LAKEWOOD, Colo., Dec. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Natural
Grocers™, America's Nutrition Education
ExpertsSM, announced the fifth annual Top 10
Nutrition Trends1 predictions, a composite of the most
anticipated and unexpected health, nutrition, and food trends for
the coming year.
Natural Grocers, America's Nutrition Education Experts, announced
its fifth annual Top 10 Nutrition Trends for 2021.
Natural Grocers' Nutrition Education team, made up of health and
wellness experts ranging from Registered Dietitians to Certified
Natural Foods Chefs, collaborated with the retailer's buyers and
analysts, studied consumer-shopping preferences, pored over the
latest research, and scrutinized the impact COVID-19 has had on its
communities in order to pinpoint their predictions.
"Our trends this year are dramatically different than previous
years' in that they're far less fleeting. COVID-19 is a pandemic
that sits on top of another pandemic in the United States of malnutrition and poor
long-term health," remarked Shelby
Miller, MS, Natural Grocers' Manager of Scientific Affairs
and Nutrition Education. "Hence, 2021 holds broader trends that
focus on improving nutrition to support our own health, as well as
the health of our communities and our environment."
Natural Grocers' Top 10 Nutrition Trends® for 2021, which
include getting back to the basics, immune-boosting strategies, The
Climatarian and customized fitness nutrition, also offer
"try this trend" tips for those who want to lean in to these trends
in the coming months and beyond.
NATURAL GROCERS' TOP 10 NUTRITION TRENDS FOR 2021:
Download hi-res images of Natural Grocers Top 10 Nutrition
Trends
1. Our Health Is D-pendent on Vitamin
D
While there are many things in life outside of our
control, knowing our vitamin D levels is a simple step we can all
take to elevate our health and the health of our families—it is
something you can own as a proactive tool to be rooted in health.
This unique nutrient plays a critical role in whether or not your
immune system functions sufficiently and responds as needed. It is
essential for lung health, supporting positive moods, brain
function, and cognition, a healthy weight, a healthy pregnancy,
children's health, healthy blood sugar levels, healthy blood
pressure, bone health, and muscle tone. Between 40 and 80 percent
of American adults are outright deficient in vitamin D, while
approximately 90 percent have suboptimal levels. Achieving optimal
levels (between 30 and 50 ng/mL) of vitamin D through
supplementation is crucial to experiencing its full range of
benefits. Because darker skin hampers the body's ability to
synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, supplementation is especially
important for people of color. A national survey reported average
serum vitamin D concentrations of 28.1 ng/mL, 21.6 ng/mL, and 16.9
ng/mL in Caucasian, Mexican American, and African American adults
aged 20 years and older, respectively. Vitamin D is a nutrient all
of us should be focused on, and we all need to know our levels, but
this is especially important for those with darker complexions.
TRY THIS TREND: Talk to your doctor about vitamin D testing to
know your levels and add a vitamin D supplement to your healthcare
routine—supplementing is easy, affordable, and effective. Learn
more about the many benefits of vitamin D.
2. Everyday Immune Support for the Long
Haul
Rather than trying to boost immunity when we've already
fallen victim to whatever bug is going around, we have recognized
the importance of "armoring up" and supporting our immune system on
a daily basis so it can function optimally over the long haul.
Dietary supplements make daily, long-term immune support so easy,
and are backed by a mountain of research validating their health
benefits. Boosting immune competence comes from nutrients you're
likely already familiar with: vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are
three basics that are easy, affordable, and effective.
TRY THIS TREND: Nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc
have loads of research supporting their immune benefits and are
high-reward options.
3. Better Blood Sugar Balance
A growing
body of research is showing that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes sugar to
reproduce and that individuals with type-2 diabetes are at a higher
risk of hospitalization and complications from COVID-19. We
know that supporting blood sugar balance is a key method to be
rooted in health. And the good news? There are lots of ways to
achieve healthy blood sugar balance.
Whatever your health goals are and wherever your starting line
is, there are many options to support healthy blood sugar balance.
Ideas include giving up sugar-sweetened beverages, eliminating
added sugar by trying a seven-day, no-added-sugar detox, or even
trying out the ketogenic (keto) diet. Adding supplements that
support blood sugar balance to your routine can help too—for
example, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is well-known to support insulin
sensitivity and glucose utilization. No matter which route is
chosen, it's certain that balancing blood sugar will result in
better mood, more balanced energy levels, and overall long-term
health.
TRY THIS TREND: An easy way to try this trend is with some
simple snack swaps. Check out the Keto Cups by Eating Evolved with
no added sugar. Our favorite are the almond butter cups. You're
welcome.
4. De-Stressing in a Healthy Way (Without the
Alcohol and Comfort-Food Eating)
2020 was messy in so many
ways, and sometimes overwhelmed us with stress, but it also
highlighted the importance of compassion and empathy. Compassion
and empathy are crucial for helping us de-stress, and de-stressing
is crucial for health. De-stressing is also remarkably beneficial
for our immune health, as stress hormones like cortisol
significantly impair our immune response. So, not only is
de-stressing by offering compassion and empathy good for others,
it's also good for us, and in a meaningful way.
We can all de-stress in a healthy way in two simple steps: Step
one is to give our bodies the nutrients to support their ability to
better cope with stress. These include magnesium, EPA and DHA from
fish oil, B vitamins, vitamin C, phosphatidylserine (PS), curcumin,
and adaptogenic herbs like rhodiola. Step two is to practice
compassion and empathy. There are numerous benefits to practicing
compassion and empathy, especially during a global pandemic. In
addition to helping us connect with others, being empathetic also
helps us regulate our emotions in times of stress. You can build
empathy by engaging meaningfully with others, being aware of other
people's needs, and being kind to others and yourself.
