In this article, we'll look at three health trends that are likely here to stay because they're safe, effective and easy to manage.

1. Intermittent Fasting

If you're trying to lose weight or know someone who is, then you've likely heard of intermittent fasting before. This approach to dieting restricts the hours when you can eat instead of the amounts you can eat.

The goal is to eat for half the day and refrain from eating for the other half. Most people will choose nighttime (naturally) for their not eating window. For example, you might eat between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. but nothing in between. This allows you to eat your normal three meals and snacks as you usually would but gives your body time to burn off those carbs and rest.

There are some pros and cons of intermittent fasting. For example, the hours you eat and what you do between those hours make a big difference in the type of progress you'll make. Some people find they wake up very hungry and hungrier throughout the day. However, if you can get your hours and food groups just right, you could see significant results.

2. Mindful Eating

Mindful eating is becoming more popular across the country as people start looking for healthy, non-intensive ways to lose weight and feel better. The idea behind mindful eating is that you listen to your body and only eat when you're truly hungry.

The tough part about mindful eating is that so many of us will "eat our feelings," also called emotional eating, which can lead to a disconnect between the brain and the gut. This means you might think you're hungry when you're really just craving the dopamine rush that sugar or carbs provide.

With mindful eating, the goal is to choose cleaner food options and listen to your body. The more you can connect with your nutrition needs and what foods make you feel good versus bad, the easier it is to make choices that will help you reach your goals.

3. Low-Intensity Cardio

Although some people are still running 5ks and going to Crossfit, many people are embracing a gentler workout. Low-intensity cardio is growing in popularity because it's easy for everyone and can offer some of the same gains as high-intensity work.

Taking walks, in particular, has become many people's new favorite exercise. You can take a restorative walk during the day to clear your head, a long walk in the evening as your workout routine or even go for a hike on weekends to get your heart rate up.

Low-intensity exercises still work your cardio and help you build muscles and heart health. The only caveat is that it takes more time to achieve the same results with low-intensity exercises. So instead of running for 30 minutes, you might have to walk for an hour to see the same results.

The health and wellness landscape is changing as people learn more about themselves and their bodies. Try out one of these three trends in your own life to see if it's a better fit than what you're doing now. 

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