As 2019 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at the biggest health and wellness trends this year.

From certain diets to specialized products, the year has brought a variety of buzzy wellness trends.

Not only headlines have held the names of these wellness trends, celebrity social media posts have also promoted certain diets.

The keto diet, for example, has gotten praise from "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino, which he credits for losing 50 pounds. And although they never directly reference keto, Khloe Kardashian and Vanessa Hudgens both credit their weight loss to a high fat, low carb diet.

We've rounded up some of the biggest headline-making trends, in no particular order:

Veganism

Though vegan diets started creeping into the mainstream in the last couple of years, 2019 saw the biggest increase in vegan hype and headlines.

From plant-based fast food options becoming available across the country, like Burger King's Impossible Whopper, to articles on how to vegan-ize your Thanksgiving, this year has brought veganism to the forefront.

And it's not only fast food other industries are taking note too.

In September, Walt Disney World announced that it will begin offering hundreds of plant-based options for its park-goers at all of its major quick and table service restaurants. Vegan options are also coming to Disneyland in spring 2020.

Celebrities speaking up about veganism has also been prevalent this year, from Jaden Smith's ups and downs with the diet to pop newcomer Billie Eilish slamming Lady Gaga's meat dress.

Keto diet

Though the ketogenic diet has been around for a while, it was everywhere in 2019, from keto movie theater snacks to celebrity endorsements.

In the diet, carbs are ditched to make room for high-quality fats and proteins. After several days of strict adherence, the body pushes through a period of lethargy to arrive at ketosis. In this highly efficient metabolic state, you burn stored fat for fuel and those stubborn love handles finally fade away.

To enter ketosis, dieters need to be eating fewer than 50 grams of carbs a day for a few days while maintaining a diet that's high in fat.

Some celebrity endorsements include Vanessa Hudgens plugging the "perfect keto snack!!," on her Instagram April, which was a Slim Fast keto peanut butter cup.

Alicia Vikander's trainer says she got her "Tomb Raider" physique from seven months of hard training and adhering to the keto diet.

CBD oil

Cannabidiol, the popular hemp plant derivative marketed as a cure-all for just about any condition, has only been approved by federal regulators to treat some rare forms of epilepsy, but its popularity quickly grew in 2019.

In April 2019, there were 6.4 million CBD Google searches, according to research in the peer-reviewed JAMA Network Open.

CBD, a non-psychoactive that shouldn't contain the "high" producing THC chemical, has popped up on shelves across the country in oil, extract, vaporized liquid and capsule form.

The product, which as found its way into natural medicine, cosmetics and even food has caused some issues, however, due to confusion surrounding its legality.

Oat milk

Forget soy and almond milk, 2019 was all about oat milk for a go-to non-dairy alternative.

Oat milk gained popularity thanks in part to the U.S. arrival of Swedish company Oatly. The company, which was formed in the early 90s, brought its oat drink to the states starting at Intelligentsia coffee shops last year.

Now the gluten-free and sugar-free product is available in upwards of 2,200 coffee shops and 1,000 grocery stores across the country from Seattle to Northwest Arkansas and Brooklyn, says Oatly's general manager Mike Messersmith.

In addition to a milk-change up for your cereal and lattes, oat milk is also coming in the form of yogurt soon.

Earlier this year, Danone North America, which sells Dannon yogurt, announced a line of oat-milk yogurt alternatives under its Silk brand.

Pegan diet

A cross between paleo and vegan diets, the Pegan diet was originally written about on functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman's blog in 2014. The doctor's buzzworthy brainchild caught on to the mainstream in 2019, however, with Pinterest reporting a 337% increase in people searching for the term as of October.

"While Pegan involves leaving out certain foods like refined sugar and flour, conventionally raised animal products and chemical additives its so much more focused on what we can eat for optimal health," Hyman explained to USA TODAY partner MakeItGrateful.com.

He continued, "Eating this way means you dont have to count calories because when you eat the whole, nutrient-dense foods, youre naturally satiated."

Intermittent fasting

Most people are aware of fasting for religious reasons, but 2019 brought a whole new meaning to the practice when paired with the word "intermittent."

The trendy dieting advice suggest alternating between certain periods of eating and not eating. The method has been used as a way to lose weight and for other benefits. A study from The National Institute on Aging last year suggests that intermittent fasting could be the key to longevity.

Food fasting isn't the only kind to pop up this year, either.

Dopamine fasting has become a mindfulness practice that has taken off at the end of the year, about a year after Youtuber Improvement Pill published a video where he perhaps coined the term while describing his routine meant to Get Your Life Back Together, as the video title says.

