Chia seeds in wooden spoon and bowl from top view with space
Run backward to propel fitness forward
When it comes to meeting your health and wellness goals, it’s rare that you actually want to go backward, except in the case of reverse running, the latest fitness trend that’s exactly as it sounds: running backward. Also known as retro running—no ’80s leotard or leg warmers required—it’s a legitimate sport! Pre-COVID, there was even a reverse running biennial world championship.
Besides the occasional sideways glance you may get from passersby not in the know, taking up reverse running also comes with a host of health benefits: it’s easier on your knees, and it’s more stimulating to your heart, lungs, and muscles. Plus, for those looking to set a new personal record, retro running is a training tool you can use to improve your forward running speed.
Curious to give reverse running a try? Make sure to push off from the balls of your feet and look where you’re going!
The chia drink loved by influencers
Leave it to TikTok to popularize the next eye-raising nutrition fad: chia seed water, or, as it’s affectionately called, the “internal shower” drink. Made from chia seeds and water, social media influencers claim the gelatinous beverage improves satiety—and they’re actually right.
That’s because chia seeds swell in size after they’re exposed to water, and, when consumed, slow digestion, promoting a balanced release of energy after meals and feelings of fullness. More importantly, chia seeds can help lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation, are high in omega-3s, and keep you regular since they’re so fibrous—hence the “internal shower” moniker.
If you want to give this trend a try, mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of seeds into an 8- to 10-ounce glass of water. Chug it fast, before it has a chance to fully solidify.
Upcycle your beauty routine
We’ve already started swapping plastic bottles for reusable containers and paying more attention to the ingredients in our everyday household products, so it makes sense that our beauty shelf would be next to make the shift to sustainability. Enter: byproduct beauty, a zero-waste initiative focused on producing items like face scrubs, eye creams, moisturizers, and cleansers from upcycled materials.
This means your exfoliator might be made from used coffee grounds, your lip balm from bruised bananas, your face mask from pumpkin flesh … you get the idea. So not only can you benefit from the natural ingredients in these products, but they also help the environment by curbing some of the 1.6 billion tons of food waste produced globally every year.
A new hair trend is blooming
We’re feeling blue about this hair care trend—but in a positive way! Blue tansy is one of the latest botanical trends to bloom on the beauty scene, joining a long list of plants and flowers routinely used in hair care products to treat conditions like dryness and dandruff.
“Blue” tansy is actually a bit of a misnomer: in plant form, it presents as a golden yellow-hued flower. The indigo color develops once it’s distilled into oil, whose chemical composition is purported to reduce inflammation.
The oil is pretty easy to find online, though it can be expensive due to its increasing popularity. Go the DIY route and mix a couple drops into your shampoo or scour your health food store’s shelves for hair masks, serums, and moisturizers that tout the tansy.
