DR KEVWE'S BLOG

 

The start of a new year brings a fresh wave of motivation to focus on health and wellness. But instead of chasing quick-fix resolutions that fizzle out by February, what if we focused on science-backed habits that create lasting change?

In 2025, the wellness landscape is evolving, blending traditional health wisdom with cutting-edge research. From the power of gut health and strength training to sleep optimization and AI-driven wellness apps, there are practical and effective ways to improve our well-being.

After listening to several Specialists across various sub-specialties of the wellness industry, via very informative podcasts and other platforms, and being a UK trained General Practitioner/Family Physician myself, I can confirm that this guide will explore the top evidence-based habits to help you reset your health this year. Whether you are looking to fine-tune your nutrition, elevate your fitness, enhance your mental well-being, or optimize your sleep, these strategies will set you up for success. Don't forget that I am also human and continue to strive for wellbeing related success individually. No approach is certainly one-size-fits-all and what works for person A might not work for B but making a targeted effort and trying few things to settle for what works is key this year and moving forwards. 

1. Smarter Nutrition: Fuelling Your Body the Right Way

What we eat plays a crucial role in our energy levels, immune system, and overall health. In 2025, the focus is shifting from diet trends to sustainable, science-backed nutrition strategies that work.

The Gut-Health Revolution

Your gut microbiome (a home to trillions of bacteria) plays a key role in digestion, immunity, and even mental health. Recent studies show that a diverse, fibre-rich diet supports a healthier gut. Incorporate:

• Fermented foods like yogurt for probiotics.
• Fibre-rich foods like beans, whole grains, and leafy greens to nourish good bacteria.

Intermittent Fasting & Metabolic Flexibility

Intermittent fasting (IF) has gained traction for its potential benefits, including improved metabolism and reduced inflammation. Research suggests that fasting for 12-16 hours can help the body switch between burning glucose and fat, improving metabolic flexibility. However, IF is not for everyone, so listen to your body and consult a professional before trying it.

The Rise of Plant-Based Proteins

More people, whether vegan or not, are integrating plant-based proteins into their meals. Options like lentils, chickpeas, tofu, and quinoa offer essential nutrients while reducing the environmental impact of meat consumption.

2. Fitness Trends That Could Help in 2025

This year, fitness is all about sustainability and efficiency. Rather than chasing extreme workouts, people are focusing on strength, movement, and longevity.

Strength Training for Longevity

Studies show that muscle mass is a key predictor of longevity. Strength training using weights, resistance bands, or body weight can help maintain bone density, boost metabolism, and prevent age-related muscle loss. Aim for two to three sessions per week focusing on compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and push-ups.

Hybrid Workouts for Maximum Benefits

Rather than sticking to one type of workout, hybrid training combines:

•  Strength training (for muscle and bone health)
•  Cardio (for heart health and endurance)
•  Mobility exercises (to prevent injuries and enhance flexibility)

This balanced approach improves overall fitness and prevents burnout.

NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)

Not all movement needs to be structured exercise. NEAT refers to the calories burned through daily activities like walking, cleaning, and fidgeting. Increasing NEAT by taking the stairs, walking more, or stretching during breaks can significantly impact overall calorie expenditure and health.

Pro Tip: Try a weekly routine with 2 strength workouts, 2 cardio sessions, and daily movement breaks.

3. Mental Wellness: The Mind-Body Connection

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and in 2025, the focus is on practical, everyday habits that enhance well-being.

The Power of Breathwork

Deep breathing techniques can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and enhance focus. Try the 4-7-8 method:

•  Inhale for 4 seconds
• Hold for 7 seconds
•  Exhale for 8 seconds

Repeating this for just five minutes can calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.

Gratitude Journaling & Positive Psychology

Practicing gratitude has been scientifically linked to increased happiness and reduced stress. Start by writing down three things you are grateful for each morning. This simple habit can rewire your brain to focus on the positive.

The Science of Social Connection

Loneliness has been linked to higher stress levels and poor health outcomes. Make an effort to nurture relationships by scheduling regular catch-ups with friends, joining a community group, or simply calling a loved one.