The term has a different definition for everyone, but for American Authors musician Dave Rublin it means making a concerted effort, in a set amount of time, to avoid social media and TV.

Continued here:
From veganism to keto: the biggest health and wellness trends of 2019 - SouthCoastToday.com

Damien Willis, Las Cruces Sun-News Published 12:22 p.m. MT Dec. 17, 2019

Damien Willis' weekly column addresses pop culture, news and more.(Photo: Sun-News File Photo)

As the decade draws to a close, I have been reflecting on some of the things that might significantly define the 2010s. It was, of course, the decade of smartphones. It was the decade of the gig economy. It was the decade of the sharing economy.

But there is also a case to be made for the 2010s being the decade of self-care and wellness. It was the decade during which an increased awareness of how we eat and treat our bodies became cool. We saw veganism go mainstream, gluten-free become widespread, and nearly everyone knew someone giving the keto and paleo diets a try. It was the decade of Whole Foods, quinoa, kale, yoga, grain bowls, smoothies and low-carb alternatives.

We heard the terms self-care and wellness being bandied about more. We saw a pronounced shift in the way fitness and weight-loss products were marketed, focusing less on losing weight and more on enhanced overall wellness.

We also saw changes at the supermarket perhaps most notably in the produce section. We began to see more locally-grown, organic, non-GMO, cage-free and plant-based options. Our friends and relatives began talking about meal-prep, focusing on ways to avoid fast-food lunches and eating healthier during the week.

We saw the rise of meal delivery services like Chefd, Freshly, Green Chef, HelloFresh and Purple Carrot that specialize in providing healthier alternatives.

Mindful eating became something of a moral obligation for many, and our diets more than any other time I can remember became a part of our personal identities. We came to be defined, often loudly and proudly, by our dietary restrictions.

That being said, it must also be noted that wellness and self-care are often for the privileged. Much has been written, particularly in the past five years or so, about the numerous disparities that make access to wellness less attainable to certain subsets of society. For instance, those who struggle to make ends meet seldom are able to engage in self-care practices from seeking mental health services and taking vacations from work to staying home when theyre sick. There are also racial barriers to health, wellness, and health care access.

Recently, efforts have been made to make yoga and meditation more accessible to women of color, who have long been underrepresented in those communities.

The decade also saw the beginnings of another trend that seems worth mentioning here. The drinking habits of Millennials and Gen Z are reportedly consuming far less alcohol than those who came before them. This has forced the alcohol industry to find new ways to reach them often with low-alcohol or non-alcoholic alternatives.

We began hearing phrases like sober curious a term for those who have committed to a lifestyle less driven by alcohol, and examining the role alcohol plays in ones relationships, career and social life. Low-ABV alcohol by volume drinks saw a pronounced spike in popularity. Bottled low- and no-alcohol beverages in the U.S. are predicted to grow by about 32 percent between 2018 and 2022, and this year saw a rise in no-booze bars. Because millennials are drinking less beer, a quick trip down the liquor aisle will quickly reveal that beers are beginning to look more like juices spritzes, seltzers, refreshers, Ritas and Refrescas. And, earlier this year, Vox profiled some of the sobriety influencers of Instagram.

Where this road will lead as we step into the next decade is anyones guess, but I suspect its safe to assume we should expect more emphasis placed on health and wellness, rather than less.

Damien Willis is a columnist for Pulse, writing primarily about entertainment and pop culture. He may be reached at dwillis@lcsun-news.com or @DamienWillis on Twitter.

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Dec. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --SlimFast, the diet brand with the clinically proven plan, which over the course of the last 40 years, has helped millions of Americans shed pounds quickly and reliably, announces its latest addition to the Advanced Nutrition line: Bananas & Cream. The new ready-to-drink meal replacement shake delivers creamy indulgence, with 20 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. SlimFast Advanced Nutrition Bananas & Cream underscores that you can still satisfy the taste buds with a mere 1g of sugar.

SLIMFAST GOES BANANAS ADDING TO ITS ADVANCED NUTRITION LINE WITH EXCITING NEW FLAVOR: BANANAS & CREAM.With 20g of protein, 1g of sugar, 2 net carbs, 5g of fiber and 24 vitamins & minerals.

The new low-carb SlimFast Advanced Nutrition Bananas & Cream shake is a lactose- and gluten-free meal replacement that also packs in 24 vital vitamins and minerals. The new flavor joins the other decadent flavors in the SlimFast Advanced Nutrition ready-to-drink line-up including Strawberries & Cream, Vanilla Cream, and Creamy Chocolate.

