Science has shown us in real time that metabolic health and immune strength aren't just linked: They're critically intertwined. However, 88% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy—meaning if we want to be healthier as a community, this needs to become one of our utmost priorities. 

Read more about metabolic health for immunity.

After a taxing year of pandemic-exacerbated mental health challenges, we know prioritizing emotional well-being is critical. Now, more than ever, we know that mental health care practices should make their way into our regular routines—much like exercise. Consider it mental fitness. 

Read more about mental fitness. 

We have long known that our skin is home to a diverse collection of microflora. But just how important is it in relation to our skin and overall health? Well, that's where the science and research are simply taking off. These new developments are bringing to light just how vital our skin barrier function is: It's our body's first line of defense, and it's time we start treating it like one. 

Read more about the microbiome and your skin barrier.

In light of the pandemic, nutrition and metabolic health are more important than ever. However, millions of people in the U.S., particularly BIPOC communities, lack access to nutritious food—and the push for food security faced further setbacks amid the year's many challenges. Individuals, companies, and the government will continue the vital work of closing the nutrition-disparity gap. 

Read more about food security amid the pandemic and beyond.   

At the start of our first wave of quarantine, we watched our environment enjoy a much-needed break. Air quality improved, biodiversity flourished, and natural soundscapes returned. The relief was temporary but its lesson eternal: Thanks to its complex web of microscopic life, nature has the innate capacity to restore itself. Looking forward, we're predicting that the next wave of environmentalism will be about putting more power back into nature's hands.

Read more about the next wave of environmentalism. 

In the fitness market, we saw a major uptick in new health micro-tracking features across wearable brands (think pulse oximetry, heart rate variability, skin temperature, glucose monitoring, body composition, and more). With heightened interest in health monitoring, we're predicting this tech boom will only continue to grow in 2021 and beyond. 

Read more about micro-tracking. 

For so long, parents have been trapped on an ever-climbing escalator of parenting standards. But when the world stopped—and parents became teachers, sole caregivers, playmates, and more overnight—priorities transformed in a massive way. Now, it appears many of these changes will define child-rearing going forward. 

Read more about the end of competitive parenting.

Indigenous people have been incorporating psychedelic plant medicines into healing and ceremony for generations. More recently, the scientific community started digging into the benefits and risks of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and we expect to see this age-old practice gain new relevance in modern medicine.

Read more about psychedelic-assisted therapy.

With vaccine candidates nearing federal clearance, there's a sliver of hope for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. With that optimism, though, many more challenges remain ahead. What happens if you aren't so sure about getting the vaccine when it is your time in line? We're venturing into COVID's next chapter—where the decision to get vaccinated (or not) will affect our everyday lives. 

Read more about the next phase of the pandemic. 

When we think of eating and consuming sustainably, perhaps canned fish doesn't come to the top of one's mind. It should. People are wising up to the briny delights of smaller tinned fish and seafood like mackerel, clams, mussels, sardines, and anchovies, which is good news for the ocean ecosystem: Chowing down on smaller fish can relieve pressure on larger and more threatened species.

Read more about the sustainable world of canned fish.