2025 Nutrition and Health Trends and Predictions
Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD
| 4 min read
The new year serves as a diet and fitness reset for many people. A recent poll found that 79% of New Year’s goals revolved around improving health, with 32% of participants stating they were focused on improving their diet. This list of five diet and nutrition trends to prepare for in 2025 can be helpful as individuals prepare to hit that reset button.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-influenced health personalization
Individuals have leaned on health technology, such as smart watches and fitness trackers, to monitor their health for decades. The 2024 Internation Food Information Council (IFIC) Food & Health Survey found that nearly 2 in 3 Americans believe that online tools and mobile apps can help them improve their diet and physical activity.
According to the IFIC survey, half of Americans are interested in using AI to help make nutritious food and beverage choices. It’s likely companies will develop or update their health tools with AI technology for a more personalized approach.
These tools can be useful but should be approached with some skepticism. Studies that have evaluated AI’s use in nutrition cite issues with quality, availability of data and biases, and warn against their reliability. Visiting with a healthcare provider is the best approach, as they have a full picture of one’s health history, labs, medications and more. There’s a reason ChatGPT provides a warning that it cannot diagnose conditions.
2. High protein food products
Protein is top of mind in selecting food for Americans. The IFIC survey found the number of consumers trying to consume protein has risen from 59% in 2022 to 71% in 2024. Alongside foods being “fresh” and “low in sugar,” “a good source of protein” was deemed the top three criteria to define a healthy food.
Sufficient protein intake is a vital part of weight loss as it helps maintain muscle mass and promote satiety. It’s likely more marketing will be devoted to high protein products. According to recent info published by Statista, the worldwide market for protein ingredients is expected to grow to over $47.4 billion, up from $26 billion in 2021.
Being aware of protein intake is important, especially when attempting to gain or maintain muscle mass. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, most people meet or exceed their protein needs in the U.S. Protein intake should be personalized based on factors such as weight and activity level.
3. Foods that promote healthy aging
A 2023 study that examined public perception on healthy aging by analyzing over63,000 Twitter posts found that healthy diet and lifestyle was the top of the three major themes alongside maintaining normal bodily functions and preventive care. Longevity is clearly top of mind for many.
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, “Blue Zones” are areas of the world with the largest percentage of people who live until age 100 or longer.
The Blue Zone diet consists of very little meat, instead favoring legumes. It’s also low in sugar, dairy and bread, and promotes eating whole foods and drinking lots of water. Remember, there are no magic supplements to delay aging, but eating a balanced diet with foods that are promoted on the Blue Zone diet can contribute to healthy aging.
4. Functional water
The importance of hydration and drinking enough water is widely known. From lubricating our joints to preventing brain fog, water is essential to life. “Functional water,” or water that offers health benefits beyond hydration, has been around for a while. Its labels tout vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content. After the rise of prebiotic and probiotic sodas last year, we can expect to see continued popularity and evolution of these drinks, that offer more than just hydration. Functional water ingredients could include chlorophyll, fiber, protein, adaptogens and more.
It’s important to keep the sugar and artificial sweetener content of beverages in mind. It’s always best to get nutrients through whole foods.
5. Probiotics beyond pills
Probiotics have long been sold as supplements. Research continues to link gut health to overall and mental health. As a result, we will likely see more products that have ingredients that promote a healthy gut microbiome, including probiotics added to foods and drinks. Pre- and probiotics sodas will likely increase in availability. Fermented products like kimchi and other flavorful gut-healthy foods will likely become more readily available at standard grocery store chains, as opposed to specialty markets. Experimenting with probiotic food ingredients can be an exciting and tasty way to get nutrients and probiotics.
Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Read more health tips and guidance at ahealthiermichigan.com.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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