In addition to the ready-to-drink shakes, SlimFast Advanced Nutrition also offers two Smoothie Mixes to ensure you can customize your morning smoothie whenever you need, with Creamy Chocolate and Vanilla Cream.

SlimFast Advanced Nutrition products are available now at national retailers including Walmart, fine grocers like Publix, Kroger, Ahold, Wakefern, HyVee, and Meijer, and online at Amazon.com.

About SlimFastSlimFast was founded in 1977 to help Americans lose weight safely, reliably, deliciously, and with ease, thereby creating the meal-replacement shake category. To date, the SlimFast Plan can boast credit coast-to-coast and around the world, for helping millions to lose weight and keep it off. SlimFast has developed the following product lines: Original, Advanced Nutrition, Advanced Energy, Keto, and Diabetic Weight Loss. SlimFast can point to clinical trials, conducted by independent researchers that demonstrate proven and sustainable weight loss. SlimFast is based inPalm Beach Gardens, Fla.

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SlimFast Goes Bananas Adding To Its Advanced Nutrition Line With Exciting New Flavor: Bananas & Cream - Yahoo Finance

There were a lot of trendy diets in 2019, including a few even I hadnt heard of before I started researching this list. Google published the ten most-googled diets, and were here to explain what they are and what you might want to know if youre looking into them.

Two of the diets seem pretty reasonable: intermittent fasting, which is a legit hack if youre into that sort of thing, and Noom, which sells a pretty standard diet in an app form that some people find convenient. The other eight I wouldnt recommend. Heres your spoiler, though: none of them seem likely to be more effective than regular plain ol healthy eating.

Most people who are into IF would likely object to calling it a diet; its a way of eating that may also be done for perceived health benefits or because you some people find they feel more focused and energetic while fasting.

In most cases, IF takes the form of time restricted feeding. You swear off food for a certain window of timemaybe from bedtime to lunchtime, essentially skipping breakfast. Other versions might involve dedicating two days a week to extremely low calorie intake.

As a weight loss tool, IF seems to work about as well as other diets. Youll eat less overall, and lose weightbut only if you dont hate it. When its been studied, people tend to have a hard time sticking to it.

This is a diet of vegan, unprocessed foodsso far so goodwith a lot of pseudoscience and pricey supplements thrown in. The diet is supposed to make your body alkaline (not a thing that a diet can do), and its dangerously low in protein. Also, just so you know, Dr. Sebi is not a doctor. Healthline has a detailed breakdown of the diet here.

Noom is a subscription based app that provides advice about what to eat and asks you to track your food. Foods are divided into red, yellow, and green categories, with red items being the most calorie dense and green being things like vegetables. The app coaches you, although some users have found the coaching less than helpful. Its been called Weight Watchers for millennials.

This one isnt a specific diet, but simply the idea of eating 1,200 calories per day. For some reason, this number is held out sometimes as a minimum for healthy eating (I recall the old CalorieCount forums of the early 00s banned any discussion of under-1200 diets) and in other communities its defended as appropriate for some people, maybe, sometimes (see the subreddit r/1200isplenty).

To be clear: 1,200 calories is not enough food for most people. (We have a guide to finding your appropriate calorie intake here.) Probably a lot of people who look up this diet are trying to find low calorie recipes or meal plans, which may end up being okay as long as your actual intake is appropriate to your body size and activity level.

GOLO is a company selling weight-loss plans and supplements. They have published studies claiming their plan works, but GOLO funded and conducted the studies and lets just say they dont make an airtight case for the diet (they dont compare people on their diet to people on another diet, for example.)

The diet also requires the use of a particular supplement that the company sells. As we know there are no magic weight loss pills, this doesnt seem like a particularly special diet. Meanwhile, there are Amazon reviews and they are...not good.

This diet comes from reality TV stars Terry Dubrow of Botched and Heather Dubrow of The Real Housewives of Orange County. It appears to be a fairly simple combination of intermittent fasting, in which you fast for 16 hours a day (including while youre asleep), and unprocessed low-carb eating.

There are recommended foods for each phase of the diet, which dietitian Carolyn Williams notes may not add up to a healthy number of calories. Some of the sample days had only about 1,000 calories.

This diet aims to activate proteins in our bodies called sirtuins, with the goal of making more mitochondria to deal with oxidative stress and possibly slow down aging processes. Sounds great, except theres no way you could possibly do this through diet, an expert in nutrition and biochemistry tells Spartan.

The diet starts with a week of extreme calorie restriction (around 1,000-1,500 calories, much of it from juice). Then follow another two weeks of restricted eating, after which you can either repeat the process or move on to a maintenance phase in which you Sertify your diet by eating as many of the approved Sirtfoods as possible (green tea, dark chocolate, red wine, and so on). If this sounds a lot like the mostly-debunked concept of superfoods...well, it sounds that way to me too.

