Health Experts Share How Wellness Will Change in 2026

From questionable fads (ahem, sleepmaxxing) to worthy mainstays (cheers to all the walking workouts), wellness girls were busy keeping up with 2025 trends. If quivering in a cold plunge, taping your mouth before bed, or dropping $$$ on another viral anti-bloat pill was filed under your “been there, done that” tab, here’s some good news for you: A new year is here, and with it, a fresh crop of wellness ideas that don’t rely on unnecessary extremes or placebo effects to feel effective.

So, what does 2026 have in store for your wellbeing? For the next best thing to a crystal ball, I tapped health experts to give us the scoop on the wellness “ins” that we can expect next year. Here are the top wellness trends poised to shape how we take care of ourselves in 2026, according to the pros who know better than TikTok.

Experts Consulted

At The Everygirl, we believe that wellness advice should be grounded in accurate, science-backed information to ensure our readers can make informed decisions about their health and well-being. That’s why we prioritize consulting trusted, credible experts—so every piece of content is both reliable and empowering.

DR. JACLYN TOLENTINO

Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino is a board-certified family physician and lead functional medicine physician at Love.Life. Specializing in women’s health and hormone optimization, she has been featured in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and Women’s Health. As a functional practitioner and a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Tolentino is dedicated to uncovering the root causes of health challenges, employing a holistic, whole-person approach to empower lasting well-being.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. JACLYN TOLENTINO

DR. MATTHEW KESTER

With a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and advanced degrees in biology and Chinese medicine, Dr. Matthew Kester has spent years studying how the body heals and how herbs can support that process. As an R&D scientist at Apothékary, Dr. Kester draws on both clinical experience and scientific research to craft herbal formulas that are thoughtful, effective, and rooted in centuries of healing wisdom.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. MATTHEW KESTER

KATERINA SCHNEIDER

Katerina Schneider is the founder and CEO of Ritual. She’s pioneered a new standard of high-quality vitamins and supplements that are backed by science and the first visible supply chain of its kind. Her recently released book Help Your Self: The New Rules for Wellness examines how real-world behaviors, biological needs, and evidence-based interventions are reshaping what wellness looks like in practice.

LEARN MORE ABOUT KATERINA SCHNEIDER

1. Nervous System Regulation Gets Biohacked

Stress management has always been “a thing” and it will never go out of style, but it’s become more than just how to cope with stress. After years of burnout being normalized, people are looking toward safety and resilience and training their bodies to settle into parasympathetic states where rest and repair can happen. Nervous system regulation, once reserved for therapy offices, is branching out into mainstream physical health spaces, especially women’s health, where it’s being recognized as essential, not optional. “Nervous system regulation is moving from niche wellness language into the center of women’s health conversations, and for very good reason,” said Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, lead physician at Love.Life. “Chronic stress doesn’t just live in our endless mental checklist. It has an impact on how we feel and how we function. When we regulate the nervous system, we don’t just feeling better mentally, we help the body regulate so it can be more resilient and do its job well.”

Searches for stimulating the vagus nerve—the key player in the “rest-and-digest” parasympathetic nervous system—are skyrocketing, pointing to serious curiosity about calming the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. And it’s emerging in the rise of products and services that make nervous system work more approachable. Take wearables like Apollo Neuro that uses touch therapy to train your nervous system to bounce back from stress and the Oura Ring that now tracks stress and recovery metrics in real time so you can monitor nervous system load.

How to benefit from it:

“You can’t out-discipline or out-supplement a dysregulated nervous system,” Dr. Tolentino stated. “If the body perceives constant threat, even healthy habits can backfire. When the nervous system feels safe, the body can receive the benefits of all that we intentionally put into our nutrition, movement, and sleep.” It’s not only meditation apps and ice rollers (though they still have their place), but also morning sunlight, slow breathing with longer exhales, gentler workouts, fewer notifications, moments of pause, regular meals, and decluttered homes that bring ease instead of chaos. For a more hands-on approach (literally), give yourself a lymphatic massage which stimulates oxytocin, one of the female nervous system’s top regulators. But most importantly, Dr. Tolentino noted to pay attention to what calms you, more than just what you’re “supposed” to do: “Regulation looks different for everyone. Think consistency over intensity. Small, repeatable practices change nervous system patterns more than occasional deep dives.”

