New year, new trends

We take a look at some of the newest health and fitness trends to look out for in 2017

The world of health and fitness is ever-changing. From the newest workout trend to the latest superfood, there’s always something new to discover. We asked the experts for their health and fitness predictions for 2017 and this is what they said:

Boxing
Frida Harju, the in-house nutritionist at health app Lifesum, predicts that we’re set for a ‘return to basics’ when it comes to fitness classes, with old-school classics set to show a spike in popularity. She says: “Boxing has already begun to have a revival, as people try new forms of boxing such as the Boxerina workout, which combines fast boxing movements to get your heart rate up with Barre movements to help strength and improve flexibility.”

Floatfit
Floatfit is a new fitness craze which essentially follows the same principles as a HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout, but with the class being conducted on water. Frida explains: “By taking part in the class whilst balancing on an inflatable board, your muscles work harder to maintain balance, thus maximising the effects of the exercises.”

Fitness apps
It’s not too hard to see that the market has been flooded with apps and gadgets that aim to help you to work out and stay fit. Leon Williams, a personal trainer with DW Fitness (www.dwfitnessclubs.com) says that the trend to look out for is apps that allow users to create groups with friends and compete against each other. Apps that are both “motivating and challenging” will be popular, with Leon adding that the more social and the more supportive a group setting you can create, the better and more encouraging health and fitness can be.

Jackfruit
It seems that the meat-free lifestyle will be ever-popular in 2017. Jackfruit, which is grown on trees in Southeast Asia and South America, looks like it could be a big new trend for non-meat-eaters. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal stated that jackfruit has “the most potential to go mainstream” due to its meaty texture and capacity to absorb flavours once cooked.

Aubergine
Aubergine is set to make a major comeback in the new year, Frida predicts. “Aubergine skin is high in phytonutrients and chlorogenic acid, and as part of the Mediterranean diet is believed to be very good for the heart,” she says. Research conducted by Waitrose in its 2016 Food and Drink Report has confirmed this resurgence, revealing that aubergine is the latest carb substitute, with sales rising by 18 per cent so far this year, and is a favourite replacement for the burger bun, as well as pasta sheets.

Plant water
Following the success of coconut water, we’ll be seeing more plant waters being added to our diets. Look out for birch sap water, which Frida notes boasts high levels of antioxidants, natural minerals and the natural sweetener xylitol. Also keep an eye out for cactus plant water, which the Waitrose report notes is “a low-sugar alternative to other juices”.

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