By this point in the year, your resolutions have either gotten off to a great start, or they...uh...haven’t. Not to worry, we’ve all been there before! And besides, you can make meaningful changes any time of year – not just when the clock strikes midnight.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or have been enjoying all the “ins and outs for 2025” posts online, here are a few big trends you may see throughout the year.

1. Collagen peptides: For healthy aging support

You've likely heard of collagen but "collagen peptides" might be new. Since your body can’t absorb collagen in whole form, supplements are formulated with smaller fragments called collagen peptides. Peptides help with absorption, allowing the tissues in your body to get the most out of your supplement.

Although the Internet loves to debate the efficacy of collagen, there is plenty of research to back its effectiveness for skin health. 

One randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study from 2014 analyzed the effect of collagen peptide supplementation on human skin health in women ages 35-55. Researchers found those who supplemented collagen peptides daily experienced an improvement in skin elasticity.1 Even more intriguing, improvements in skin elasticity remained significant for four weeks after supplementation ended.

A 2024 study once again analyzed skin elasticity, as well as wrinkles and hydration. One hundred healthy participants ages 35-60 supplemented with either collagen peptides or placebo daily and were tested at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo group, the collagen peptides supplementation group saw improvements in skin wrinkling, hydration, and elasticity after 12 weeks.2 

Skin, nail, and hair health is always in style, so support yours with Thorne’s Collagen Plus, and see results in as soon as four weeks.*

2. Getting enough protein: For your performance goals

Protein has been a hot topic for a hot minute, and it’s easy to see why! When you are lacking this macronutrient, your body will have a much tougher time doing the things you need to do – like completing daily tasks and getting a good night’s rest, let alone the things you want to do such as exercising and building muscle.

After you work out, protein takes center stage building, maintaining, and repairing the microtears that occur during exercise. However, if the body lacks energy from carbohydrates and fat stores, it’ll burn protein instead, diverting it from its muscle-building role.3

That’s why consuming protein post-workout is important! It helps repair existing muscle tissue, initiates new muscle growth, and builds strength.

Supplement your athletic endeavors with Thorne’s variety of protein powders. Check out one of our bestsellers, Thorne’s Whey Protein Isolate, a high-quality powder designed for athletes, aging individuals, and anyone who wants additional support for maintaining muscle mass.* For those looking for a little sleep support, consider Thorne’s RecoveryPro®, formulated with magnesium bisglycinate, an ingredient that promotes rest and helps you relax.*

3. Adaptogens: For stress management

If you’re a health-care professional, you have likely heard of adaptogens. But if you’re new to the world of functional medicine, you might be wondering, “What the heck is an adaptogen?” Here’s a hint, look at the first part of the word!

The word “adaptogen” comes from the word “adapt,” because the primary function of these substances is to help your body adapt to stress and maintain homeostasis. Adaptogens (most often botanicals) initiate nonspecific resistance to stress and improves the body’s ability to recover from it.* Some examples include certain types of mushrooms, like lion’s mane and reishi, and herbs, such as ginseng and rhodiola.

With stress on the rise in the United States, it’s no wonder adaptogens are trending in 2025; in the American Psychiatric Association’s 2024 annual mental health poll, 43% of U.S. adults said they are more stressed now than the previous year, an increase from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022.4

If that sounds like you, consider supporting your stress management efforts with Thorne’s new Ginseng Plus, the formula that helps your body build stress resiliency.*

4. Maintaining mitochondrial health: For healthy aging support

“Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell!” If that’s all you remember from biology class, here’s a quick recap: Mitochondria are small structures, called organelles, that are in almost every type of human cell. They provide more than 90% of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) you need, which your cells use for energy.5 Mitochondria have their own DNA, which just like our own DNA, can get damaged due to oxidative stress, environmental toxins, chronic disease, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and more. When this happens, it can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of many serious diseases and health conditions.

So, what better time than now to take action on a cellular level? Thanks to decades of research, we know physical activity is the best way to support mitochondrial growth and health. In addition, eating a healthy diet and supplementing can help.

Several specific nutrients have been shown to support mitochondrial health. Two that have been extensively researched are nicotinamide riboside – a direct precursor to NAD+, which supports mitochondrial function – and coenzyme Q10, an important nutrient that enhances mitochondrial function.*6

5. Alternative drink options: For overall health

Just in time for Dry January, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, recently proposed an update to the Surgeon General’s health warning label on alcoholic beverages to bring greater awareness to consumers about the association between cancer and alcohol consumption.

This comes as opinions in the U.S. are shifting; according to an August 2024 Gallup poll, Americans’ view of alcohol consumption as harmful to health is at an all-time high, particularly among young adults. In addition, the demand for non-alcoholic alternatives has been steadily growing over the last few years.

On Take 5 Daily, we’ve written about the link between high alcohol consumption and several health concerns, including high blood pressure, accelerated aging, a weakened immune system, gut dysbiosis, stroke, heart disease, liver disease, anxiety, depression, dementia, cancer, and more.7,8 As always, moderation is key.

Whether you’re sober curious, or not, Thorne has plenty of powders that can elevate the taste of your drink of choice while supporting your health. Check out some of our favorite mocktail recipes below:

References

  1. Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, et al. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014;27(1):47-55. doi:10.1159/000351376
  2. Seong SH, Lee YI, Lee J, et al. Low‐molecular‐weight collagen peptides supplement promotes a healthy skin: A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;23(2):554-562. doi:10.1111/jocd.16026
  3. Volek JS, Kraemer WJ, Forsythe CE. Nutritional aspects of women strength athletes. Br J Sports Med 2006;40(9):742-748. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2004.016709
  4. American adults express increasing anxiousness in annual poll; stress and Sleep Are Key Factors Imp. American Psychiatric Association. May 1, 2024. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/annual-poll-adults-express-increasing-anxiousness. [Accessed January 6, 2025.]
  5. Javadov S, Kozlov AV, Camara AKS. Mitochondria in health and diseases. Cells 2020;9(5):1177.
  6. Ahmadi A, Begue G, Valencia AP, et al. Randomized crossover clinical trial of coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide riboside. . . . JCI Insight 2023;8(11):e167274. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.167274.
  7. Sullivan E, Pfefferbaum A. Brain-behavior relations and effects of aging and common comorbidities in alcohol use disorder: A review. Neuropsychology 2019;33(6)760-780. 
  8. Alcohol use and your health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm. [Accessed March 28, 2024.]