A new report by The Future Laboratory in partnership with lifestyle recipe box service Green Chef, has revealed how our diests are set to change. 62% of Britons have made a change to their diet to get healthier over the past year.
The report, Diet & Nutrition Futures, explores exactly what this future will look with five diets that will define the UK’s diet and nutrition landscape. These include an increase in ‘Bluetrition’ nutrition – adopting diets frequently seen in super-ageing Blue Zone populations, from Sardinia and Okinawa through to Loma Linda and California.
Dietician Bari Stricoff said: "When it comes to longevity, Blue Zone locations immediately stand out. Whether Mediterranean or East Asian, it’s all about whole foods, primarily plant-based, diversity, low sugar, high fibre, good protein and an emphasis on healthy fats," she said. ‘In the UK, there’s so much processed food, and that’s the biggest barrier to adoption."
Anna Tebbs, Head Chef, Nutritionist and Culinary Manager at Green Chef, said: "It isn’t just the Mediterranean diet itself that but the lifestyle around it. It’s about encouraging people to eat how they want and still take joy from good food, and we see this across generations."
‘Cognition Nutrition’, or the rise of using food as a functional tool to reach their mental and physical health goals, was another interesting diet trend noted in the report.
The report suggests an increased ability to focus and a better memory are common benefits of eating a ketogenic diet. Following a keto diet helps the body enter ketosis, where it will begin to use up fat as an energy source. Studies have shown that ketones as a fuel for the brain might boost nerve cell growth factors and energy production, reduce brain inflammation, and strengthen the signal sent between nerve synapses.
Anna said: "Diet and nutrition has never been so in the spotlight. Consumers recognise that how and what they eat plays a huge role in their future and the world around them. This report demonstrates that and helps to make the case for why long-term healthy eating that suits your lifestyle hasn't ever been so important.
"It’s all about encouraging people to eat how they want to eat and still have joy. Choice is a huge factor – something we’re always looking to offer – and flexibility too. By 2025, this will be augmented by new data sources and the ability to measure the impact of better nutrition through smart devices."
"It all comes down to health," said Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory. "In this unique moment, we have an opportunity to not just return to a new normal, but a build a new extra-ordinary instead, with diet and nutritional approaches that foster personal and planetary betterment at the heart."
