The 10 Health & Wellness Products You NEED in 2024
Explore my top picks that will help you stick to your New Year's resolutions and have you feeling your best self this year.
As an investor in health and wellness, I am constantly surrounded by the latest technology and innovations in the space but sometimes, even for me, it is hard to parse out what is real and what is fake when it comes to products in this ever growing market. Over the past year, I have found many companies selling a beautifully marketed brand without products that deliver real results, but I have also found a couple incredible products that are really helping elevate my own health journey. Now these are just my top 10, but hopefully they offer a little insight into what is really worth your money in the saturated world of health and wellness.
Armra colostrum
Alright, so the first time I heard about colostrum I thought it was a bunch of witch doctor BS, but I have to say after a almost 2 months of taking this stuff religiously I actually get the hype. Not only is my skin staying clear, but throughout the flu season I have felt my best in years. I truly think that it’s attributable to my addition of colostrum to my daily routine. Colostrum, which is the milk produced by animals in the first 48-72 hours after giving birth, is said to include a whole host of antibodies, prebiotics, peptides, amino acids, trace minerals, immunoglobulins, tissue growth factors, antioxidants, and other natural immune factors. These elements help strengthen immunity, ramp up metabolism, balance gut and sinus health, improve mood, focus, and energy, fuel performance and recovery, enhance skin and sleep, and active hair growth. While I can’t speak to all of these supposed benefits, I will say I am extremely impressed with this product. Although it may be pricey, it is worth it in my book and there are other brands such as Kion and Live Conscious that are a bit more affordable for those balling on a budget.
Y7 yoga
Okay so this unfortunately is only available to those in NYC, LA, and ATX at the moment, but I have hope their expansion into other markets will continue. I discovered this studio right before I moved out of the city, which naturally was terribly upsetting given, at the time, the ATX studio hadn’t opened. I was devastated because this was by far the BEST yoga class I had ever taken. It is hot enough to sweat and feel like you got a good workout in, but not too hot where you feel like you are going to pass out. It is candlelit with no mirrors #nojudgementzone. The music is upbeat, relevant, and always hits, so no more yogi chimes and sound baths for those of us that want to feel pumped up while we get our zen on. The format is unique and engaging while also being relaxing. There are 3 flows that you go through 3 times each (slow and controlled, one breath one movement, freestyle), a bit of abs mixed in, and a finisher to leave you dripping before you doze off into savasana. If you are ever near a location, I highly suggest you check it out.
Open
Disclaimer our firm is invested in Open, but I wholeheartedly love their platform. I am probably the least mindful person I know and have never been able to meditate. I operate at a million miles an hour and find it so difficult to sit still in my thoughts, but Open has really helped retrain my mind. They have a studio in Venice which I recommend to anyone in the area, but the app itself makes meditation accessible and not intimidating. Their sessions offer a wide range of meditations and movements to help you get in touch with your mind and body. Ranging from 5 minutes to an hour, their classes offer something for everyone at any time. Taking 5 minutes to practice breath work before bed or to do a 10 minute flow in bed as I wake up and get ready for the day has really helped reduce my stress levels and improve my sleep and focus throughout the day. If you are new to meditation or a Wim Hof junkie, Open has something for you and hey, if you get a little anxious on flights, they are available on JetBlue for free use.
Hatch alarm clock
I am a morning person. I have never had issues getting up at the crack of dawn to a blasting alarm clock. I really hadn’t thought twice about the abruptness of my wake up calls until I tried the Hatch. The Hatch puts you to sleep and wakes you up by mimicking your natural circadian rhythm helping you rest and rise more peacefully. The alarm uses different colored lights and soothing sounds such as “forest birds” and “morning singing bowl” to encourage a peaceful start to your day. It also has sleep sounds to drown out background noise when you rest. The clock encourages a phoneless bedtime routine and screenless wake up which significantly improves your mood and gives your mind a break from blue light. More than 80% of people report improved sleep when using Hatch and almost 70% report feeling better rested. Sleep has become such an important part of my health and wellness journey and Hatch has really helped me dial in the two most important conscious moments of sleep; my wind down and wake up.
Oura ring
The wearable of my dreams (both literally and figuratively). I went through a hardcore Apple watch phase where I literally only took it off to shower and sleep for 5+ years. I then did a complete 180 and shunned all workout tracking etc. The Apple watch made me fixate on my steps, calories, stand hours, etc. and it didn’t even have the battery life to track the most important thing, sleep. Oura is a sleep focused smart ring. Not only can it track all the typical wearable data, but it has the best sleep tracking on the market. It gives insights to improve recovery, sleep, and readiness that are actually actionable. I love how sleek and stylish it is and how the battery lasts days on end, plus it charges super quick, so pop it on the charger while you shower and you’ll be good for another week! I also love how there is no screen, you have to go into the app to see your data which allows me to workout without interruption or fixation on a number. Since I have been wearing it, I find myself making conscious decisions to skip that last drink, eat dinner earlier, or take a rest day when needed given the insights Oura provides. It is a bit pricey, but totally worth it in my book if you are someone who wants to track their data but tends to get obsessive with the numbers, is really only focused on their sleep, or doesn’t want something bulky on your wrist.
