Turkey tail, holy basil... 2024’s new wellness elixirs

FROM spirulina to turmeric, we see the wonders of a new healthy superingredient touted every year. Some are brilliant, boost wellbeing and become mainstays in our nutrition and skincare regimes.

Others are more hot air than heal-all. So, what are the buzzwords likely to be on every health and beauty expert’s list in 2024? Here, we share the ones to watch . . .

HASKAP BERRIES

HASKAPS are similar to blueberries but with four times the anthocyanins, the antioxidant compounds that make them blue — and a health-boosting superfood. ‘These are like blueberries on steroids,’ says alex Glover, nutrition development lead at Holland & Barrett. ‘Great for cognitive function and cardiovascular health, taken in powder or juice form.’

■ HaskapaSuperberry Powder, £17.95 for 1kg, amazon.co.uk

MANGO LEAF

CAFFEINE-FREE energy boosters are big news, promising increased alertness and reaction time with no sleep disruption. mango leaf, said to increase dopamine in the brain, is available as a calorie-free compound called Zynamite that you dissolve in water like Berocca.

■ H&BExpert Advanced Daily Energy Sachets, £26.49 for 30 sachets, hollandandbarrett.com

TURKEY TAIL

THE newest mushroom powder must- have. posts mentioning turkey tail have more than 54 million views on TikTok. it’s hailed by some as a powerful immunity booster, and researchers are also exploring how it may help balance blood sugar levels, boost athletic performance and reduce fatigue.

■ KIKI Health Organic Turkey Tail Extract Mushroom, £30 for 60 capsules, kiki-health.com

TREMELLA

WITH claims it may help increase the body’s production of hyaluronic acid and collagen, while thickening hair, strengthening nails and reducing wrinkles, tremella is known as the beauty mushroom. in creams to apply to your skin, and in capsules and tea.

■ DIRTEA Tremella Mushroom Powder, £31.49 for a 60g pouch, dirteaworld.com

INOSITOL

KNOWN as vitamin B8, inositol has been seen in reputable studies to regulate glucose, help control pCoS (polycystic ovary syndrome), assist with fat metabolism and control anxiety.

‘It is hard to over-emphasise the importance of controlling blood sugar,’ says alex Glover. ‘Dementia is being called type 3 diabetes because it is linked to insulin sensitivity, and inositol is being seen as the latest tool in our armour for this.’

■ Inositol 500mg Vegetable Capsules, £13.50 for 50, solgar.co.uk

POSTBIOTICS

YOU will have heard of probiotics and prebiotics, gut-friendly bacteria and the compounds in food that help promote them, but now it’s the turn of postbiotics. These are a by-product of eating fibre, described as what is left behind when your body has digested preand probiotics, which includes amino acids and certain vitamins.

Together all three are known as ‘tribiotics’, and are seen as an emerging way to help manage mood and weight through a healthy gut.

■ H&B Expert Triple Action Biotic Gut Formula, £29.99 for 60, hollandandbarrett.com

HOLY BASIL

ALSO known as tulsi, and revered in ayurvedic medicine for centuries, holy basil is being hailed as a wonder herb in the management of blood sugar. it is an adaptogen, which means it helps the body deal with all types of stress and has anti-depressant and anti-anxiety properties. it can be taken as a supplement or in tea.

■ Tulsi Clarity Organic Herbal Tea, £4.99 for 20 teabags, pukkaherbs.com

GOLD KIWI FRUIT

WITH yellow rather than green flesh, gold kiwi fruit are full of pectin, which is a great fibre source. most of us don’t get enough fibre in our diet, yet it’s vital for controlling blood sugar, lowering cholesterol and lowering the risk of colon cancer. it could also encourage us to eat less because it makes us feel full and helps our gut bacteria.

■ Holland & Barrett Tribiotic Metabolism, £28.99 for 60 capsules, hollandand barrett.com