4. Optimizing Sleep for Maximum Energy

Sleep is the foundation of good health, yet many struggle with getting quality rest. Here's how to improve it:

Circadian Rhythm Hacks

Aligning your schedule with your natural body clock can improve sleep quality. Try:

• Morning sunlight exposure to regulate melatonin production.
•  Consistent sleep and wake times (even on weekends).
• Avoiding heavy meals and caffeine late in the day.

Screen Time & Blue Light

Blue light from phones and laptops suppresses melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep. Use blue light filters or switch to reading a book before bed.

Supplements & Sleep Aids

Magnesium, chamomile tea, and melatonin supplements have been reports to have some benefits with improving relaxation and sleep quality. Always consult a healthcare professional before adding supplements, as I cannot personally verify any claims. Although melatonin is licensed to be prescribed for trial by patients in certain age groups here in the UK.

5. How Technology is Shaping Wellness

Technology is making health more personalized and accessible. Here are key innovations to watch:

Wearable Fitness Trackers & Sleep Monitors

Devices like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Oura Ring can track sleep, heart rate, and activity levels, providing insights to optimize wellness.

AI & Personalized Health

AI-powered apps now provide customized fitness plans, nutrition guidance, and mental health support. Popular apps include:

• Noom (personalized nutrition)
•  Fitbod (custom strength workouts)
• Calm (meditation and sleep aid)

Telehealth & Virtual Therapy

Online healthcare access has expanded, making therapy, nutrition counselling, and doctor consultations more convenient than ever.

Pro Tip: Try one of the wellness apps listed above to personalize your health journey.

Conclusion: Small Steps, Big Impact

The key to lasting wellness is not about drastic change. It is about consistent, small habits that add up over time. Whether it's focusing on better nutrition, moving more, prioritizing sleep, or managing stress, every small step counts.

Start with one or two habits from this guide and gradually build momentum. Remember, health is a lifelong journey, not a quick fix.

Ready to Reset Your Wellness?

Share your 2025 wellness goal in the comments section.

Dr Oghenekevwe Daniel Ogidigben

B.Sc. Human Physiology, MBBS, MRCGP

Salads refer to a cold mixture of various raw vegetables +/- fruits, served with a cream or oil dressing and only recently have I personally experienced/realised why these colourful plants should be a constant in the diet of every individual. Like many ignorant people out there, I used to think salads actually only referred to coleslaw-( popularly known as vegetable salad ) or a mix of chopped up fruits (popularly known as fruit salad) and were only necessary for adding flavour to rice meals or dessert, with regards to the fruits 😄. Not until I started working in British Hospitals,did I realise that salads, were mostly a mixture of nutritious raw vegetables and fruits that could make all the difference between a healthy and unhealthy diet. Admire the lovely salad on flick this Saturday Evening and find out below why you must make such a constitution part of your regular diet.

📷: Salad, Coleslaw & Lasagna  by @drkevwe (www.instagram.com/drkevwe)

* Great Source Of Dietary Fiber:
Experts have identified salads as one of the best sources of nutritional fiber - portions of plant derived food that cannot be completely broken down by digestive chemicals. This fiber or roughages as sometimes called, pass down from the small intestine to the large intestine to help the forming stool develop better bulk that can be easily passed out. The suggested cause of bowel cancer in many cases, has been linked to the longterm absence of dietary fiber in the diets of many victims. How this exactly can happen is long medical grammar for another day; if you don't mind. The simplest realtime explanation of this benefit is appreciated when you wake up for 3 consecutive days feeling constipated, until you grab a salad or any other source of dietary fiber like cornflakes/cereals or even oranges and eventually experience the greatest intestinal relief of your life in.....you know where.