Hypervolt Go 2
SAVIOR. This thing single handedly got me through marathon training. I have all the things, rollers, ice balls, stretch bands, but sometimes you just need a hypervolt. This version is portable and affordable and helps you really loosen up tight muscles easier and faster than traditional methods. When I was dealing with severe ITBS before the NYC Marathon, I spent 20 minutes a day with this and it drastically improved my symptoms and helped me get back out there and be able to participate in the race. I got acupuncture, cortisone shots, and PT, but quite honestly nothing was as affordable or worked as quick as a good hypervolt session. For anyone with fitness goals who is trying out new training regimes and finds themselves tight and sore, this is a great addition to your recovery routine.
Clearstem’s hormonal acne supplement
For background, I have been on low dose Accutane 3x, spironolactone 3-4x, and was put on birth control at 14 years old for acne. My acne was never horrific, but growing up in SoCal, everyone around be seemed to have perfect skin. The hormonal medications always seemed to work, but about 6-12mo after I would go off of them, my acne would come back. Now in my late 20s I was sick of having teenage zits, so I tried the viral Clearstem hormonal acne supplement and I can say that it has worked wonders. I have had a few pimples here and there over the last year or so that I’ve been on it, but nothing like before and most of the time my skin is like a baby’s butt. I love how the ingredients are clean so I know I am not pumping excess hormones into my body, plus it’s affordable and you don’t need a prescription, which for someone like me who has moved around and switched insurance a ton is super convenient. I will say I think this product works best for those without mild acne flare ups usually around peak hormone times, so if that does not describe your skin it’s probably best to consult a dermatologist first.
Kion aminos
I have been taking Kion aminos ever since I heard Lauryn Bosstick’s podcast with the founder years ago. I have tried just about every aminos, BCAAs, electrolyte powders, you name it and these are by far the best tasting, cleanest, and most beneficial I have used. My favorite is their mango but they have a multitude of delicious flavors to chose from. I put them in my water to drink during my workout and occasionally double up and have them in my Stanley later in the afternoon to help up my water intake. They are an essential hangover cure and have helped me keep my hydration in check, especially when I was marathon training and sweating out so much water a day. Kion has some of the cleanest and most research backed supplements on the market and their aminos are definitely a must have for me in my active daily life.
Tovala smart oven
This has been a GAME CHANGER for me. During the week, I prioritize whole foods and balanced meals, but with my job I am always working late and on the go so I rarely have time to cook. I have tried meal prepping on Sundays, but I hate eating the same food everyday, it takes away the joy I get from cooking, plus it takes up an entire day of my weekend. Tovala is one of those kitchen gadgets that is 100% worth the hype. They operate a razor and blade model where they sell you a pretty inexpensive hardware (the smart oven) and have you subscribe to a meal delivery service. You can choose anywhere from 4 to 16 meals a week that are delivered straight to your door. The best part is that all the meals take ~20 minutes to make and you still get to do a little bit of the cooking. The meals come prepackaged with all the ingredients and take 2 minutes to set up. You then scan the recipe sheet that is included in each box and the oven automatically sets the time and temperature for the meal. Their menu is curated by top chefs every week with various diets and cuisines to choose from. Hands down the best chicken I’ve ever had. I truly don’t know how they do it, but the protein in my meals is cooked to perfection every time. I look forward to my dinners each night because of Tovala and it has saved me when I am traveling and don’t have time to get to the grocery store or take hours to prep. The smart oven also acts as a toaster oven and air fryer, so you can replace a few things in your kitchen while you’re at it.
Ladder
Another TXV portfolio company, but something that I have newly picked up in the past few weeks. I am on the Empower Program which is a mix of strength and pilates with Coach Courtney. Ever since I stopped playing competitive sports, I have tried every plan and challenge out there, I have written thousands of my own workouts, trained for a marathon, been a HIIT junkie, had pilates and yoga subscriptions, bulked and cut on a strict macro diet, and everything in between. I have seen results but have also experienced burnout and injury. Ladder has helped me save time while also giving me the perfect mix of what I need in activity. It allows me to enjoy my once a week yoga at Y7, my longer runs on Saturdays, but also get in my typical strength workouts and improve my core and lengthen my muscles with more traditional pilates movements. Given I have a number of lingering injuries from years of volleyball, I’ve struggled with finding a workout plan that works from a physical goals standpoint and also doesn’t aggravate my injuries. This program has been a God send and is so much cheaper than the personal trainer I used to have when I was still playing. They also have done a stellar job at building a community on the platform, so you can engage with others working on the same program and even message your coach directly about questions and feedback. For anyone looking to get into a fitness routine they will actually stick to AND see results, I recommend looking into the number of programs Ladder offers.
These are just a few of the many incredible health and wellness tools I have implemented into my routine. I’d love to hear a few of your must haves in the comments!