Extraordinary Health Magazine Extraordinary Health Vol 21 | Page 55
> Muscle Tracking Workout Wear
> Healthy Trending in Restaurants
Until now, tracking muscle activity was possible only
with a specialized test where electrodes were attached
to the body and the results monitored by professional
technicians. Silicon Valley startup company Athos
has figured out how to incorporate sensors into
compression garments to track muscle activity and
also track heart and breathing rates. By monitoring
muscle imbalances, proper posture and over- or underexerted muscles, you can maximize your workouts
and reduce your risk of injury—kind of like turning
your workout wear into a personal trainer.
Available summer of 2014.
Today’s health-conscious consumers are being heard
in the restaurant industry. According to the National
Restaurant Association’s Top Five Trends for 2014,
the push to offer menus with healthy, environmentally
sustainable foods to satisfy the growing consumer
demand for these items is at the forefront of trending
this year. Their “What’s Hot” top five list includes:
locally sourced meats and seafood; locally grown
produce; environmental sustainability; healthful kids’
meals; and gluten-free cuisine.
> The Fitwall
Some of the best exercises are
performed outdoors where movement
is limited only by your ability, but
getting out into the wild blue yonder
isn’t always an option. Now there’s the
ability to bring the outdoors inside.
Fitwall, a new gym in La Jolla, CA, plans
to expand nationwide in 2014. Fitwall is
a 3’ x 7’ wall with hand rungs and steps.
Members put a load on their muscles by
jumping, pulling, pushing and climbing
the wall—some may even fall from it!
The 40-minute personalized workouts
are programmed using a high-intensity
interval training template, with multijoint movements performed primarily
on the wall. Also incorporated into
the workout are resistance and
bodyweight movements. Each
session ends with the opportunity
to review your results, your F-factor
(a measurement based on their
proprietary algorithm) and heart
rate recovery and more on the
results screen.
> Organic Pet Foods
Trends in healthy organic foods for
people have moved to the bowls of their
furry family members, a trend that has
been building for the past few years. Pet
owners are spending more to feed their
pets, says market research company
Packaged Facts, who expects the
trend to continue. They predict that
sales of the healthier pet food will
surpass overall pet food sales, even
though the healthier pet food is
more expensive. Pet specialty stores
and big-box pet retailers alike are
responding to the trend by offering
organic, locally sourced, free range,
minimally processed, raw, premium
pet foods to meet consumer
demand for their
furry friends’ food.