Health Update: Danone North America shares top 5 health, wellness trends for 2026 – What Experts Say

WHITE PLAINS, NY — The concept of food as medicine is surging in popularity of late, making it one of the top health and wellness trends for 2026, Danone North America shared in its trends forecast for the coming year. 

The dairy manufacturer also identified four other key health and wellness movements for the months ahead: prioritizing cleaner living, the evolution of gut health, “protein 2.0” and the increasing weight loss culture.

The experts at Danone said food as medicine is now mainstream, with consumers increasingly turning to specific foods and ingredients to “prevent and manage chronic disease, focusing on nutrient-dense options with measurable health benefits.”

Danone president of yogurt Rafael Acevedo said consumers are “optimizing” when they eat.

“Busy lifestyles, the rise of GLP-1 medications, and a growing focus on convenience mean people want more from every bite,” Acevedo said. “They’re looking for functional benefits that support gut health, satiety and overall well-being without adding complexity.”

He noted that “everyday dairy” continues to be “a powerful tool” for people’s health goals.

The company also highlighted that cleaner living is taking priority for shoppers, who are looking for foods and beverages that feature “real ingredients and fewer artificial additives, reflecting a broader focus on health, sustainability and transparency in everyday eating.”

Meanwhile, evidence of gut health’s evolution is evident even on social media platform TikTok, where posts related to the trend have accumulated more than 6 billion views, Danone pointed out. Consumers are becoming more interested in supporting the gut microbiome, as well as the benefits – digestion, immunity, mood and sleep — associated with doing so.

Said Acevedo: “As awareness grows in 2026, consumer needs will continue to favor fiber, prebiotics and probiotics – staples of gut development that continue to lead our yogurt business strategy and innovation.”

Danone described the protein trend for the coming year as the arrival of “protein 2.0,” because the company said protein is “no longer just for athletes.” Consumers are seeking out high-quality protein sources, as well as more diverse formats.

Director of nutrition and scientific affairs at Danone North America, Whitney Evans, PhD, RD, said protein is “transforming” as a trend.

“As consumers dig deeper into protein and health, we’re seeing a shift toward options that deliver differentiated benefits beyond just grams of protein,” Evans explained.

She said Danone’s next wave of performance-forward products reflect the evolution of protein. For example, Evans said Oikos Fusion offers complete whey protein and free leucine for muscle support.

With the use of GLP-1 medications growing, the company picked out weight loss culture expanding as another trend for 2026. Danone noted demand is increasing for nutrient-dense, high-protein foods, and personalized nutrition apps are driving interest in weight management solutions.

Evans said GLP-1 use is expected to rise in the coming year, with the softening in some barriers to access.

“In the context of consumer obsession with health and nutrition tracking, the demand for protein-rich, nutrient-dense offerings – including foods and drinks designed specifically for those taking a GLP-1 – will likely only continue to grow this year,” Evans said.