Let them, creatine and fibermaxxing: the biggest wellness trends of 2025 (so far)

The Guardian

4 days ago

Staying up to date on wellness trends can be tough. What if you get sat next to an energy healer at a dinner party? What are you going to talk about? Raw milk is already sort of passé.
Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are the wellness trends everyone is discussing in 2025, and what you need to know about them.
Down in the dumps? Try putting together a 'dopamine menu' – a list of activities designed to boost your mood. The term first popped up in 2020, and has since taken off on social media, with thousands of users sharing what they 'order' when they feel low.
It's helpful to think of a dopamine menu like a regular menu, Adrienne Matei explained, with 'starters' that take little time and effort, more substantial 'mains', and 'sides' that zest up the day.
Matei spoke to several happiness experts about the items on their dopamine menus. These included giving people compliments, sitting in your favorite green space, cuddling with a loved one, and smashing objects to bits in a rage room. Whatever works for you!
More about dopamine menus
This year, millions of people realized they can't control the actions of others – no matter how desperately they might want to. At the end of 2024, podcaster and self-help guru Mel Robbins published a book called The Let Them Theory. Its central thesis was simple: if someone is doing something that bothers you, let them.
The book made a splash. It jumped to the top of bestseller lists. There were news articles and podcast episodes about the theory, and Oprah called it a 'gamechanger'. People even got 'Let them' tattoos.
The theory was not without critics. Some claimed Robbins cribbed the idea from poet Cassie B Phillips, whose poem, Let Them, went viral in 2022. Others said the concept was obvious. But sometimes obvious advice is the most helpful. As one therapist said: 'It's a reminder that it's OK to step back, let people be who they are, and stop carrying things that aren't ours to carry.'
More about the 'let them' theory
Strength training has been the darling of the fitness world recently (deservedly so), and as more people spend time moving heavy weights, there is an increasing demand for products and supplements that help maximize each lift. Enter creatine.
Long a favorite supplement among athletes and fitness professionals, creatine is a naturally occurring compound that helps power short bursts of high-impact activities – think sprints or heavy lifts. Synthetic creatine is often sold as a white, flavorless powder that one can mix with water or juice (some influencers take it dry as a stunt, but experts strongly discourage this as it could lead to choking).
Creatine is considered safe for most healthy adults. And while research doesn't fully support popular social media claims that creatine helps build muscle, it might do so indirectly by giving you more energy during intense workouts.
More about creatine
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In May, Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner set the internet abuzz when she appeared at Lauren Sanchez's Paris bachelorette party with a face that looked remarkably smooth and taut. (Is that the most cursed sentence I've ever typed? Who's to say.) Online, many speculated that her youthful appearance was the result of a deep plane facelift – a technique that works with deeper layers of tissue than a traditional facelift. Searches for the term soared. (Jenner did not discuss or confirm any particular procedures.)
Deep plane facelifts are pricey, because it is a more complex procedure, and also tends to last a few more years. They can set patients back anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000. By contrast, the average cost of a regular facelift in the US is about $11,395.
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Psyllium husk has been touted by influencers as 'nature's Ozempic' – a cheap, non-prescription alternative to GLP-1 medications. But this comparison is 'oversimplified and misleading', warns Lena Beal, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Psyllium husk comes from the seed of a desert shrub, and is the leading ingredient in popular laxatives like Metamucil. When consumed with water, it's simply a good source of soluble fiber, and has been found to help lower levels of 'bad' cholesterol, slow down digestion and increase satiety.
If psyllium husk isn't your thing (some people don't enjoy the gloopy, gel-like texture it develops in water) don't fear. There are plenty of other good sources of fiber, like fruits, vegetables and legumes.
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As protein mania reaches a fever pitch, consumers are already looking toward the next nutrition trend. According to some on social media, the future is all about 'fibermaxxing' – a trendy term for 'eating a lot of fiber'. As one wellness influencer put it, fiber is 'super cool'. Indeed, one study found a fiber-rich diet can improve heart health and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer. You could give psyllium husk a try – or just eat an apple.
More about fibermaxxing