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Millets, Kombucha drink and plant-based meats dominate trends to watch for in 2025
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Wednesday, 06 November, 2024, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
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Millets, Kombucha drink and plant-based meats dominate trends to watch for in 2025. Blindly following diet trends from social media or influencers is quickly going to fade away as people are becoming more aware about their health. In 2025, there will be an increased emphasis on understanding individual body needs, specific nutritional requirements as per medical conditions, routine, eating habits, lifestyle, etc., said Niharikka Budhwani, co-founder, Health Hatch.
"This shift means that instead of adopting one-size-fits-all diets (like avoid rice it makes you fat, or eat dinner at 5.30) or quick fixes (like replacing meals with shakes/soups), people will seek tailored approaches that consider their unique metabolic makeup, lifestyle, and health goals," she added.
With DNA analysis, vast blood test panels and wearable health monitors, it is now easier than ever to get personalised insights into what foods and nutrients are best suited to each individual. "This approach promotes better health outcomes and empowers people to make informed choices based on their specific biology, rather than trends on social media," Budhwani told FnB News in an email.
Millets are expected to be a key trend in 2025 due to their numerous health benefits and sustainability. India is one of the largest producers of millets, with traditional recipes and practices already incorporating them into everyday meals. Recent meta analysis have shown that millets not only play a role in lowering bad cholesterol levels (LDL, TG), blood pressure, weight but also helps to improve good cholesterol (HDL), thereby lowering the risk for heart diseases.
There are various types of millets like jowar, ragi, bajra, foxtail, proso, kodo, little and barnyard. Rediscovering these grains and integrating them into modern meals aligns perfectly with both health and sustainability goals, she noted.
Recent research studies point out strong connection between gut health and the development of these inflammatory conditions. Major focus on gut health is going to go on in 2025 with an emphasis on how the gut microbiome affects overall health. One of the trend on rise will be consuming kombucha, fermented drink packed with probiotics that support gut health. By supporting a healthy microbiome, kombucha may help reduce inflammation in the gut, thereby reducing the risk on inflammatory diseases.
Kombucha is rich in antioxidants, which helps fight harmful free radicals in the body and support liver detoxification. This trend highlights the importance of both maintaining gut health, overall health and incorporating natural, probiotic-rich foods into daily diets, according to Budhwani.
While plant-based meats are considered sustainable primarily because they have a much smaller environmental footprint compared to traditional animal meats, they are ultra-processed foods. To mimic the texture, flavour, and appearance of real meat, plant-based meat products rely on a mix of ingredients like preservatives, artificial additives, stabilisers, emulsifiers, unhealthy fats, high amount of sodium. All of this can lead to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. "While shifting to plant-based meat is sustainable for environment, working on recipes using grains, millets, vegetables at home to mimic the taste of meat is a more reliable way to support long-term health and reduce inflammation," she noted.
"As new nutrition trends emerge in 2025, it is essential to stay mindful and not jump on every bandwagon. Before adopting a trend, there is need to understand nutrition is not one-size-fits-all, so it is key to choose wisely and prioritise one’s long-term health over temporary fads," said Budhwani.
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