📷: Salad & Prawn Mayo by @drkevwe(www.instagram.com/drkevwe)

* Wonderful Source Of Vitamins & Vital Mineral Salts:
Vegetables and fruits, the major components of salads, are confirmed excellent sources of vitamins and vital mineral salts in the body that play very important roles in a multitude of stabilising chemical activities that must occur for everyone of us to feel well overall. Ranging from: skin and bone maintenance to body electrical impulse transfer (nerve conduction) to overall brain function or even general organ function-sexual organs not excluded, a proper balance of vitamins and mineral salts in addition to other factors, will give you the right fix and put your body in a position to function optimally. There is no better way to explain it. Only a trial can convince you.


* Excellent Dietary Option For Weight Loss & Maintenance Of Healthy Body Fat:
Are you one of those battling with weight loss or struggling to maintain a healthy diet to normalise your Cholesterol levels for better blood pressure or blood sugar controls? Have you ever been in a situation where, you really wished you could keep your eating as healthy as possible but circumstances just wouldn't permit?  The Doctor has asked you to reduce or cut out starchy carbohydrates for dinner which must not be eaten later than 7pm/19:00 but you wake up really early to go to work and remain so busy all day that, the only opportunity to eat anything major is late night after you close and you feel starchy carbohydrates are the only filling option right? This is exactly the concern I have gotten from a lot of patients in the past but say no more; a colourful portion of salad served with your favourite  barbecue fish or grilled chicken or turkey...etc.... will do the magic.

👀: Wikipedia

In conclusion, all of the above grammar can be summarised in the fact that, with salads you can't go wrong diet wise. There are different types and when eaten alongside your favourite fish or meat or whatever, you will certainly get as full as you want, yet remain as healthy as possible.

By: Dr. Oghenekevwe Daniel Ogidigben

REFERENCES:
* WebMD| 4 Healthy Reasons To Eat A Salad Today

* HuffPost| Sex And A Salad

Oprah Winfrey’s line of packaged foods, O, That’s Good!, just dropped four varieties of frozen cauliflower crust pizza, which have 1/3 of the flour in the crust replaced with cauliflower puree. The pizzas are the latest additions to this packaged comfort food line launched by Kraft Heinz and Oprah last year, featuring tasty eats such as mashed potatoes and mac and cheese.



Cauliflower pizza crust has become a superstar food trend over the past few years, driven by consumers who are looking for gluten-free, low-carb, or vegan crust options when they order or pick up a slice or a pie. But are Oprah's cauliflower crust pizzas as healthy they sound? Here's the lowdown.



 The four varieties in Oprah's new line include Supreme, Five Cheese, Fire Roasted Veggie, and Uncured Pepperoni. The most nutritious option is the Fire Roasted Veggie, which comes in at 280 calories per serving (1/5th of the entire pizza), 9 grams of overall fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 4 grams of fiber, and impressive amounts of vitamin C.

While this pizza won’t derail your healthy eating habits, it does pack in 20% of your daily sodium levels, which is consistent with most other frozen meals.


The three other varieties are less impressive. Each racks up 320-330 calories per serving (1/5th of the pie) and are higher in total fat, saturated fat, and sodium. The Five Cheese has 25% of the saturated fat you're supposed to consume in an entire day, while the Uncured Pepperoni has 30% of your daily sodium allotment.

If you want a healthier cauliflower crust pizza, many other options are made with more cauliflower and less flour than Oprah’s pies. You could also easily make your own, or you can buy pre-made cauliflower crusts from Caulipower or The Healthy Crust brands. A serving (half a pie) of Caulipower Veggie Pizza gives you a larger portion at fewer calories, lower levels of saturated fat, and a lower sodium count than the O, That’s Good! slices.

The cauliflower crust trend shows no signs of slowing down, as low-carb eaters use this veggie as a replacement for flour, rice, and other foods to help cut calories and carbs while boosting fiber and essential nutrients. You can even now buy cauliflower-based baking goods and cake mixes.

No wonder cauliflower is so popular. It's a nutritional all-star, providing fiber, vitamin C, potassium, B vitamins, and antioxidants—all at just 25 calories per cup. Using cauliflower in place of grains in a pizza crust or as a substitute for rice helps slash calories while upping the fiber and nutrients of the overall recipe.