Wellness Ingredients to Look for in the New Year

All things wellness are increasingly on trend. Want to know how to integrate botanicals, herbals and plant-forward practices into your cooking, eating and skin care routines? To help you better rejuvenate mind, body and soul in the new year, we checked in with wellness experts, nutritionists and dietitians for the sought-after ingredients that will be in demand in the coming year.

L-Theanine is in high demand, but interestingly, you may already be taking in this amino acid, which is naturally found in tea leaves. Known for its ability to improve sleep quality, as well as boost mental acuity and mindful alertness, it's kind of like a two-for-one deal. You are granted its benefits when you're asleep and awake. However, the alertness properties largely stem from caffeine, which is also found in tea leaves. Look for black tea and green tea, like matcha. L-Theanine also helps to ease the jitteriness associated with caffeine.

Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that only grows in Asia and Africa. It's also an adaptogen, a natural substance thought to neutralize stressors on the body and related adverse effects, like insomnia and low mood. Ashwagandha is typically absorbed by way of a dietary supplement. As a functional alternative, REBBL, a maker of plant-based elixirs and tonics, sells Ashwagandha Spicy Chai, a blended beverage concocted from Assam tea and creamy coconut milk. Ashwagandha is one of several medicinal herbs that have broken into the mainstream. Sales of Ashwagandha increased by 185.2 percent in 2020, according to the American Botanical Council.

The shaggy-looking Lion's Mane may not look like any mushroom you've ever seen, but the health benefits, which include cognitive support and anxiety reduction, make this a mushroom you'll want to get to know. The texture and flavor are described as crab-like, so it should come as no surprise to see Lion's Mane on a brunch menu, served as a vegetarian "crab" cake. "I've even seen mushroom coffee and tea mixes in grocery store shelves," says Christina Barth, an integrative and functional performance registered dietitian in Arizona. Her favorite brand is Four Sigmatic, which makes ground coffee with Lion's Mane.