From Ashwagandha & Cycle Syncing to Meatless Wonder Steaks: Wellness Trends Unveiled

Welcome to our Friday newsletter for March 14, 2025.

Let’s explore some of this week’s fresh trends—where cutting-edge science meets everyday wellness. If you’re hungry for something that looks like meat, tastes like meat but isn’t meat then this newsletter was crafted just for you. Let's dive into our four key wellness areas!

🔄 Rotating Wellness Spotlight: Ashwagandha – Ancient Adaptogenic Powerhouse or Hype?

Discover Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha, known in Sanskrit as “smell of the horse” for its unique aroma and legendary strength-giving qualities, is a revered herb deeply rooted in Ayurvedic medicine. Celebrated historically by warriors and sages, Ashwagandha is now experiencing a revival among wellness enthusiasts for its powerful adaptogenic properties.

Why Ashwagandha is Trending Now

• Reduces stress and anxiety: Clinical studies show significant stress-relief benefits, improving emotional resilience and calmness.

• Improves sleep quality: Proven by scientific research to support deeper, more restful sleep naturally.

• Enhances cognitive function: Boosts memory, attention, and offers protective effects for the brain.

Additional Health Benefits

• Anti-inflammatory: Helps manage inflammation-related conditions effectively.

• Hormonal balance: Potentially lowers cortisol levels, contributing to overall hormonal wellness.

Easy Ways to Enjoy Ashwagandha: Incorporate it into your daily routine effortlessly by blending into morning smoothies, sipping in a soothing evening tea, or opting for convenient capsule supplements.

Our Personal Journey with Ashwagandha: My wife and I recently began taking Gaia Herbs Ashwagandha softgels. Within just one week, we noticed an improvement in sleep quality and felt noticeably calmer during stressful moments. We're happy with these early benefits and plan to continue exploring its positive effects. Are you using Ashwagandha? Share your experiences—we'd love to hear from you!

🔗 Dive Deeper with Expert Resources

• Ashwagandha for Better Sleep (PubMed)

• Healthline: Proven Benefits of Ashwagandha

• Ashwagandha & Cognitive Enhancement (PubMed)

• Clinical Use & Efficacy of Ashwagandha (ScienceDirect)

📱Health Tech & Biohacking: Blood Sugar Beyond Diabetes

Did you know blood sugar imbalances affect more than just diabetics? Unchecked fluctuations can cause symptoms often dismissed or misunderstood.

🚩What are Possible Blood Sugar Imbalance Symptoms:

• Waking between 2-4 AM

• Sudden anxiety, mood swings, irritability

• Cravings for salt or caffeine

• Frequent headaches or dizziness

• Hormonal imbalances and fatigue

📈 Monitor Your Blood Sugar: Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) can track your levels throughout the day, now available without prescriptions!

⭐ Recommended Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs):

• Lingo by Abbott: User-friendly insights. Learn More

• Stelo by Dexcom: Discreet, easy sharing. Details

• Freestyle Libre 3 Amazon Link

• Eversense 365: A year-long sensor for continuous tracking. Learn More

👩‍⚕️ Personalized Guidance: Nutrisense provides professional nutrition support using CGMs.

🏋️‍♀️ Fitness & Performance: Cycle Smarter, Not Harder

Cycle syncing is currently a trending topic in women's health and wellness. This practice involves aligning lifestyle habits—such as exercise, nutrition, and self-care—with the phases of the menstrual cycle. Its popularity has surged, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok, where the hashtag #CycleSyncing has garnered significant attention. By May 2024, this hashtag had accumulated approximately 294 million views, reflecting widespread interest in the concept.

🗓️ Cycle Syncing Workout Guide:

• Menstrual Phase (Days 1–5): Gentle exercises like yoga and walking.

• Follicular Phase (Days 6–14): Intensive workouts; ideal for strength training.

• Ovulation (Around Day 14): Max intensity for personal bests.

• Luteal Phase (Days 15–28): Moderate exercises focused on endurance and flexibility.

🏅 Key Insights on Cycle Syncing:

• Align workouts to menstrual phases to optimize energy and performance.

• Adjust nutrition according to each phase to support your body's changing caloric needs.

• Enhance recovery and overall wellness by syncing with your natural hormonal rhythm.

🌟 Get the Complete Guide: Cycle Syncing Workouts: Your Guide to Optimizing with Your Menstrual Cycle

📖 Explore More: Scientific Insights

🛒 Market & Food Trends: Plant-Based Protein Takes Center Stage

Plant-based proteins are surging in popularity, with the market expected to more than double from $18.5 billion in 2019 to over $40 billion by 2025. Consumers are increasingly choosing sustainable, tasty, and nutritious alternatives like Novameat's innovative 3D-printed plant-based meats.

🌟 Why it’s trending:

• Growing consumer demand for sustainable and eco-friendly proteins.

• Innovation making plant-based options taste and feel closer to real meat.

• Increasing availability and variety in supermarkets and restaurants.

🍽️ Novameat’s 3D-Printed Plant-Based Innovation Is Heading Your Way

Guess who might be coming to dinner? Novameat (https://www.novameat.com/) pioneers plant-based alternatives using cutting-edge 3D-printing technology, crafting meat-like textures from ingredients like pea protein and beet juice—delicious, sustainable, and eco-conscious.

Visitors to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain respond favorably and with surprise. Watch CNN's Coverage

Right now, plant-based options are trending. More consumers are looking for plant-based proteins that deliver on taste and texture. Would you try it?

🍽️ Would you put 3D-printed, plant-based meat on your plate?

📖 Deep Dive:
Explore the Full Trend on Simply Dished

⏳ Longevity Insights: Millennials, It’s Time to Prioritize Healthspan Over Lifespan

The quest for living longer is evolving into a focus on living healthier, longer—known as "healthspan." Research highlights that combining mitochondrial renewal supplements with Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids can significantly slow cellular aging, enhancing healthspan.

Millennials, Your Choices Today Shape Your Tomorrow

Millennials are entering a pivotal stage in life where health choices made today have lasting impacts on the next 40-50 years. Instead of merely aiming for a longer lifespan, shifting the focus toward healthspan—the quality of those years—is crucial.

🌟 Why It Matters

• Healthspan focuses on quality, not just quantity of years.

• Lifestyle adjustments inspired by Blue Zone practices help prevent chronic illnesses.

• Balanced nutrition supports cellular health and longevity.

📚 Dive Deeper: Millennials: Prioritize Healthspan Over Lifespan for Long-term Wellness (Simply Dished)

📚Check out additional research? Check out the Detailed Study on Healthspan vs. Life-span

🍰 Understanding Sugar Cravings

Craving sweets isn't just about willpower; your brain’s opioids trigger sugar desires even when you’re full. Recent research highlights these key insights:

• Brain Chemistry: Thalamic opioids from POMC satiety neurons activate the desire for sugar.

• Mechanism: Even when physically satiated, these opioids can drive cravings, overriding signals of fullness.

• Impact: Understanding this pathway helps manage cravings more effectively, potentially supporting healthier eating behaviors and weight management.

🔬 Get more from the research here.

That’s it for today. Enjoy the weekend.

Don’t forget to connect with us on YouTube, Instagram, X or check www.simplydished.com for more trends.

As always let us know how you like the newsletter. Bye!