From cold therapy to detox programs to IV vitamin therapy, social media in 2025 was a year filled with new emerging wellness trends. Though some of these trends are great tools to support your health, Dr. Karan Rajan, doctor, health educator, and founder of LOAM says some of these wellness trends need to stay behind in 2025. Per Dr. Rajan, 2026 is the year we need to retire the sensationalized headlines and social media “miracle hacks.” These quick fixes rarely hold up under scientific scrutiny, but can leave those trying to improve their health feeling confused and defeated. We chatted with Dr. Rajan to learn more about what wellness trends he thinks we should leave behind in 2025 (and why).
Being shy about gut health
As we approach the end of 2025, Dr. Rajan says we’re leaving behind the idea that gut health is ‘too embarrassing to talk about’. “Your gut affects everything — from immunity to mood, and avoiding the conversation only fuels misinformation. For a long time, anything involving bowel habits was lumped into the category of “polite silence”. Culturally, we’ve treated digestion as something shameful rather than biological. The result is that people normalize symptoms they shouldn’t (chronic bloating, constipation, diarrhea) or feel embarrassed seeking help, which delays diagnosis and fuels confusion,” he shares.
In 2026. Dr. Rajan hopes people feel more empowered to talk their doctor about changes in gut health. “That old “we’ve seen it all” phrase about doctors is true – there is not much that can surprise us,” he shares.
Ignoring fiber
Despite being fundamental to health, Dr. Rajan says fiber has long been overlooked. “Fiber isn’t flashy. It doesn’t promise rapid weight loss or detox miracles. It’s slow, boring, and incredibly effective — which doesn’t sell well in a culture obsessed with instant results,” he says. “A century ago, people ate 5x-10x more fiber than they do today. Ultra-processed foods dominate modern diets, and whole foods require preparation. There’s also confusion — people underestimate how much fiber they actually need, and the importance of it.”
“Fiber feeds the gut microbiome which is made up of trillions of microbes, each with a role to play. Different bacteria thrive in different parts of your digestive tract, producing powerful compounds like short-chain fatty acids. These keep your gut, immune system, and metabolism in balance. Without this diversity, your body can’t function the way it should which could ultimately lead to long-term health issues,” he shares. Currently, 95% of people aren’t getting enough fiber in their diets — and Dr. Rajan hopes 2026 will be the year this finally changes.
Viral wellness hacks with no science behind them
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram left many circulating wellness hacks in 2025, but Dr. Rajan says very few of these actually are supported by scientific research. “Miracle hacks offer control and certainty in a complicated world. A hack feels easier than consistency, and certainty is comforting which is why people are quick to believe,” he shares. However, trends like detoxes and extreme sleep tricks assume the body is broken and needs fixing. In reality, the body is incredibly good at regulation when supported properly.”
In 2025, the wellness industry has blurred the lines between entertainment and evidence-based health education. “Especially with the rise of AI, it’s hard to know what to believe but ultimately, people shouldn’t seek diagnoses from social media but rather awareness and education of health literacy,” says Dr. Rajan. Chasing these quick wellness trends and so-called ‘quick fixes’ rather than focusing on foundational health habits can leave people exhausted, confused, and distrustful of actual science. “Even worse, they overlook evidence-based habits that work together to improve your health. The bottom line is, there are no shortcuts,” he shares.
Overdoing supplements
With so many supplements on the market, 2026 may be the year we need to rethink the “more is better” mindset. “Supplements are tools that can support health in certain situations, but not a replacement for a healthy diet and lifestyle. It’s important to consider evidence and context rather than hype,” says Dr. Rajan.
“Supplements aren’t evil and I even take a fair few myself, from omega-3 and vitamin E to even fiber (psyllium husk). But when it comes to supplements, even the ‘natural ones’, we need to realize that many of them involve liver metabolism, meaning they go through the liver’s biochemical sorting hat and get processed by liver enzymes. This can affect how hard your liver is working which is why you should be mindful of how many supplements you’re ingesting,” he says. As such, he recommends that people remember that supplements are meant to “supplement” and can’t replace a good diet and lifestyle. His short list of supplements that actually work for men:
- Creatine Monohydrate (3–5 grams/day)
- Prebiotic Fiber
- Omega-3 (Fish Oil or Algal Oil)
- Vitamin D3
