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The Toxic Side of Wellness Culture

Updated: Jan 31


A green smoothie being poured into a glass.

According to the Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as;“the active pursuit, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” It's multifaceted including, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental aspects of ones life.


Which sounds great, treat all the aspects in your life.


Health is on a continuum from optimal health to poor health and based on circumstances our position on the continuum can change.


So, when does this become adverse or toxic? Long story short, commercialism. The global health and wellness culture is worth over 4.5 trillion dollars at this point. There is always a new product to solve a problem that you didn’t know you had.


Wellness at it’s core is about how you feel on the inside but social media and pop culture have made it much more about aesthetic. Social media does this, by endorsing and enabling toxic habits as spreading health misinformation.


You HAVE to have this rigorous routine in order for it to work. You have to buy the most expensive products because those are the ones that work. There is almost a relentless push towards progress in health and wellness.


If there are always new things coming out, then there is always something to work towards. There is always something to fix. Oftentimes the wellness industry creates insecurities that it can in turn ‘fix’.


So, how do you know that the wellness information you’ve come across is toxic and/or just trying to sell you something?

  • When it focuses entirely on the physical

  • There is emphasis put on perfection

  • The message is restrictive in some way

    • Mainly with food

  • When there is a ‘must have’ product

    • If you don't buy it you wont reach your goals



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