3 Popular Wellness Trends That Don’t Work in Northern Climates

If you live above the 50th parallel, three wellness trends may actually be doing more harm than good

If you’ve been trying to follow all the wellness trends or advice out there — cold smoothies, all-day snacking, endless supplements — but still feel tired, foggy, or out of sync, you’re not alone.

A lot of mainstream wellness trends are based on bodies living in bright, sunny climates. But if you’re living in the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia or Canada, where light patterns and seasonal rhythms are very different, those trends might actually be working against you.

In this post, we’ll look at three wellness trends that don’t work north — and why adapting your approach to fit your light, land and local rhythm makes all the difference.

Wellness Trend No. 1: All-day snacking and micro-meals

The trend: Eat small meals or healthy bites every 2–3 hours to stabilise blood sugar and boost metabolism.

Why it often fails when living in northern latitudes:

• Your appetite changes with the season. In late summer and into early autumn, you might notice a natural shift away from grazing and toward fuller, more grounding meals. Frequent snacking can overstimulate insulin when your body is craving steadier nourishment.
• Your circadian rhythm isn’t aligned with constant feeding. Quantum nutrition shows meals closer to daylight hours work better for hormonal balance. Snacking into the evening can throw off natural rest signals—especially as sunset creeps earlier in August.

A better approach:

• Focus on 2–3 balanced meals that leave you feeling steady, not spiky.
• Honour seasonal cravings—such as cooked, grounding foods that transition your body into a slower rhythm.
• Align eating with daylight—your metabolism functions better when you’re in sync with the sun.

Wellness Trend No. 2: Cold, raw food as a year-round default

The trend: Cold-pressed juices, smoothie bowls, raw salads—even for dinner—to “detox” and reduce inflammation.

Why this misfires in northern climates:

• Right now, in late summer, these meals can feel refreshing—but they don’t always work as the seasons shift. Raw, cold foods can become harder to digest as light reduces and temperatures drop.
• Your body will soon start asking for cooked veg, warm grains, and seasonal meals that support stable blood sugar and digestion.

What to try instead:

• Enjoy raw or cooler meals while it still feels good—then ease into cooked, warming foods as light changes.
• Pay attention to how you feel after eating, not just what’s trending.
• Choose seasonal produce and preparation methods that support your digestion and energy now—not what someone in a sunny climate recommends.

Wellness Trend No. 3: Tropical Superfoods in a Temperate Climate

The trend: Loading up on coconut water, açai bowls, bananas, and mango smoothies as part of a “clean, energising” wellness routine.

Why this isn’t always helpful up north:

These foods grow near the equator, where sunlight is intense and year-round. Your metabolism in Scotland—or Ireland, or the UK—is not the same as someone living in Bali or Brazil.

Tropical fruits are high in deuterium—a heavier form of hydrogen found in water-rich, sun-drenched plants. In moderation, it’s fine. But in colder, darker regions where we’re already exposed to less sunlight and lower metabolic energy, too much dietary deuterium may bog down your mitochondria (your energy powerhouses), making you feel more sluggish, not less.

They’re also naturally cooling. That might feel great in July. But in February? These foods can leave you feeling colder, more bloated, and more depleted—especially if eaten first thing or on their own.

Try this instead:

Focus on seasonal, local, and warming foods—especially in autumn and winter. Think stewed apples or pears, roasted root veg, hearty soups, slow-cooked meats, and bitter greens that support your liver and digestion.

If you love fruit, go for lower-deuterium options like berries (frozen is fine), or local apples and pears—ideally eaten with some protein or fat to keep blood sugar steady.

And remember: your metabolism runs on light, warmth, and rhythm, not just “superfoods.” What grows where you live is often what your body needs most.

Why following wellness trends can leave you feeling worse

If you’ve ever thought “why isn’t this working for me?” — it might not be you. Most wellness content online is built for people living with 12+ hours of sunshine, warm air, and year-round access to tropical food.

If your body lives further north, it needs a different kind of care—based on light, season, and subtle metabolic shifts.

Wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. And when we try to force that fit, we often end up more tired, more inflamed, more out of rhythm.

A different way: seasonal, local, light-aligned

This is what I teach at Resync Wellness. Whether you’re living in the UK, Ireland, or Scandinavia, you deserve tools that actually work where you are.

That means:

• Meals that shift gently with the season.
• Rest and eating patterns that match your light exposure.
• Real nourishment for your nervous system—not just your macros.

It’s not about restriction. It’s about rhythm.

Get support with the Autumn Reset

We’re still in summer—but if you’re already feeling the urge to get back into a routine, or just want to feel less scrambled and more steady, you’re not alone.

That’s exactly what the Autumn Reset – Eat Like the Land Intended: A Week of Ancestral Autumn Eating – is for. It’s a short, gentle reset that helps you realign your eating, energy and daily habits with the shift into autumn. No extremes. No harsh rules. Just simple strategies that actually work here.

Inside the Autumn Reset, you’ll:

• Rebuild your evening rhythm to support deeper rest.
• Learn how to shift your meals and habits with the season.
• Get practical tools to support digestion, blood sugar, and focus.
• Feel calmer, clearer, and more in sync.

Takeaway: Wellness trends aren’t bad—they’re just not made for northern bodies. This summer, start thinking about what actually works for your environment. Because the further north you live, the more your body needs rhythm, not restriction.