Buying based on the latest “trends” is often a habit synonymously associated with wasting money, but in the case of some healthy trends, there are real benefits to your wallet, and waistline.
Here are four worth trying:
Online fitness tools
According to industry analysts at IBISWorld, the fitness market in the United States accounts for $26 billion of annual revenue. It’s expected to grow further in the next five years, thanks to an increased cultural shift towards health and wellness.
[pull_quote align=”left”]Forget workout tapes at home. “On demand” web-based fitness classes taught by some of the nation’s most sought after instructors won’t leave you bored.[/pull_quote]But when you sign up for a gym or studio membership that you rarely use, the cost hits your wallet — hard. To answer the problem, the fitness industry has moved from the stale at-home workout tapes of yesteryear, to “on demand,” web-based fitness classes that are taught by some of the nation’s most sought after instructors. They’re ever-changing, so you never get bored of your at-home workout.
Better still, they cost a fraction of what you’ll pay for a gym or studio membership — and are easy to cancel. FitnessGlo and YogaGlo, both created by Derik Mills, offer a free trial, and commitment-free monthly subscription for less than $20. If you live near the Santa Monica studio, you can even take free classes during taped segments.
Super foods
New healthy trends in dieting always emerge but today’s health conscious consumer trend has shifted the focus from fad diets and weight loss gimmicks toward the natural health benefits of “super foods” that naturally help to stave off life-threatening diseases like diabetes, and even cancer — and are ultra affordable.
Take for example, kale. This newly popular vegetable is a rich source of calcium, vitamins B6, A, C, and K, and is full of healthy minerals and phosphorus. Its antioxidant benefits also make it a powerful cancer-fighting food, in addition to lowering blood cholesterol levels and heart disease risk.You can juice it, sauté it, or even make into a chip — and one “bunch” will run you less than $2.
Chia seeds, another newly popular super food, are credited to enhancing weight loss, hydration, heart healthy omega-3 levels, and lowering blood pressure, all by consuming just 1 ½ ounces a day. A one pound bag costs less than $8.
Recycled clothing
Eco conscious living has made its way from the “hippie” segment into the mainstream culture of healthy trends, and adapting just a few cues from this movement saves the environment — and your wallet.
[pull_quote align=”left”]Water bottles, glass, soda cans and other recycled materials are being used by mainstream retailers to produce clothing.[/pull_quote] Mainstream retailers like Patagonia, for example, are striving to produce fashion made from recycled materials, like water bottles, glass and even soda cans, to reduce the massive waste associated with the clothing industry.
As a consumer, you can feel the difference in the fabric quality. Clothing made from recycled water bottles, for example, often results in a super soft texture of fabric that is free of harmful dyes and toxins.
For financially savvy consumers, the best proof of this healthy trend may be in the price tag. Consider the pricey active wear market: Yoga pants made by Lululemon will run you around $100, while recycled product by Teeki (which claims to use the same manufacturer as Lululemon) sells for less than half the price.
Budget gardening
Gardening has become hip again, and when your garden focuses on breathing new life into old produce, it can save whittle your farmers market bills, too.
According to Stylelist, there are easy “zombie gardening” techniques that reproduce herbs and veggies from scraps you’d otherwise toss.
Celery stalks that are soaked overnight in water can be replanted, and will reproduce, within two weeks, as can the “leftovers” from sweet potatoes, ginger root, green onions and garlic cloves. Buying all of those items at the market instead would cost you around $10-$15 a pop.
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