2. Sleep Moves Front And Center (Without Over-Optimization)

Quality sleep has gone from a “nice to have” to a must-have—it’s no longer being treated as a lifestyle bonus in a world full of hustle. Case in point: The global sleep aids market (think: smart beds and sleep monitoring devices to medications to white noise machines) is projected to hit $127.8 billion by 2030, up from $85.5 billion in 2024. But the focus isn’t on logging eight hours; it’s on making the time you do sleep count. While in 2025 there was a new a wearable, app, or supplement popping up daily promising to help improve your Zzzs, more sound sleep might come from doing less, not more. “In 2026, sleep optimization is less about tracking every single metric and more about protecting circadian rhythm and nervous system regulation along with implementing tools that help your body rest well,” Dr. Tolentino suggested. “When sleep improves, so many other symptoms begin to resolve on their own.”

“Sleep tracking isn’t going anywhere, but the real question for 2026 is: How do we use this information in a way that actually helps us feel better?” said Dr. Kester, a doctorate in acupuncture and chinese medicine and R&D scientist at Apothékary. “Wearables are getting more accurate, and algorithms are improving, but the most important metric is still how we feel when we wake up. Many people have ‘normal’ data but still feel exhausted, which tells us that personalization matters more than ever.”

How to benefit from it:

Sure all the supplements, mouth tape, or wearables can help you improve bad sleep, but 2026 will be really about going back to the basics: ensuring your environment is optimal, working with your circadian rhythm, and limiting stress. Kick things off by decluttering your evenings (that goes for your physical and mental space), anchoring your sleep schedule with consistent wake-up times (even on weekends), and carving out a screen-free window 30-60 minutes before bed to reduce bluelight exposure (read a book or listen to a podcast instead). “Treat sleep as foundational, not something to fix after everything else,” Dr. Tolentino said. “Find the sleep tools that work for you and leave behind the ones that don’t. Don’t overcomplicate your sleep routine.”

3. Big Food Enters Its Clean Girl Era

Ultra-processed foods are no longer flying under the radar, with everyone from public health experts to the average consumer questioning them. The term “junk food” is under close scrutiny, and even the biggest corporations behind it are paying attention. PepsiCo’s launch of Simply NKD—a stripped-down take on iconic Doritos® and Cheetos® flavors made with no artificial flavors or dyes—shows how major brands are adjusting as expectations evolve. At the same time, this shift is showing up in policy changes, too. In July 2025, the FDA and USDA kicked off a process to figure out what “ultra-processed” really means when it comes to food sold in the U.S., a move that could change how food is labeled, marketed, and understood.

“There’s growing awareness that ultra-processed foods aren’t doing us any justice,” Dr. Tolentino said. “And now, people are realizing processed foods aren’t something to avoid simply to shed pounds. They impact hormones, gut health, mood, inflammation, and metabolic function.” The takeaway? “Understanding how these foods fit into our overall health picture gives us more agency over the most fundamental daily choice we make: what we eat,” Dr. Kester said.

How to benefit from it:

As chatter around ultra-processed foods intensifies and its definition becomes clearer, companies have less room to hide behind vague health claims and more incentive to simplify ingredients and be more transparent about what’s really in our food. For us, that means better, no-nonsense labels and more power at the grocery store, without having to decode nutrition jargon. Know what to look for, like added sugars, artificial flavors, refined oils, and choose products that are minimally processed or reformulated for better nutrition. Higher demand reinforces the trend and encourages more companies to raise their standards. When Big Food cleans up, we get more options that align with health goals and a little more control over what ends up on our plates.

4. Annual Bloodwork Gets A Major Upgrade

Routine physicals usually cover the basics like metabolism, kidney and liver health, electrolyte balance, vitamin D levels, and cholesterol. But these labs barely scratch the surface. Now, companies like Function Health and Superpower are making advanced and specialty blood tests accessible, digging deeper to catch potential issues before symptoms appear—whether it’s inflammation linked to heart disease risk or hormonal changes that affect metabolism and mood. “Bloodwork is shifting from something we only do when something is ‘wrong’ to a tool for understanding patterns and systems before symptoms get worse,” Dr. Tolentino explained. “In functional medicine, labs aren’t about chasing perfect numbers or only diagnosing disease in isolation, but more about context. Bloodwork gives us insight into how the body is adapting to stress, nutrition, sleep, hormones, and inflammation over time.”

