Welcome to Now Trending. Here’s what’s new in the world of natural health!
Consider honey as a pre-workout snack
Fueling up on honey before a workout has the fitness corner of social media abuzz! Honey is a rich source of glucose and fructose—two forms of sugar that are easier to digest and more efficiently absorbed by the body than white sugar. In addition to providing energy, honey has impressive anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant benefits.
Research shows that consuming honey before moderate physical activity not only improves performance but also protects against fatigue and post-exercise inflammation. Because honey has a lower glycemic score than sugar, it’s thought to be an especially effective pre-workout choice for older adults and those with chronic illnesses.
When choosing honey for your workout, both raw and pasteurized options perform well (with pasteurized honey retaining almost all of its original nutrients when compared to raw). Another added bonus? Adding a pinch of salt to honey is thought to boost electrolyte levels.
Sip on kefir for a health boost
A staple in natural and Eastern European food stores, kefir is a beverage made by fermenting traditional dairy and plant-based milk (or water) with kefir grains. The finished product is a tangy, yogurt-like drink that can be enjoyed plain or flavored with fruit.
Kefir is a nutrient-rich superstar packed with calcium, protein, magnesium, and vitamins B12 and D—not to mention an impressive probiotic count. In fact, kefir contains over 50 species of probiotics which that are thought to have gut health-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering benefits.
Studies on kefir have explored the drink’s potential healing properties when it comes to gut health, germs, muscle health, blood sugar, and stress. As it’s now available in a growing number of grocery stores across the country, you can try it out as your next breakfast or snack!
Build healthy habits with wellness stacking
Wellness stacking, also referred to as habit stacking, isn’t a new concept, but it’s one that was made popular by the book Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones (Avery, 2018) by James Clear. Recently, the practice has also had a resurgence on social media.
The concept behind wellness stacking is simple: take existing habits (such as brushing your teeth) and pair them with new routines or habits you’d like to develop (such as doing squats or stretching while you brush). This already-established habit then serves as a reminder for your new habit.
Wellness stacking doesn’t always work overnight. In fact, forming a new habit is thought to take anywhere from 18 to 254 days. If you don’t find success overnightright away, don’t be hard on yourself. Instead, use the opportunity to develop one of the most beneficial habits of all—self-compassion.
Try moisturizing mango butter for skin
Fans of shea and cocoa butters will love mango butter, an ultra-moisturizing fat (available both refined and unrefined) sourced from the cold-pressed seeds of mangoes, which also has beneficial properties for the skin.
Mango butter contains vitamins A, C, and E as well as mangiferin, a powerful antioxidant that is thought to have antimicrobial and antiallergic properties. Research suggests that mango butter has impressive wound-healing capabilities thanks to its high concentration of linoleic acid. This smooth butter can also be applied to the hair and scalp to strengthen hair follicles, reduce breakage, and protect the scalp.
You can find mango butter at many natural health stores. Although it’s not considered a skin irritant, external application of mango butter should be avoided by anyone with an allergy to mangoes.
This article was originally published in the March 2025 issue of delicious living magazine.
