
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-influenced health personalization
According to the IFIC survey, half of Americans are interested in using AI to help make nutritious food and beverage choices. It’s likely companies will develop or update their health tools with AI technology for a more personalized approach.
These tools can be useful but should be approached with some skepticism. Studies that have evaluated AI’s use in nutrition cite issues with quality, availability of data and biases, and warn against their reliability. Visiting with a healthcare provider is the best approach, as they have a full picture of one’s health history, labs, medications and more. There’s a reason ChatGPT provides a warning that it cannot diagnose conditions.
2. High protein food products
Protein is top of mind in selecting food for Americans. The IFIC survey found the number of consumers trying to consume protein has risen from 59% in 2022 to 71% in 2024. Alongside foods being “fresh” and “low in sugar,” “a good source of protein” was deemed the top three criteria to define a healthy food.
3. Foods that promote healthy aging
The Blue Zone diet consists of very little meat, instead favoring legumes. It’s also low in sugar, dairy and bread, and promotes eating whole foods and drinking lots of water. Remember, there are no magic supplements to delay aging, but eating a balanced diet with foods that are promoted on the Blue Zone diet can contribute to healthy aging.
4. Functional water
The importance of hydration and drinking enough water is widely known. From lubricating our joints to preventing brain fog, water is essential to life. “Functional water,” or water that offers health benefits beyond hydration, has been around for a while. Its labels tout vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content. After the rise of prebiotic and probiotic sodas last year, we can expect to see continued popularity and evolution of these drinks, that offer more than just hydration. Functional water ingredients could include chlorophyll, fiber, protein, adaptogens and more.
It’s important to keep the sugar and artificial sweetener content of beverages in mind. It’s always best to get nutrients through whole foods.
5. Probiotics beyond pills
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