The A to Z of health and fitness trends for 2016

Adaptogens Also known as “superherbs”, these include ginseng, moringa, maca, ashwaganda and others. “To qualify as an adaptogen, an herb must be completely safe and non-toxic, it must have broad uses for health, and it must specifically reduce stress, both mental and physical,” says medicine hunter Chris Kilham. “To put it simply: adaptogens help you adapt.”

Acai bowls Move over, smoothies and froyos, there’s a new hipster health food in town. The pulp from the acai berry, a reddish-purple fruit native to Central and South America, is said to be richer in antioxidants than other berries. Several places in Hong Kong offer this sweet and creamy snack (or meal, if you like), including Genie Juicery (geniejuicery.com), Be-Juiced (bejuiced-hk.com) and Nood Food (allnood.com). Be warned, acai bowls can contain a lot of sugar.

Clean eating This isn’t just about removing anything artificial from one’s diet, but also consuming food from eco- and social-friendly sources. You could call it conscious dining.

DNA fitness holidays This will be a travel trend in 2016, according to UK-based luxury travel company Health and Fitness Travel. “Taking personalised fitness training to a whole new level, the emerging science of DNA fitness testing reveals an insight into your genetic make-up and the appropriate training response for your body. After pre-arrival DNA analysis, fitness holiday programmes can be tailored to your physical ability and needs,” it says in its trends report. The company recommends The Bodyholiday in St Lucia, Epic Sana in Portugal and Ibiza’s 38 Degrees North.

Excessive sleep It can be as bad for your health as smoking and drinking alcohol, according to a new University of Sydney study. Combined with sitting too much during the day and a lack of exercise, sleeping more than nine hours a night can make you four times as likely to die early, the researchers warn. They found this after looking at the health behaviour of more than 230,000 people aged 45 and above in Australia. It was found that sleeping fewer than seven hours a night also increases your risk of early death by four times, when combined with smoking and high alcohol intake.