Viral and Verified

The wellness industry is booming, and for good reason. We’re all just here trying to take good care of ourselves. You know the routine: eat your greens, move your body, sleep well, manage stress, and keep your relationships thriving. But when has munching on kale, going for walks, and jotting feelings down in a journal been thrilling? According to beauty journalist Laura Capon, “There is nothing TikTok loves more than romanticising the mundane aspects of our lives.” We’ve all fallen down that rabbit hole of new-age trends that promise to transform our health overnight. Olive oil shots? Been there. Ginger and turmeric? Done that. Kombucha? In our refrigerator. Prebiotics, probiotics, adaptogens – we have tried it all.

But the real question is, do you really need magnesium? Will lowering your cortisol make those under-eye circles disappear? Is drinking raw milk actually good for your health? The internet can be a wild, chaotic space of half-baked advice, deep dives, and downright misinformation. With so much noise out there, it’s hard to separate the facts from the fluff. So, we did the digging for you. Here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest wellness trends that will help you skip the confusion and keep the glow.

Mushroom Coffee

If your go-to coffee order is a mocha, maybe it’s time to level up to a mushroom mocha. What's not to love about a cup that delivers your caffeine fix and a brain-boosting blend of adaptogens? Think of it as an upgrade that not only powers you through a hectic workday but also claims to take the edge off all the work stress. With the food and wellness industry going wild for “functional food”, medicinal mushrooms are having a moment. Fungi like Reishi, Boletus, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane (adaptogens in general) are popping up in hot drinks, supplements and even beer.

To give you a quick lowdown, adaptogens are naturally found in plants and fungi and are big business. They’re said to enhance focus, boost mood, calm your nerves, and basically make you feel like your best self. According to health food giant Holland & Barrett, searches for “functional mushrooms” on their site are up by 50%. Clearly, people are curious.

But should you be sipping it too? Well, mushrooms do contain ingredients like antioxidants and beta-glucans, but researchers say that in most supplements, the benefits are incidental. Still, if you’re trying to cut back on caffeine or want to shake up your morning brew, a mushroom mocha could be worth a sip. Just know: science is still catching up with the hype, and there’s only limited research.

Spirulina

We’ve all clocked Sabrina Carpenter’s famous Erewhon order by now. A tropical smoothie bursting with pineapple, organic coconut, honey, collagen, pearl powder, and of course, spirulina. Just so you know, it’s the blue algae that turns your smoothie into a Carolina-blue concoction. But what exactly is spirulina, and why are all the wellness girls obsessed?

Spirulina isn’t some new-age discovery. This microalgae has been around forever and was even titled “the best food for the future” by the United Nations World Food Conference back in 1974. Fast forward to today, and it’s having a moment again, thanks to TikTok and Ms Carpenter. A complete source of protein, spirulina contains all eight essential amino acids and has the highest concentration of protein found in any food—about 50-70%. It’s also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients that support everything from heart health to glowing skin. From iron, beta carotene, chlorophyll, and omega-3 and -6 to calcium, magnesium, and a whole list of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, and B12), the benefits are almost endless.

It has been linked to aiding weight loss, detoxing the body, boosting energy, easing anxiety and depression, balancing hormones, and improving gut health. Also, if you don’t prefer smoothies, stir it into your green juice, blend it into your guacamole, hummus, dips, soups, salad dressings or even raw desserts.

Olive Oil and Ghee Shots

If you haven’t caught wind of the olive shot trend on Instagram, you might just be living under a rock. It’s not exactly a fiber, but studies suggest that the polyphenols in it have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers that could  soothe your gut. But what really piqued our attention is that Bollywood celebrities like Janhvi Kapoor, Malaika Arora and socialite Shalini Passi taking ghee (clarified butter) shots  first thing in the morning for similar reasons.

Olive oil and ghee shots

While olive oil is said to support gut health, skin elasticity, joint pain relief, and mental clarity, ghee, on the other hand, is believed to boost digestion, energy levels, and skin health and even keep your joints lubricated. A 15-30 ml shot on an empty stomach is the sweet spot for both, but if you’re already drizzling it over your regular food, you might not need the extra swig.