We’ve all heard of New Year-New You campaigns, though we’d like to take a new twist on it: New year, new food! Doesn’t that sound more interesting! Since our skin is directly affected by what we eat, Sonya is constantly encouraging her clients to up their skin care game by eating smart. “There’s so many amazing options these days for people to make healthier choices” says Sonya, “just walk down the aisles of your local health food store and you’ll be amazed at the wonderful innovations.”
If you’re wondering what tasty new products will be flooding shelves and restaurant menus in 2018, read on.
1. Hydrogen Water
While every nutritionist has a unique approach to good nutrition, the one thing they all agree on is that we need to drink more water. And when regular old H2O gets boring, celebs are turning to the supposed energy-charged benefits of hydrogen water.
Proponents of hydrogen water say it has antioxidant activity, boosts energy, helps you recover from a workout, lowers inflammation, and slows the aging process.
But drink fast: Once a bottle of hydrogen water is opened and exposed to air, the amount of molecular hydrogen in the hydrogen water will immediately start to decrease until it returns to the concentration of regular water.
Skin Benefits:Hydrogen has been identified as having therapeutic antioxidant properties
2. Tumeric
While it did get some nods from foodies last year, turmeric anything is going majorly mainstream this year. Turmeric root has a peppery, warm, and bitter taste. Its fragrance is mild yet slightly reminiscent of orange and ginger, to which it is related. Not only does it add a gorgeous, rich color to your cooking, it’s full of flavor and is responsible for some incredible and notable medicinal qualities.
Skin Benefit: Turmeric is packed with the powerful medicinal properties of curcumin, which research suggests may have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Flax Milk
We know vegan everything is going to be even bigger this year, and flexitarians need all the nondairy milk options they can get. Sonya Dakar has been touting flax seeds for decades, so it’s only fitting that were all gaga for flax milk. With 1200 mg of Omega 3s and a variety of flavors, it’s easy to see why this lacto-substitue will find an army of devotees this year.
Skin Benefit: Omega 3, an essential building block of the skin is not produced by the body.
4. Caffeine Charged Foods
We all love a strong cuppa Joe to get us through those tough days, but for those of us who like to chew, there are now caffeinated foods. Sure, you could always down a chocolate bar and hope for a little jolt of caffeine, but there’s currently a whole range of energy-boosting fortified foods to get your fix.
Skin Benefit: Caffeine constricts small blood vessels and improves circulation, helping to reduce redness.
5. Tahini Everything
The Mediterranean trend is on a roll, with peanut butter's Middle Eastern brother, tahini, becoming a household staple. We love that tahini is packed with monounsaturated fats, along with cholesterol-lowering phytosterols that help promote a healthy heart. This year, expect to see the savory spread make its way beyond high-end restaurants and into popular snacks, desserts, and breakfasts on grocery store shelves.
Skin Benefit: Tahini is packed with Vitamin B, essential for cell generation and red blood cell health.
6. Plant Based Meats
Vegans and vegetarians, it’s time to rejoice! You can now show up at the cookout with something that even meat lovers will devour. Food manufacturers across America are experimenting with ways to process plant-based protein into food that looks, cooks, and tastes just like meat. While we currently have some pretty wicked burger swaps on the market, expect to see this evolve into faux chicken, fish, and even eggs.
Skin Benefits: Plant-based diets are typically low in fat and avoid the saturated fats that can cause inflammation and a host of related skin issues. Plant-based diets are flushed of your body faster thus producing less toxins.
7. Date Syrup
With the rise in popularity of diets like Paleo, Keto, and our fave, Whole30, it’s not surprising that people are looking for healthier sugar-alternatives across the board. Date syrup, also known as Silan is a naturally sweet vegan alternative to honey, and super high in potassium and iron (apparently even more than maple syrup). It’s perfect for drizzling on pancakes, yogurt, or oatmeal, or for use in baking for a rich flavor (or for taking a big ol' spoonful).
Note: Date Syrup is not Whole30 approved :(
Skin Benefits: Packed with vitamin C and D, essential for skin elasticity. Dates also reduce melanin buildup in your skin.
8. A new Generation of Sparkling Water
Let’s face it: Drinking eight glasses of water a day can get boring. That’s why we’re loving the new generation of fizzy H2O. Never before has it been acceptable to Instagram yourself drinking a can of water, but the latest hydration options to hit shelves might just change your mind.
Skin Benefits: Drinking water is the #1 element to ingest for healthy skin.
* The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Comments not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
