We’re living in a golden era of wellness. The industry is set to hit $7 trillion by 2025. But with this rapid growth comes a tsunami of misinformation and questionable products. For every legit product on the market, there are also gallons of snake oil. As someone who’s spent years in the world of wellness PR, I’ve seen it all. The innovative, the ineffective — and the truly insane. I’ve learned how to spot the real deal and sniff out the BS.
The good news is you don’t have to be a doctor or fitness professional to make smart choices about your health. You just need to be curious and willing to do a little research to separate fact from fiction. In a sea of myths and promises surrounding wellness products, here are a few that I believe deserve immediate debunking.
Myth: Wellness Is All About Expensive Products and Treatments
Ninety-five percent of the wellness habits that really matter are free.
Sleep, hydration, nutrition, exercise, sunlight, meditation. They cost you very little, so take advantage of these life-sustaining bonuses before shelling out a fortune on enhanced versions of them, such as hydrogen water devices.
If you haven’t come across hydrogen water yet, let me enlighten you. Hydrogen water is water with extra hydrogen molecules added to it. It’s also probably a scam. A hydrogen-infused water bottle can cost $200 — about 400 percent more than regular water that already contains hydrogen. In fact, hydrogen is the first “H” in H2O. Rule of thumb: If a compound already lists an element as part of its chemical formula, it probably has plenty of that element already.
I’m not saying there isn’t a place for some pricey products. But before investing your weekly paycheck, make sure you’ve optimized the basics that nature gave you.
Myth: There’s a One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Wellness
No one should expect any single wellness product to be a silver bullet. Take diet plans, for example. Every year, there is a new fad that promises to transform your body and increase energy. But there is no one diet that’s going to work for everyone. I have a largely meat-heavy diet with fruits and vegetables. My wife is fully vegan. What’s healthy for her isn’t necessarily healthy for me, and vice versa.
The same can be said for most wellness regimens. What works for one person might be a dud for another, but thanks to technological advancements and a better understanding of individual biochemistry, we can now tailor approaches to each person’s unique needs. Wearable devices like continuous glucose monitors or heart rate variability trackers provide valuable data about how your body responds to different inputs.
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So, be wary of anything marketed as a one-stop solution, listen to your body as you experiment with changes to your routine and use personalized data to confirm the results.
Myth: You Need To Be an Expert To Make Informed Wellness Choices
There is so much solid, well-researched information on nutrition readily available online that the consumer no longer has an excuse for ignorance. Curiosity is the number one tool for the modern wellness consumer. Not an expensive trainer or nutritionist.
Sure, there used to be a time when health and wellness knowledge was the domain of experts. But with the internet and various health-tracking apps, the onus is on you to take personal control over your daily habits. You can learn about proper nutrition, log your workouts, monitor your sleep and keep track of your vitals.
Here’s the catch: When it comes to separating fact from fiction, credentials and motivations matter. The most reliable information typically comes from clinicians and PhDs who are genuine experts in their fields, backing their claims with clinical studies rather than just personal experience. These are the voices you want to seek out— professionals whose primary goal is advancing medical knowledge, not selling products.
But just saying you’re overwhelmed with options is a cop-out. If you’re not going to do the research, no amount of hormone therapy, personalized nutrition or health-span interventions will help. The onus is on you to take personal control over your daily habits. Today’s technology makes this easier than ever.
Myth: If It’s Marketed as a Wellness Product, It Must Be Good for You
Gummies are a popular delivery system for supplements right now. That doesn’t mean they’re healthy. Gummies seem so innocuous, but like many wellness products, they package otherwise beneficial ingredients in unhealthy ways. Plus, it’s hard to just have one.
For example, creatine has been proven to be an effective supplement for muscle growth and athletic and cognitive performance, but if you put it in a gummy, you’ve potentially got a problem. These gummies often come loaded with sugar and encourage overconsumption. You might think you’re making a healthy choice, but you end up eating a bunch of candy bears because they’re so delicious.
The same goes for chips. High-protein, low-carb chips are healthier than a tin of Pringles, but nobody eats just one chip. The “health halo” effect may lead people to eat larger portions, thinking they’re good for you. But portion sizes are one of the most important things to be mindful of. Always read labels carefully and consider whether a trendy delivery method is actually satisfying your health goals.
Wellness isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about making smart, sustainable choices. There are no shortcuts, but there are long returns if you stay curious and consistent. Don’t believe the hype. Believe in yourself. Find out what your biomarkers are telling you and supplement accordingly.