This one is pretty much what it sounds like. Living without any carbs or sugar (pro tip: sugar is a carb) may not be harmful but its probably going to suck. Most likely, people were googling J.Los 10-day no carbs no sugar challengewhich well get to in just a sec.

Endomorph is a term from the outdated concept of somatotyping, in which some people have naturally skinny, naturally fat, or naturally muscular body types. Theres no evidence for this, but the concept was catchy and people are (sigh) still talking about it today.

There isnt a single authoritative endomorph diet, just a lot of diet advice for endomorphs that is roughly the same diet advice anyone would get regardless of body type: eat more vegetables and all that.

Okay, so heres where the no carb/no sugar thing comes in. Jennifer Lopez posted a 10-day challenge on her Instagram to avoid those foods. She told Today that part of the reason is to break a craving for sweet foods. Now when I go back to eating a fruit in 10 days, its going to taste like an ice cream sundae, she said.

The challenge calls for eschewing anything with starch or sugar, including fruit, yogurt, and milk. While you dont technically need these foods to live, most human beings will get bored and frustrated pretty quickly trying to stick to a challenge like this. And to what end? Its not like carbs or sugar are bad for you to the point of needing to eliminate them completely from your dieteven if its temporary.

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We Explain the Most Googled Diets of 2019 - Lifehacker Australia

During the holiday season families and friends visit aging loved ones. Frequently, this is the time when they discover troubling changes in health, behavior or physical appearance of their family member. Many will discover their aging loved one now needs more help or attention.

TUCSON, Ariz. (PRWEB) December 17, 2019

Aging Life Care Professionals across the country notice an increase of inquiry calls during and immediately after the holiday season.

Aging Life Care Association incoming Board of Directors' President Liz Barlowe, MA, CMC states that amidst the hustle and bustle, families should take time to observe any changes in an aging family member's behaviors or lifestyle. These changes may vary widely. Bruises or cuts may indicate a recent fall, while a damaged car may indicate difficulty driving. "These signs show serious and immediate risk for the individual as well as others around them," states Barlowe. "But taking stock of general, subtle signs of decline is important too."

"For many families, the holidays are the first visit they've had with an aging relative in a year or longer," says Kate Granigan an Aging Life Care Professional practicing in Boston, MA. "It's the first time they can see that their mother's house is more cluttered than before, or that she's shuffling more down the hallway or has strategically placed furniture to hold onto for balance."

Social isolation for seniors is a big concern, especially after the holidays Barlowe adds. The attention and activities around the holidays quickly fades and many aging relatives are left alone until the next big family event. "Loneliness and seclusion can be just as harmful to a senior as unhealthy habits."

So how do you start a conversation with your loved one that they consider outside help? Granigan suggests to take the cues of what may be challenging them without confronting them. Ask questions about how their life could be easier or more enjoyable and then you can gently lead into a service you learned about to help out-source challenging tasks or to be a go-to assistant for support. "Not pressuring but leaving the door open with a let's think about it' tone allows you to revisit the subject."

Here are four key areas to examine during your holiday visits:

These are just a few warning signs that your elder loved one needs assistance. By initiating conversation and reaching out for support and information, you can help your loved ones as they navigate this new stage of their lives.

For more information or to find an Aging Life Care Professional near you visit aginglifecare.org.

ABOUT the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA): ALCA was formed in 1985 to advance dignified care for older adults and their families in the United States. Aging Life Care Professionals have extensive training and experience working with older adults, people with disabilities, and families who need assistance with caregiving issues. They assist families in the search for a suitable nursing home placement or extended care if the need occurs. The practice of Aging Life Care and the role of care providers have captured a national spotlight, as generations of Baby Boomers age in the United States and abroad. For more information or to access a nationwide directory of Aging Life Care Professionals, please visit aginglifecare.org.

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Company headshotErica Tishman

Erica Tishman, the prominent architect who was killed by a piece of debris that fell off a building facade in Manhattan, was deeply involved in her community and synagogue.

The New York Post and other New York news outlets identified Tishman as the victim in the tragic incident, which occurred on December 17, 2019. She was only 60 years old.

Police say that she was walking down the street when she was felled by the chunk of debris, and questions are already being raised about the buildings maintenance history. Meanwhile, tributes quickly flowed in for Tishman, who had degrees from the Ivy League and was the granddaughter of the late president of Brooklyn Law School.

News of a freak accident such as this is always disturbing and sad, Alicia Koledin wrote on Twitter in one tribute. But having worked with #EricaTishman for months, I am stunned and nearly frozen with shock right now. It could have happened to anyone happened to her. A great and tragic loss for the #NYC #AEC community.