Dr. Kester said 2026 is the year of finding your own baseline, where the challenge isn’t collecting information, but rather knowing what to do with it: “Instead of comparing ourselves to broad ‘normal ranges,’ we’re starting to understand our own personal baselines: what’s typical for our bodies, our age, and our lifestyle.” With AI on the rise, Katerina Schneider, founder and CEO of Ritual, said it can help turn data overload into insights that are digestible and actionable. When labs are interpreted thoughtfully, Dr. Tolentino added that people can move from guessing to making informed, personalized choices that actually support their health. And all signs point to this trend only growing, with the blood-based biomarker market set to increase from $7.85 billion in 2024 to $11.58 billion by 2030.

How to benefit from it:

If several tests all at once feels overwhelming, Dr. Tolentino suggested going with foundational labs like metabolic markers, iron, thyroid, and vitamin D. And when you get your results, look at trends over time instead of reacting to a single result. To make sense of it all, work with a practitioner who can interpret labs alongside symptoms, lifestyle, and stress load. When in doubt, be your own advocate, speak up, ask questions, and take charge of your own health.

5. Wellness Gets Social

The peak of self-improvement and the “wellness girl” era encouraged self-isolation (you probably shouldn’t go to happy hour with your friends if you’re sober-curious and avoiding carbs or have to wake up at 5 a.m. for your workout!). But in 2026, wellness is getting a plus one. People aren’t treating self-care like a solo sport anymore; we’re ditching solo wellness for IRL connection. Women in particular are seeking spaces “where they can belong, be seen, and move together“—a stark difference from the hyper-individual optimization culture we’ve known. Newer startups like SweatPals are tapping into the demand by turning fitness into community events like group hikes, yoga meet-ups, and cold‑plunge socials that help people make friends while moving their bodies. Wellness event attendance is up over 146 percent, with Gen Z leading the charge, turning wellness into group runs, sober dance parties, and sauna-and-ice-bath sessions that double as social hangouts.

Even employers are taking note: State of Work‑Life Wellness 2026 findings show most workers value community and support as a core part of their wellness, and organizations are layering social activities into wellbeing programs to encourage engagement and reduce burnout. “People are more consistent, more engaged, and more trusting of their bodies when care happens in an environment that feels safe and relational,” Dr. Tolentino shared. “Wellness stops being something you do alone in your head and becomes something you experience alongside people who also want you to win.” And the payoff is better health overall: “Nervous systems soften. There is less shame and less isolation. More joy, laughter, and learning. Community becomes part of the medicine, not an afterthought. And people are craving it because it’s deeply human.”

How to benefit from it:

In 2026, expect to see more multi-generational community wellness spaces, especially for women navigating major life stages like new motherhood and menopause, alongside a renewed interest in third spaces to build more meaningful in-person communities. Whether you join a local run or walking group, take fitness classes, become part of a book club, or host a monthly vision board session, your health will be better for it. “Notice how your body responds in connected spaces,” Dr. Tolentino suggested. “If you feel calmer, more open, or more motivated, that’s data worth listening to.” Even better if you’re engaging in a new pursuit—you’ll be doing your happiness, mood, and mental health some good, too. 

6. Supplements Will Become More Transparent

Wellness in 2026 is done without buzzwords, hearsay, and empty promises—supplements included. Consumers are getting smarter; we’re not buying into influencer hype or questionable labels, we want hard proof that a product does what it says it does and full disclosure on ingredients and sourcing. Real-world outcomes aren’t just a bonus; they’re the new standard for supplements. “Consumers still value safe, responsible formulations, but they now expect evidence that products deliver measurable results,” Schneider said. “We think of traceability as transparency with receipts when you’re taking a supplement, especially in critical windows like pregnancy or perimenopause—you deserve that kind of clarity. Efficacy has become the new expression of integrity. Proof is now what defines trust.”

