work out that way. Supplementing with a nutrient-packed green supplement is my go-to, whether it’s a cheat day or I’m right on track. When I started taking HealthForce Nutritionals Vitamineral Green years ago, my hair and nails both started growing faster and stronger. I believe this is nature’s multivitamin as it contains phytonutrients, probiotics, antioxidants, alkalizing minerals and digestive supporting enzymes.”
Available at Whole Foods Market in Folsom and healthforce.com
Active Manuka Honey is native to New Zealand and produced by bees that pollinate the country’s manuka bush. Renowned for its high pollen counts, antibacterial properties and live enzymes, it can be enjoyed in your favorite foods and beverages or applied directly to skin to ease acne and dryness.
Style suggests Nelson Honey Bio Active 5+, Y.S. Eco Bee Farms Manuka Honey and Propolis Lozenges at Placerville Health Foods or Antipodes Natural Aura Manuka Honey Treatment Mask at antipodesnature.us
“In today’s society, 75 percent of Americans are tracking some form of health and fitness. Less than 20 percent are using an app or device to do that, but that trend is shifting quickly upward. Currently, 40 million people are using MyFitnessPal, a free app that helps you track food, exercise and your health goals.”
Lisa Packheiser, fitness director, Johnson Ranch Racquet Club, sparetimeclubs.com
To learn more, visit myfitnesspal.com
Matt Leake, district fitness manager, California Family Fitness, californiafamilyfitness.com
Available at nvienutrition.com
To learn more, visit azumio.com/appa/heart-rate
Mark Cavallaro, personal trainer, Roseville Health & Wellness Center, rosevillehwc.com
In addition to Rosevile Health & Wellness Center, try Fitness Solutions in Diamond Springs; owner Jennifer Heape, CPT/CYI specializes in core stability, strength, TRX suspension and medicine ball, Bosu ball and Kettlebell training
Dr. Randall West (known to many as “Doc Taz” for his high-energy personality) of Creekside Osteopathic Family Practice combines low- and high-tech treatment options to all manner of pain and inflammation without the use of surgery. Through Osteopathic Manipulation (OMT), he applies nothing more than his hands to diagnose, treat and prevent illness and injury. With gentle pressure and resistance, he moves and stretches the body to promote healing and increase overall mobility. On the other end of the spectrum is his use of Laser Therapy, specifically a high-powered, therapeutic Class 4 laser, which penetrates deeply enough to stimulate damaged cells within the body and ease pain and even nerve damage, including neuropathy.
Dr. Randall West (known to many as “Doc Taz” for his high-energy personality) of Creekside Osteopathic Family Practice combines low- and high-tech treatment options to all manner of pain and inflammation without the use of surgery. Through Osteopathic Manipulation (OMT), he applies nothing more than his hands to diagnose, treat and prevent illness and injury. With gentle pressure and resistance, he moves and stretches the body to promote healing and increase overall mobility. On the other end of the spectrum is his use of Laser Therapy, specifically a high-powered, therapeutic Class 4 laser, which penetrates deeply enough to stimulate damaged cells within the body and ease pain and even nerve damage, including neuropathy.
Denise Samuel, director of fitness, Snap Fitness El Dorado Hills, snapfitness.com
These and other classes are available at Snap Fitness in El Dorado Hills, Placerville and Shingle Springs
“Tabata Training is a high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout…discovered by Dr. Izumi Tabata and a team of researchers from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo who conducted research on two groups of athletes. Group one trained at a moderate intensity level while the other group trained at a high intensity level. The results? Group two showed much more increase in their aerobic system than group one, and increased their anaerobic system by 28 percent.”
Available at El Dorado Hills Sports Club
Turn your favorite vegetables into nutritious faux noodles with the compact, easy-to-use Gefu Spirelli Spiral Slicer. Watch as it beautifully juliennes carrots, cucumber, squash and more in just seconds. As one online commenter pointed out, it’s a bit like a pencil sharpener for your food, but there’s nothing childish about the results—whether you top them with pasta sauce, add them to a savory soup, or toss them in a stir-fry, these lovely little strips are delicious and nutritious.
Barre workouts and cycling never had much in common—that is, until thebodybar(re) and fitRIDE joined forces to offer the first-ever combined spin/barre class in the Sacramento area: bikerbar(re). The studios, which share a space in El Dorado Hills and offer joint membership packages, begin their unique, hour-long experience with a supercharged indoor cycling session, followed by shaping and sculpting on the barre. Thanks to its mix of precise isometric movements focused on small muscle groups, this women-only class helps participants achieve a toned, yet feminine figure.
