Look, I’ve Had It
I’m Jessica, senior editor at Fresh Herbs, and I’ve spent the last 20+ years watching health trends come and go. And honestly? I’m over it.
It’s not that I don’t care about health. I do. It’s that I care too much. I’ve tried it all. The diets, the workouts, the supplements. And you know what? Most of it’s bullshit.
Let’s start with kale. Remember when everyone lost their minds over kale? I was at a conference in Austin, and some guy named Marcus—let’s call him Marcus—was selling kale smoothies for $12 a pop. Twelve bucks! I asked him, “Marcus, what’s the deal with kale?” He said, “It’s a superfood, Jessica. It’s gonna change your life.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But did it change my life? No. It just made my smoothies taste like lawn clippings.
And don’t get me started on intermittent fasting. I tried it for about three months. Woke up at 11:30pm one night, starving. Ate a whole pizza. Gained 5 pounds. So much for that.
But Here’s the Thing
I’m not saying all health trends are bad. Some of them actually work. But the problem is, we’re always looking for the next big thing. The magic pill. The quick fix. And it’s not just about weight loss or fitness. It’s about mental health, nutrition, all of it.
Take mental health, for example. We’re finally talking about it, which is great. But now we’ve got a new trend every week. Mindfulness apps, meditation retreats, biohacking. It’s like we’re trying to outrun our problems instead of facing them head-on.
I had coffee with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. He’s been into biohacking lately. “Jessica,” he said, “you gotta try this. It’s gonna revolutionize your health.” I said, “Dave, I’m not sure I wanna stick electrodes on my head just to meditate better.” He laughed, but I was serious. It’s all getting a bit much.
And let’s talk about fitness. I’ve tried it all—CrossFit, yoga, Pilates, you name it. I even went on a backpacking destinations budget guide trip last year to “find myself” or whatever. Spoiler alert: I didn’t find myself. I found a lot of bugs and a few blisters, but that’s about it.
So What’s the Point?
I think—no, I know—the point is to stop chasing trends and start focusing on what actually works. Eat real food. Move your body. Get enough sleep. Drink water. It’s not sexy, but it’s true.
I’m not saying you should stop trying new things. But maybe, just maybe, we should all take a step back and ask ourselves why we’re doing what we’re doing. Is it because it’s actually good for us, or is it because some influencer told us it’s the next big thing?
I’m gonna be honest, I’m not perfect. I still fall for trends sometimes. But I’m trying to be more mindful about it. And I’m trying to remember that health isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being human.
So here’s to being human. To making mistakes. To trying again. And to not giving a damn about what anyone else thinks.
Because honestly, that’s the only trend that really matters.
Author Bio: Jessica Harris is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She’s tried it all and lived to tell the tale. When she’s not writing, you can find her eating pizza and complaining about the latest health trend.
