Cutting Through the Noise of Health Trends
Health trends have been around forever. These are directly tied to the ways that people measure beauty standards, “ideal” bodies, and standards of health. But just because there is a trend, it doesn’t mean that it’s based on any type of research. Even when things are based on research, it may not be applicable to all people. Health does not take a one size fits all approach. What works for one person may not work for another. With the rise of social media comes the ability for more people to have platforms. This is an incredibly powerful tool in making health information more accessible. Simultaneously, this accessibility allows anyone to put their voice in the arena, regardless of qualifications. This mixed with brand marketing and the sharp uptick in influencer content means there’s a lot of information about health floating around. The influx and rapid change of health trends is by no means accidental. The health and wellness industry was valued at $6.3 trillion in 2023 with the possibility of reaching $9 trillion by 2028. That’s not inherently bad. Even Champ is part of the health and wellness space and we’re proud of it. We’re passionate about creating quality lube and condoms for everyone, no matter how you play or who you play with. But this industry thrives when people find themselves in echo chambers — being told about the next best thing, the up-and-coming trend, the new “it” factor. It can feel impossible to know what’s quality content and what’s a marketing money grab.
A trend on social media is really any topic that is talked about more frequently than average. But just because something is trending doesn’t mean the claims are true or they are even safe. In 2024, there was a minor health trend of “Bone Smashing.” People would take a hard object and hit areas of their face in the hopes of achieving a more chiseled look. This trend is not only incredibly dangerous, but beyond baseless. This raises the question of how we can differentiate which health trends are worth our time and which aren’t.
We’re not healthcare professionals, and like we said before, health is not one size fits all. It’s impossible to get true healthcare advice from the internet as each person has incredibly specific needs. But for the most popular recent health trends, we’ll share a bit about what medical research actually says. If you have any questions about these or other health trends, speak with your doctor.
Mouth Taping
One of the most popular health trends on TikTok over the last year has been mouth taping. This trend is simply taping your mouth closed while you sleep. The thought is that by forcing yourself to breathe through your nose while you sleep, things like snoring, dry mouth, bad breath, and sleep apnea could be improved. In addition, some have claimed it can help with TMJ or jaw pain and create a sharper jawline. Due to the increase in usage of mouth tape, researchers have begun more research into previous studies to see if these claims are substantiated. Three researchers reviewed all clinical evidence and found there to be very little research pointing one way or the other. One study showed a 30% decrease in participant snoring for those with sleep apnea, but another study showed no benefit for patients with asthma.
Due to the lack of evidence and research, mouth taping is not widely recommended for any sleep issues. An alternative to this trend that is backed by significantly more research is nasal strips. These can help open up the airways in your nose and therefore make it more comfortable to breathe at night. If you’re having issues sleeping at night or waking up still tired, talk with your doctor about having a sleep study done as there may be underlying conditions that need to be addressed.
12/3/30
Different types of exercise and cardio are constantly cycled through as the “gold standard.” Exercise in particular is the perfect example of one size not fitting all. Ultimately, it’s most important that you’re able to move your body in the ways that work best for you. But due to injuries, disabilities, chronic pain, or just not enjoying a particular type of movement, not everything works for each person.
12/3/30 is a treadmill work out where you walk on a 12% incline at 3 miles per hour for 30 minutes. This trend first came about in 2020 when people were trying to find new ways to exercise at home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study showed that participants doing 12/3/30 had positive physiological responses and experiences with this exercise. Exercise trends in particular are interesting because as long as they aren’t extreme, they will almost always be shown to have a positive impact. If you find 12/3/30 a great way to get your cardio in while catching up on a show or podcast, great. If you find it boring or uncomfortable in any way, totally fine. There’s no evidence to show that 12/3/30 is any worse or better than other forms of exercise. So do what works best for you and is most sustainable for your lifestyle.
Contrast Therapy
We’ve all seen videos of millionaire businessmen sharing their morning routines. Almost all of them talk about some type of cold plunge, ice bath, or cold shower in the morning. We can’t guarantee that doing contrast therapy with cold plunges and saunas will make you a millionaire, but there is research proving other benefits. Contrast therapy consists of alternating between cold and hot temperature, usually between a cold plunge and sauna, to quickly shock your body with the temperature change. The cold temperatures cause blood vessel walls to constrict in a process called vasoconstriction and hot temperatures cause them to expand through vasodilation. This increases blood flow to the affected parts of the body sometimes leading to quicker muscle recovery, pain management, and reduced fatigue. But physical changes aren’t the only things that have been noted during contrast therapy. Studies have shown that cold water immersion can decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, while elevating focus, attentiveness, and inspiration.
As with anything, it doesn’t come without risks. It’s important to keep each rotation to a safe amount of time. This may vary depending on the method you use and the temperatures. If you’re using hot and cold water at home, keep sessions under 5 minutes for each temperature with the hot water being 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit and the cold water at 40-55 degrees. Especially for those with heart or breathing conditions, talk to your doctor before attempting any type of contrast therapy.
“Budget” Ozempic
Ozempic has made its mark on the world since it hit the market in December 2017 as a GLP-1 receptor for type 2 diabetes. But contrary to how it’s been discussed in the media, it’s not a weight loss medication. It’s not even FDA approved as a weight loss medication. However, due to one of the side effects being weight loss, people have been turning to it regardless of type 2 diabetes status. This led to a massive shortage beginning in 2022 and the availability of this drug has only recently stabilized. The limited availability of Ozempic and high price tag, especially for those who were not using it to treat type 2 diabetes, made people look for alternative weight loss methods. That’s where “budget” Ozempic came in.
“Budget” Ozempic isn't a different weight loss medication, it’s just laxatives. At first glance, some people might think that taking laxatives is an efficient way to pass things through more quickly. But that’s not quite how laxatives work. When food is going through your digestive system, your body is trying to pull out as much nutrients as possible. Laxatives basically skip this step and send it straight through. It prevents you from keeping any of the things you actually need from food and leaves you incredibly dehydrated in the process. This is dangerous for anyone, but especially for adolescents, yet a recent study found that 1 in 10 teens have taken unprescribed weight loss pills, including laxatives. Short and long-term effects of taking laxatives, when not medically recommended, can include nausea and vomiting, dizziness, heart failure, and kidney disease.
Championing Your Health
The next time you see a new health trend coming up over and over on your FYP, do some extra digging before diving in. It could be the perfect new addition to your routine that helps you elevate your game or an unsubstantiated claim that leaves you worse for the wear. But if we know one thing to be true, safe and good sex is always trending. Which is why we’ll always be here to level up your performance and pleasure in the bedroom.