“Quest Bars are the latest craze in the health-fitness community. They are super convenient [and] have around 200 calories with 20 grams of protein and 17 grams of fiber. Anybody on a clean-eating plan can benefit from these, plus they taste great.”
Available at Sunrise Natural Foods, Team Wade Fitness, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Max Muscle and 24 Hour Fitness
The ingredients in gluten-free EPIC Bars are, in a word, epic. Humanely raised, hormone-free bison, beef, lamb and turkey are lightly smoked and combined with natural fruits and nuts, resulting in four gluten-free, protein-rich snacks free of unwanted carbs and sugars. This savory alternative to the common energy bar is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitmains A and E, plus it’s a low-glycemic food.
Available at Elliott’s Fine Nutrition and Whole Foods Market
Available at Safeway in Cameron Park and El Dorado Hills
“One of my favorite products is the Glycolic Pads from the Marshall Medical Skin Care Line. They come in 15 percent or 20 percent glycolic acid and are reasonably priced. One of the key steps to having beautiful skin is to exfoliate. Dead skin cells prevent that healthy glow, as well as clog pores and maximize fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, as we get older the rate of cell turnover slows, causing flakiness and dull skin, all signs we need to step up our exfoliation routine. What I love about these glycolic pads is how easy they are to use and take with you wherever you go, plus the results are amazing. With just one pad wiped on your skin two to three times a week, you’ll see a beautiful shine, minimized pores, and softening of fine lines and wrinkles. They feel like you just got a chemical peel but without the peel!”
Available exclusively at Marshall Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa in Placerville
“Loose ligaments? Torn ligament or meniscus? Prolotherapy or Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy is the way to go! Depending on how severe the tear or weakness is, these injections can repair the ligaments right at the site...[and are made] of completely natural substances. Prolotherapy uses dextrose to tighten up ligaments and re-stabilize the joint, while platelet-rich plasma uses your own platelets extracted from your blood to deliver repairing platelets directly to the site of the tear.”
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy is administered by David McIntire, DDS, at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Placerville and Michele Raithel, ND, at Revolutions Naturopathic in Folsom
“Orangetheory is a high-energy fitness program designed to target body fat. We offer heart-rate-monitored, 20-person interval training sessions led by professional trainers and coaches. Backed by the science of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), our method increases metabolism through interval pushes, so you’re never getting the same workout twice. You can expect to burn 500-1,000 calories with just one session focusing on strength, power and endurance. Our style eliminates the guesswork and plateaus of other training programs, while giving you increased energy for overall health and wellness.”
To book a session (first one’s free!), visit orangetheoryfitness.com/folsom
“One of the biggest trends in the worldwide market is the introduction of the Fat Bike. These bikes have single-handedly brought a breath of fresh air to the cycling community. [They] were first introduced in the snowbelt but were soon spotted on beaches and mountain single tracks alike. We’re finding people are enjoying the comforts and the whimsical style more than the ‘go-to’ machines.”
Available at Golden Spoke Bike Shop in Placerville and Bicycles Plus in Folsom
The sleek and stylish Fitbit Flex monitors users’ activity, calories burned, hours slept and sleep quality. Powered by an accelerometer (a device that measures g-force), the Flex compares results to your personal profile and lights up as you come closer to achieving fitness goals. As if the Flex’s wireless syncing capability and silent, gentle vibration alarm function weren’t reason enough to jump on the Fitbit bandwagon, designer Tory Burch has created a line of pendants and bracelets to stylishly showcase your Fit pride.
To learn more, visit runkeeper.com
“A fully operating nervous system is essential to reaching one’s health and wellness peak. The bones of the spine act as armor for the spinal cord and nerves, protecting them from damage. Chiropractic is designed to detect and correct areas of the spine that are not moving properly, allowing the nerves that it protects to transmit signals efficiently. Our clinics utilize non-invasive diagnostic technology known as the CORE Score to measure functions of the nervous system, including portions that operate organs and glands and also those that control postural muscles. This information gives our doctors the tools to create a dynamic treatment plan integrating specific spinal adjustments with corrective exercises, dietary modifications and stress-management techniques to help each and every—reach their greatest state of wellness.”
Available at Simms Chiropractic
Whether she’s walking the red carpet or running errands, Kate Hudson’s effortless style never fail to impress. In her new role as co-founder of Fabletics, an online collection of ultra-flattering athletic wear, she’s giving the rest of us a chance to recreate some of her signature off-duty looks, Hollywood bank account not required. The line is brimming with flattering capris, sports bras, off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, tanks and tees in bright colors and funky prints, and shopping the site couldn’t be easier. After taking a brief lifestyle quiz, users are directed to a set of looks curated just for them by the Fabletics team.