39. Jumping On The Latest Health Fad
Acai berries, charcoal toothpaste, celery juice, kombucha tea, the keto diet. In general, the United States and the Western world have no shortage of health fads that fade just as quickly as they come. Every health fad promises to completely turn your life around by giving you more energy, focus, et cetera. These health fads are marketed as shortcuts to better health and well-being, and they turn into big money for the companies that promote them. Why? Because for many people, especially in the middle class, following these health fads is a way of showing status more than actual improved health.
Let’s face it; health fads are expensive. They are way more expensive than a healthy lifestyle that includes many whole foods, exercise, and healthy relationships with the people we love. But what status is there to be found in love and healthy relationships? However, showing up at the office with a plastic cup of celery juice from the local health-food store is a way of flaunting to your peers that you have money to throw away on these fads. The expectation may be that people begin assuming that you take health very seriously and are willing to invest heavily in it and have the money to put your health first. But a truly healthy lifestyle is not expensive while health fads actually are.