Heres what you need to know:

Erica was the vice president of Zubatkin Owner Representation LLC, which is located at 333 West 52nd Street in New York City, according to the firms website.

Erica is an accomplished professional with over thirty years of experience in architectural design, construction, and project management, her company bio reads.

Her diverse portfolio includes educational, athletic, and private development projects. An effective communicator and problem solver, she has the ability to work collaboratively with an organizations leadership to structure building projects for success. As an architect in private practice for over twenty years before joining Zubatkin, Erica developed an understanding of the project development process from programming and strategic planning through design, approvals, construction and occupancy.

Her LinkedIn page also lists her as a partner with DeWitt Tishman Architects, LLP.

According to The New York Post, police say that Tishman was struck by a falling chunk of building facade as she walked on 49th Street around 10:45 a.m. She died at the scene after being struck in the head by the debris.

The New York Daily News reported that the piece of debris fell from a brick tower. According to Daily News, the building at 729 Seventh Ave. has several outstanding building violations. Daily News further reported that one past violation was for damaged terra cotta at areas above 15th floor in several locations which poses a falling hazard for pedestrians. Daily News obtained a statement from a company spokesman, who said: We are saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the family. The company will fully cooperate with the city in the ongoing matter.

The New York Times also reported that the falling debris came from 729 Seventh Avenue, described as a 17-story office building with retail shops on the first floor. According to The Times, in April, city building inspectors issued a violation to building owner Himmel + Meringoff Properties, because of an alleged failure to maintain exterior building facade.

Erica Tishmans 1982 wedding announcement in the New York Times said that she was Erica Dale Lindenbaum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Lindenbaum of New York and East Hampton, L.I. She married Steven Howard Tishman, son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Tishman of Hollywood, Fla.

Rabbi Benjamin Z. Kreitman performed the ceremony at the Plaza Hotel, the announcement says. At that time, it described Erica as studying at Harvard. Her father is a senior partner in the New York law firm of Rosenman Colin Freund Lewis & Cohen. Her mother is an associate of Dexter Design Inc. Her grandfather, the late Abraham M. Lindenbaum, was president of the Brooklyn Law School, the announcement said.

Her husband was described as financial analyst with the Zayre Corporation, a self-service department-store chain with headquarters in Framingham, Mass.

A biography for Tishman on the website of Central Synagogue says that Erica and her husband Steven Tishman have been members of Central Synagogue since 1992. They have three children, Adam, Stuart, and Julia.

According to her company bio, Tishman was actively involved in the community in a variety of ways.

Through many years of Board service, Erica brings a unique perspective to the process of steering capital projects and real estate development plans, the biography explains.

She currently chairs the Board of Directors for The Educational Alliance and served on the Board of Trustees at Riverdale Country School, where she coordinated a program for facilities stewardship, two master plans, and oversaw two major construction campaigns. Erica is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Central Synagogue in Manhattan.

Her bio on the Synagogues website says that Erica Tishman was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Real Estate Committee for the Educational Alliance, a social service agency located in lower Manhattan that serves 50,000 New Yorkers annually. She served as a board of trustees member, and chair of facilities for Riverdale Country School for twelve years and currently oversees their Capital Projects. In addition, she is a chair for the Alumni Schools Committee for Princeton University.

Way back in 2011, Educational Alliance wrote on Twitter: Our honoree Erica Tishman speaks to the crowd. She first came to us when her kids volunteered w/ us!

On Facebook, Tishman mostly posted about her childrens engagements, at least in the posts that are visible.

Tishman was a very accomplished person. She had a masters degree in architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, according to her biography.

She also had a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University. She was a registered architect in New Jersey and New York and an accredited professional who had a certificate in lighting design.

She was affiliated with the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter.

Many people knew Erica Tishman, so tributes flowed on social media after her name was reported. Alan van Capelle wrote: I am shocked that my friend and former Educational Alliance Trustee was killed today in midtown. She had an enormous and generous heart.

My classmate, Princeton 81. Tragic and very sad, wrote a former colleague.

Senator Brad Hoylman wrote on Facebook: Eight months ago, a building in the heart of my district and near many Broadway theaters was issued a violation for failure to maintain building wall(s) or appurtenances. Today a woman walking past it lost her life when debris fell and hit her. Im urging the city to look at this case very closely. If there was any wrongdoing involved, the full weight of the law must be directed at the responsible parties.

READ NEXT: Karol Sanchez Case.

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Erica Tishman: A Tribute to the Manhattan Architect - Heavy.com