There’s an evergreen truth: if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others. Here’s where striving for wellness comes in.
August is National Wellness Month (of course at Nutriventia, all 12 months are wellness months). This nationally recognized awareness month was launched in 2018 by Live Love Spa and is “dedicated to self-care, creating healthy routines and stress management.” People who prioritize their wellness will say that feeling great generates feelings of invincibility, optimism and elevated levels of contentment and joy.
But what exactly is “wellness?” Is it simply an overall feeling of being free from pain and fatigue?
The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” The Institute also describes wellness as a multi-dimensional concept anchored by six factors:
- Physical: Emphasizing exercise, nutrition and sleep.
- Mental: Engaging the mind and cognitive abilities through learning, problem-solving, and creative pursuits.
- Emotional: Being aware of one’s mood and engaging in practices that sustain healthy mood and bright, positive outlook.
- Spiritual: Seeking meaningful connection with a higher purpose.
- Social: Interacting and engaging with other people and communities in meaningful ways.
- Environmental: Engaging in practices that positively impact the planet and its people.
The Wellness Alliance defines wellness as “a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving one’s full potential.” It means “functioning optimally within your current environment.”
Overall, wellness means taking an active role in your health, considering your unique genetics and building a proactive program that emphasizes disease prevention and risk minimization.
Practicing Wellness
Prioritizing health and well-being can often be challenging amidst the demands of modern lifestyles. But in this case, the popular saying, “Go Big or Go Home,” attempting to make sweeping, major changes in one’s lifestyle, may actually work against us, potentially leading to frustration and poorer well-being.
Instead, starting with small, intentional changes can pave the way for sustained wellness. If you exercise, take a few more steps, ride an extra quarter mile, or add a few more leg lifts. Add one more serving of vegetables or fruit to your day. Drink one more glass or bottle of water. Small changes can add up over time.
Zahrah Azeem, Workforce Development Unit, The State of New Jersey, recommends 5 keys to achieving an optimal, long-term state of wellness.
- Be active: “Brisk walking, stretching, or even taking the stairs can help improve energy and reduce stress.”
- Hydrate regularly: “Drinking water throughout the day can boost focus, reduce fatigue, and help regulate your mood.”
- Get rest: “Quality sleep plays a crucial role in health. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night is important to support mind and body.”
- Take mental time-outs: Taking short breaks during the day by momentarily disengaging from screen can help prevent mental fatigue, reduce stress and enhance focus and concentration.
- Practice positivity: “Taking a moment to reflect on positive things each day can shape your perspective and improve emotional resilience.”
The Wellness Product Market Snapshot
According to the Fourth annual “Future of Wellness” report from McKinsey amp; Company, Millennials and Gen Z are bringing fresh appeal to the growing wellness category as they incorporate wellness-boosting routines and products into their everyday regimens and lifestyles; 30% of these adults prioritize wellness likely in part because they report higher levels of burnout compared with older adults.
The wellness market is now a $2 trillion global industry. In the United States alone, the McKinsey report estimates that more than $500 billion is spent on products and services designed to achieve and sustain wellness. “Younger consumers are conceptualizing wellness in new ways and wellness is showing up in new places,” the report states.
The report identifies six key wellness market sectors: functional nutrition, healthy aging, beauty, in-person wellness services, weight management, and mental health. Interestingly, both Millennials and Gen Z respondents rank better sleep and better health among their top priorities. In the United States, younger adults also report feeling “almost always stressed” at a higher rate than other generations, with 40% of Gen Z reporting this compared with 23% overall.
Significant opportunities remain for wellness and supplement brands. The report notes, “Despite the wellness sector’s growth over the past several years, consumers report that some of their wellness needs including cognitive health, mindfulness and mental health, and longevity remain unmet. Younger consumers, particularly Gen Z, report feeling these gaps more strongly than other age groups, especially when it comes to mental, cognitive, heart, and gut health.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition’s 2024 Consumer Survey, the latest available survey from CRN, finds that approximately three out of four Americans consume dietary supplements. Steve Ventura, Senior Vice President of Communications at CRN, commented, “We continue to see consumers exploring new specialty products and embrace personalized health solutions. This speaks to the evolving landscape of wellness, where supplements are becoming more integrated into individualized health practices.”
Nutriventia: A Premier Wellness Ingredient Innovator
At Nutriventia, we understand that preventive nutrition has become a daily investment rather than a reactive solution. When selecting supplements, consumers are increasingly looking for personalization and alignment with their lifestyles. For example, positioning calming supplements as part of an evening routine, or cognitive support products as part of daytime productivity, can help consumers see how these solutions fit seamlessly into their lives to support their overall wellness goals.
Nutriventia’s portfolio of natural ingredients includes solutions for sleep (Melotime™), relaxation and mood support (Ashwanova™), immune resilience (C-Fence), all-day mental energy, focus and clarity (CaffXtend™), sports recovery (TurmXTRA™ active) and healthy skin and beauty-from-within (TurmXTRA™ glow). Each solution is powered by advanced technology designed to deliver benefits such as extended effects through sustained-release, and dosage convenience through small, once-daily doses. These solutions are supported by human clinical research, including pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies.
Conclusion
The pursuit of good health is a choice, and once individuals begin to feel better and see improvements, wellness can become a way of life. By making intentional, sustainable choices and incorporating wellness into everyday routines, individuals can take a proactive approach to their health and well-being.
Reviewed by Sneha Sawant Desai, PhD
