“Health or Hype” is a series I like to do every once in awhile to review current health trends and explain if I think they are truly rooted in health or just a lot of hype. I often get asked my thoughts on current health trends and there is so much misinformation saturating the wellness world right now, so I try my best to speak the truth 😉 If there is a trend you’re curious about and don’t see it here, go back and read round 1 and round 2 where I’ve previously reviewed a lot of health trends.
CBD-related Products
Health (but with caution and still needs more long-term research) You can find CBD products everywhere these days. I mean I was just in DSW and Paper Source and they both have CBD infused body lotion at the register. But does it really offer all the potential health benefits CBD fans claim it does?
CBD stands for cannabidiol and is the second most prevalent ingredient in marijuana. CBD is derived directly from the hemp or marijuana plant and when taken alone (in a pure form) it does not cause a “high”.
In my opinion (and research) CBD can deliver health benefits for certain people. CBD is touted for a wide variety of healthy benefits and is being used to treat anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, even chronic pain, and more. All clinical trials are still in the early stages so knowing long-term side effects is unknown, but right now there do not appear to be any negative short-term side effects. Pure CBD appears to be safe, but always check with your doctor if you’re on any medications or have other health issues. One important thing to remember is that the FDA does not regulate the safety and purity of dietary supplements and this includes CBD. Therefore, you can’t know for sure that the product you buy has active ingredients at the dose listed on the label. There is not enough research to support claims that CBD treats cancer; for example, but I think it shows promise for treating anxiety and insomnia.
Oat Milk
Hype…I mean it tastes good don’t get me wrong, but it’s not offering you any additional health benefits other than being a dairy free milk alternative. If you’ve ever had an oat milk latte you know it’s smooth, creamy, and totally delicious. It makes great foam, so baristas are all about it. HOWEVER, there is typically a lot of added sugar in oat milk, and it is higher in carbohydrates than other dairy alternative milks. If oat milk is your jam because you like the way it tastes…cool, but always ask the barista if there is added sugar. I’ve seen some brands have up to 20+ grams of sugar per serving. EEEK!!
MCT Oil
Health, but it really became popular because of the hype of bulletproof coffee. Prior to the trendy coffee craze, MCT oil was used in more clinical settings for people having trouble absorbing fat. I love me some medium-chain triglycerides so IMO this trend is based on health 😉
MCT oils are essentially extracted from other oils like coconut oil. MCT oil can be beneficial for people with fat absorption disorders such as cystic fibrosis, irritable bowel disease including Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, short bowel syndrome, celiac disease or after certain gastrointestinal surgeries. For someone without any of these health conditions there can still be health benefits. Since this type of fat is easily absorbed it is less likely to be stored as fat and used as an energy source.
Other health claims include increased energy, mood, and decreased cravings and hunger cues (resulting in possible weight loss for some). Our brains are made of up over 60% fat so consuming fats like MCT is fuel for your brain. I like to add 1 tablespoon to my smoothies or coffee.
Meatless “Meat”
Hype…. and I know that’s going to piss off all the vegetarians and vegans lol! The two main “meatless” meat products out there are the impossible burger and beyond burger. Initially these sound like they could be great products to offer vegetarians, but after a closer look at the ingredients I can’t get on board. The ingredients in an impossible burger and a beyond burger are very similar. The impossible burger contains soy protein which is heavily processed. There are a lot of vitamins fortified back into the burger that is likely lost due to processing. Beyond burger uses pea protein isolate as its main protein source. Another big difference is that Impossible burger uses soy leghemoglobin or “heme” which is its key ingredient that makes it “bleed” like a real burger and it has reportedly been under review by the FDA as a potential allergen.
Both burgers are vegan friendly, but I think there are more nutritious (and less processed) plant protein sources I would recommend over either of these products. If you eat meat then I say go for the regular burger, but I wouldn’t recommend eating red meat daily.
Elderberry
Health in respect to it’s immune boosting potential. There are other health claims for elderberry that I won’t cover and I’m not referring to here. Elderberry comes in a few different forms like syrup, juice, and gummies and it’s a supplement used to treat cold and flu symptoms. There is research to show that it can shorten the length of cold and flu like symptoms. I give Quinn one of these gummies with her vitamins daily during peak cold and flu season. I will use elderberry lozenges or syrup when I feel like I’m coming down with something.
Are there any health trends you’re curious about that I’ve missed? Ask away 😉
xx, A
Disclaimer
All information on the The Champagne Theory blog, including but not limited to information about nutrition, health and fitness, is intended for general or background purposes only, and not as medical advice applicable to any individual. Please consult your medical provider or providers for instructions specific to your own medical concerns and condition.