TRY THIS TREND: Call a loved one, wear a mask if you can, give a
stranger a genuine compliment. It's important to practice
compassion and empathy this year, not only for others, but for
yourself as well.
5. Olive Oil Makes a Comeback
While
coconut oil has had a well-deserved reign in the spotlight, 2021
will see olive oil making a comeback. Olive oil has always had a
place in the "good fat" category, and for worthy reasons. This
long-beloved oil has a well-known role in the health benefits of
the Mediterranean diet—its noteworthy phenols and polyphenols
contribute to its many nutrition superpowers, including its
well-documented, anti-inflammatory activities.
TRY THIS TREND: Need proof of this as a trend in 2021? Look no
further than the snack aisles where you'll see olive oil chips,
popcorn, and seaweed snacks.
6. The Climatarian
Consumer research is
showing that while personal health is still a major driver for
buying organic, consumers are shifting to buying organic for
environmental reasons. This has led to the coining of the term
"climatarian," an individual who is making food choices with the
intention of changing how our food is grown—shifting from a
chemical-intensive model to one that promotes soil health,
biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems—an important way to address
climate change.
TRY THIS TREND: The best way to align with this trend is to
increase the amount of organic fruits and veggies in your diet.
Fresh, canned, or frozen, any purchase of organic fruits and
veggies is a vote for better human health, better soil health,
better community health, and inevitably, better health for Mother
Earth. Prioritizing regenerative/pasture-based meat and dairy
products is another crucial method to make a significant difference
in climate change.
7. Affordable, Healthy Meals at Home
Most
of us have been cooking at home more since the start of the
coronavirus outbreak, and while many of us had fun exploring
complicated new recipes, and did so much baking in the beginning we
had baked goods for days, as the months passed and we realized
we're in this for the long haul, priorities shifted and now we're
on the search for easy meals that taste good, and are also
affordable and healthy. Consumers are looking for quick and
affordable solutions to cooking, meal planning, and meals that do
not require a lot of prep. 2021 will pave the way to reinventing
what cooking at home looks like, and Natural Grocers is leading the
way with its good4u℠ Meal Deals—dinner and lunch ideas, with some
breakfast offerings coming soon, to feed your family affordably
with healthy and delicious foods.
TRY THIS TREND: Check out one of the many Natural Grocers'
good4u Meal Deals for healthy, delicious, easy, and affordable
options for you and your family.
8. Vegetables Will Be Front &
Center
Over the years, nutrition advice has changed so much
it's led to more confusion than clarity about what and what not to
eat, but one nutrition recommendation that has remained constant is
that we all need to eat more vegetables. Produce in any
form—canned, frozen, and fresh—provides what's known as nutrient
density. A nutrient dense food is something that packs loads of
nutrition in the form of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients and
plays a huge role in reducing our risk of chronic diseases. Veggies
are some of the most nutrient dense foods out there, which is why
they've remained a crucial part of diet recommendations, even
amidst the whirlwind of changing nutrition advice. In 2021, as part
of our effort to be rooted in health, we'll make it a priority to
try new veggies (ever tried leeks, heirloom tomatoes, or
broccolini?), incorporate more produce-laden recipes into our
repertoires, and discover new weekly staples that leave us feeling
healthy and satisfied.
TRY THIS TREND: Check out naturalgrocers.com/recipes for
veggie-centric recipe ideas. Print a produce calendar and aim to
eat what's in season.
9. Get Back to the Basics to Be Rooted in
Health
SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that thrives on poor health,
and it has forced us to recognize just how unhealthy we are as a
country. As we move into 2021, we will be going back to the basics
to take control of—and actively improve—our health. It's time to
finally prioritize sleep, clean up our diets, make time for
exercise and daily movement, and recognize the value of key,
foundational supplements. It almost seems too simple. Yet, there's
no denying that by prioritizing our own health, we also support the
overall health of our communities.
TRY THIS TREND: Introduce yourself to the Foundational 5
Supplements or book a free, virtual coaching session with your
local Nutritional Health Coach (NHC) to help you figure out the
best first steps.
10. Customized Fitness Nutrition
With
many people still avoiding gyms and group fitness studios, it's
given us the opportunity to not only perfect our at-home exercise
routines, but to also optimize our workouts with real foods and
targeted supplements. In 2021, we'll see a decline in grab-and-go,
post-workout foods and a rise in customized fitness nutrition and
supplementation. Rather than grabbing a water and protein bar after
our W.O.D. (work out of the day; don't worry, we had to look it up
too), in 2021 we will transition toward pairing whole, real foods
with supplements that fuel movement and aid recovery. We will
explore magnesium to support healthy muscle recovery, MCT oil to
fuel more explosive workouts, collagen to support healthy joints
and ligaments, beets and greens powders for healthy blood flow to
muscles during our workouts, and a B-complex vitamin to keep us
energized for our workouts.
TRY THIS TREND: Whether you prefer CrossFit, yoga, or something
in between, try turmeric, a super nutrient that supports recovery,
joint comfort, and immune health, or rhodiola, an adaptogenic herb
that can increase energy and athletic performance, while reducing
both mental and physical fatigue.
References available upon request.
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural
Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC) is an expanding
specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries, body care
products and dietary supplements. The products sold by Natural
Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not contain
artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or
partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only
USDA certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised,
non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural
Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer
affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, safe and convenient retail
environment. The Company also provides extensive free science-based
nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health
and nutrition choices. The Company, founded in 1955, has 160 stores
in 20 states.
1 The statements in this press release
have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are
not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
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