According to Schneider, recent research shows that roughly 50 percent of shoppers now rank clinical effectiveness as the top factor in their purchases, compared with only 20 percent who care most about “clean” or “natural” labels (which are not officially regulated). Plus, 77 percent of consumers say they are concerned about misleading health claims in supplements. Manufacturers are responding by investing in advanced testing to prove their supplements deliver science-backed health gains, driving the supplement testing market from $2.4 billion in 2025 to an expected $3.6 billion in 2030.

How to benefit from it:

Whether you’re on the hunt for a protein powder, sleep aid, or probiotic, Schneider emphasized zooming in when you see “clinically studied” on the packaging. Reach out to the brand to ask if they conduct clinical trials on their finished formula (Schneider said whole product clinical trials are important to show that the finished formula has the desired nutritional benefits in the body, but they can be rare in the industry). Also look for third-party testing. If a brand isn’t transparent about their testing, email their customer service and find out which tests are conducted (you want to hear about micro, allergen, and contaminant testing like heavy metals). Certifications (e.g., Non-GMO Verified Project, USDA Organic, Clean Label Project, NSF, Informed Sport, and Cruelty Free & Vegan) can also help cut through the noise. But before you do your research, consider starting with medical testing (see point #4 on additional bloodwork) to identify vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and hormone deficiencies or imbalances. A supplement plan only works if it’s tailored to you and your body.

7. Peptides Go Mainstream

While collagen peptides are old news, newer formulations like GLP‑1s and bioactive longevity peptides are pushing the category from fringe biohacker circles to popular wellness culture. “The power of peptides, especially GLP‑1–related medications have become a major topic, and they’re helping people understand that peptides are more than just ‘tiny proteins,'” Dr. Kester said. “They’re actually powerful messengers in the body.” Peptide stacking, the practice of combining multiple peptide supplements or injections at the same time to achieve broader or faster results, is taking off among longevity influencers and even high-performing executives. Why? Each peptide, a small chain of amino acids, plays a specific role like supporting muscle recovery, enhancing sleep, regulating hormones, or improving skin quality.

Heading into 2026, peptides are poised to be one of the hottest supplements, thanks to formulas becoming more effective and scientifically proven, especially in ingestible forms. The global peptide market was valued at $224 billion in 2024 and is predicted to grow 16% by 2030 ($260.25 billion). Dr. Kester mentioned that many therapeutic peptides break down in the gut, which is why injections have dominated, but rising demand is spurring pharmaceutical companies to develop new ways to protect peptides through digestion, which means more accessible oral options are on the horizon. That momentum is spilling over onto shelves at major retailers like Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Dermstore, and The Vitamin Shoppe, where peptide serums, moisturizers, and ingestibles are now core offerings across different price points rather than niche add-ons.

How to benefit from it:

The peptide boom in 2026 means more ways to get targeted benefits for skin, recovery, metabolism, and overall wellness. That said, our bodies produce peptides on their own. “It’s worth remembering that peptides aren’t new,” Dr. Kester said. “Our gut bacteria make beneficial peptides every day, supporting immunity, communication between cells, and overall balance.” Since peptides exist naturally, you can start with low-risk, evidence-backed oral supplements or topicals that boost immunity, muscle recovery, and collagen production—basically what your body already does—before exploring injections or advanced stacks.

But like with any supplement, always check with your healthcare provider first to see if peptides are right for you. If you get the green light, inspect labels for transparency, third-party testing, and potential allergens. And before starting any peptide regimen, ask yourself: Is the recommendation coming from a qualified medical professional? Have they reviewed your health, labs, goals, and lifestyle? Are they factoring in basics like sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress? And are they tracking your progress and adjusting the plan as you go? The goal isn’t going after the trendiest stack—it’s customizing one that levels up your health.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer

Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.

READ KATHERINE’S FULL BIO

Feature graphic images credited to: Cora Pursley | Dupe, Thayná Queiroz | Dupe, Sebastian Argueta | Dupe, Una Arslanagic | Dupe, Tristen Metcalf | Dupe

The post Health Experts Share How Wellness Will Change in 2026 appeared first on The Everygirl.