The Biggest Health and Wellness Trends of the 2010s

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As we say goodbye to 2019, it's fun to not only look back at what happened this year but also this decade. With 2020 on the horizon, we thought we'd take a trip down memory lane and remember the health and wellness trends that took over the 2010s.

To say much of the world went hard on wellness in the past decade seems like an understatement. It became an obsession, a lifestyle, a booming industry. And hey, we're not complaining. There were some great things about the rise of everything wellness: more honesty about certain topics like mental health; more awareness about health issues and taking care of ourselves; and exciting fitness trends and technology. Of course, there were also some head-scratching trends that we're still trying to make sense of—the Shake Weight, the yoni egg, teatoxes.

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Now, we're not here to pass judgment on what went down wellness-wise in the 2010s. Mostly, we see this as a chance to look at how much the wellness world has changed in the past decade and think about what we learned and what we want to take with us in 2020 and beyond. Plus, isn't it fun to reminisce and also predict where wellness will be in the future?

So take a look at what we consider the biggest health and wellness trends of the past decade, by category. Did we miss one? Want to share your favorite or most-hated trends of the 2010s? Or do you have any predictions for what will be hot in wellness in the 2020s? Send us a DM or comment on Instagram at @thethirty.

Food

1. Cauliflower

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Once upon a time, cauliflower played second fiddle to broccoli. Now, it's literally in every single dish. It's a stand-in ingredient for foods like pizza crust, rice, gnocchi, even General Tso's, and therefore, this cruciferous vegetable has proven to be so versatile.

2. Kale

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Like cauliflower, kale got a glow-up in the 2010s. The healthy, leafy green was the base of many salads and smoothies. People even turned it into chips. We don't see this one going away anytime soon.

3. Teatoxes

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You might have seen teatoxes in your Instagram feed, promising weight loss and a flatter stomach. The diet trend sparked a lot of controversy because it promised benefits that didn't really work and even contained some ingredients that could be harmful. We're okay with seeing this one off into the sunset and trying longer-term and more sustainable ways to eat healthier.

4. Keto, Whole30, Paleo

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The '90s and '00s had Atkins and South Beach, and the 2010s saw the rise of Keto, Whole30, and Paleo diets, to name a few. We're still seeing so many recipes and trendy packaged foods that are approved for these diets, so we predict these aren't going anywhere.

5. Juice

6. Meal Subscriptions

7. Bone Broth

8. Alternative Milks

9. Trendy Drinks

10. Fake Meat

Technology

1. Fitness Trackers

2. Health Apps

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The world of wellness is at arm's reach on our phones. There's an app for pretty much everything now. Track your fertility or menstrual cycle with one. Meditate with a click. Know how many calories a food contains with a scan of a barcode. 

3. DNA and Ancestry Tests

Fitness

1. At-Home Workouts

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With apps like Daily Burn and equipment like Peloton bikes, it's so easy to stay active without leaving the comfort of your own home. Now there's really no excuse for not being able to squeeze a workout in, which is both fortunate and unfortunate (when we're feeling ultra lazy).

2. Boutique Fitness

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There's SoulCycle for indoor cycling, Barry's Bootcamp for HIIT enthusiasts, Y7 for yogis, and Rumble for amateur boxers—and that's just to name a few. There's a fitness studio for every kind of workout now, and we're not complaining.

3. Shake Weights

4. High-Intensity Workouts

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With workouts like CrossFit and competitions like Tough Mudders and Spartan Races, people really pushed themselves physically this decade.

5. Athleisure

Self-Care

1. CBD

2. Mystic Wellness

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This decade, we explored more forms of mystic or spiritual wellness. Many of us bought crystals, saged our homes, and turned to tarot or astrology for clarity.

3. Essential Oils

4. Wellness Therapies

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We explored more forms of both alternative and newer therapies like cupping, acupuncture, Reiki healing, breath work, infrared saunas, and cryotherapy—to name a few. We're excited to try even more in 2020.

5. Meditation

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A focus on mindfulness and mental health was one of the most important developments in the health and wellness space this decade. The practice of meditation became more mainstream, helping many people around the world feel more centered, relaxed, and self-aware.

6. Wellness Retreats

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Yes, wellness retreats weren't just invented in the 2010s, but there were a whole lot more options in the past decade. Wellness vacations and destinations became even more popular, and now many hotels and resorts offer wellness packages as amenities.

Health

1. Supplements

2. Prebiotics and Probiotics

3. KonMari

4. Organic, Clean Products

Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.

Managing Editor

Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019. In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY and Who What Wear, she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot). She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.