Wellness

Like greenwashing, wellbeing washing is when a company focuses more on appearing to care about wellbeing than they do on taking care of their employees. In an era dominated by digital connectivity, our lives have become intertwined with technology, offering unprecedented convenience and access to information. From fitness trackers and meditation apps to smart devices monitoring our sleep patterns, technology has ushered in a new wave of wellness solutions. While these advancements hold immense promise, it is crucial to navigate the potential pitfalls of technology-driven wellness to ensure our well-being remains at the forefront. The allure of quick fixes and instant gratification often draws us towards wellness trends powered by technology. However, it is essential to approach these...

Is there a link between mental health and gut health? Healthista spoke to The Gut Experts – Professor Barbara Ryan and Elaine McGowan RD. They reveal how managing your mental health can transform your gut health Your brain is connected to every part of your body, so what is so special about the connection between your gut and your brain? Well, it turns out that your gut enjoys a particularly intimate relationship with your brain, compared to the other important organs in your body, so much so, that the gut has been called your ‘second brain’ or the little brain. While your brain contains about 100 billion neurones (nerve cells), your gut contains about 500 million neurones, which is impressive, given that your heart has only 40,000 neurones and your kidneys have about 1 million each. R...

We live in a time where things can be uncertain and scary. Families face many stressors that can exacerbate or lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. On average, a person will reach for their phone every 19 seconds if they are not engaged in an activity. There are things we can do to build resiliency within ourselves and the family. It can feel good to disconnect from distractions such as the phone and social media to connect with family and friends. Schedule time that works for your family to share a meal or have 15 minutes out of the day free from distractions to talk. Read more at Midland Health

You didn't have to be a kid in the '90s to know designer, beauty founder, and artist Victoria Beckham as one fifth of the iconic pop group, the Spice Girls. While the legendary band is well-known for its fashion takes uniquely tailored to each member's personality, Beckham says that it's the beauty looks that have always piqued her interest. "Beauty has always been a passion of mine, and it really began during my time in the Spice Girls," she tells BAZAAR.com. "I always enjoyed sitting in makeup chairs, learning tips and tricks whilst discovering my personal makeup preferences." Read the story at Harper's Bazaar

Much of the information about wellness on social media is utter bunk. If you believe the TikToks, all we need to do is buy a $14,900 bio charger or the odd vaginal egg, breathe a certain way or follow a certain diet. Probably one that’s gluten and sugar-free because they are the devils in sweet delicious disguise. “False health information spreads far faster than accurate, balanced scientific information because false information often comes across as novel or groundbreaking or revolutionary. It’s something new, right?” says British doctor Idrees Mughal, who has a master’s degree in nutritional research and is board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine. Read more at Sydney Morning Herald

Every time a new health or wellness trend emerges, there's a mad rush to incorporate the shiny new routine into our daily lives. From restrictive diets to celebrity-endorsed workouts, staying up to date on the latest quick fix can be exhausting, and these sorts of lifestyle changes are rarely sustainable. I have long doubted the efficacy of quick fixes and one-size-fits-all wellness plans, because, ultimately, we're all different. I believe (and science demonstrates) that the most effective health interventions are developed over a lifetime, through an individualized approach. This means we need new wellness goals altogether. Our Costly Obsession With Quick Fixes It's no secret that the health and wellness industry is obsessed with quick fixes, to the detriment of consumer spending. ...

Another week, another controversial Gwyneth Paltrow interview. The self-appointed wellness guru and Goop queen chatted to Dr Will Cole last week for his The Art of Being Well podcast, detailing her daily "wellness routine" – which included questionable diet habits like fasting until midday, and eating nothing but bone broth for lunch. Oh, and occasionally she might also occasionally throw in a celery juice with lemon (insert eye roll emoji here). TikTok jumped on the interview, dubbing Gwyneth an "Almond Mum" – a term that has emerged online to describe mothers who peddle in advice that promotes toxic diet culture. The phrase emerged in 2013, when ex-model and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star (and mum to models Bella and Gigi Hadid), Yolanda Hadid, told daughter Gigi on the show to...

Since practically forever, people have been searching for ways to boost their immune systems, whether through supplements or their diet. While researchers continue to investigate just how possible that really is, the lack of scientific evidence hasn’t stopped new products from emerging, often with creative delivery systems. A recent one is wellness shots, or immunity shots, which claim to deliver immune-boosting nutrients via a gulp or two of liquid. To clear up any confusion, the name refers to a nonalcoholic version of the kind of shot you’d order at a bar, and not the kind of shot delivered via a needle. You can find immunity and wellness shots at juice bars and in grocery stores. Drinking a round in the name of escaping cold and flu season unscathed sounds like it could be fun, b...

People go on wellness retreats for all kinds of different reasons, to detox, relax, lose weight, deepen their yoga practice… but to heal trauma? That kind of shift isn’t what most reasonable people would expect from a couple of days away from it all. However, that’s exactly what happened to me. I kid you not. I’ll be completely honest, as much as I love wellness I’m a sceptic and when I initially booked onto the Detox and Revive Retreat in Jervis Bay, I was mostly excited about two uninterrupted nights’ sleep. The setting was beautiful, the activities sounded great and the ethos of “detox and revive your body post silly season” was right on the money after my rosé-filled Christmas holiday, but as a new mum to an eight-month-old baby, it was the sleep I was sold on. Read the story at ...

If you've spent any time on the wellness side of the internet, you've likely been met with a plethora of fitness fads and health trends. From cracking the circadian cycle to immersing yourself in an emotional escape room, brush up on your wellness vernacular with these techniques and innovations to put on your radar for the year ahead. One: Soft Living TikTok is rife with wellness trends, and the start of the year is when they really flourish. From the space that gave you #hotgirlwalk and #pilatesprincess, get ready for #softlife. Coined by Black female influencers, it’s about slowing down and doing less. As Lady Stargazer puts it, “Healing seems to be the key to unlocking a soft lifestyle. It allows us to be gentle with ourselves and others, and allows us to recharge so we c...