Loading...
The Healf Source
Wellbeing Trends That Didn't Work For Me: An Honest Review
Our Head of Buying, Ariana Pergola, shares the hyped health habits that did more harm than good and what she does instead.
Written by: Samantha Nice
Written on: May 18, 2025
When it comes to decoding what’s actually healthy and what’s just hype, few people are as well-placed as Ariana Pergola, our Head of Buying. Having tried nearly every wellness trend going - both the good and the questionable, she certainly knows what’s worth your time, energy and money, and what might be better left on TikTok. Here’s a look at just some things she has tried and won’t be going back to anytime soon.
Raw milk
“As someone who’s been lactose intolerant for over a decade, I couldn’t help but be really curious about the raw milk trend – especially with claims floating around that it still contains the lactase enzyme and could therefore be tolerated by sensitive stomachs. Spoiler: it didn’t go well. I ended up horribly sick for four days. At first I thought it was just the lactose, but it may have been a bacterial infection too. I couldn’t eat normally for over a week.”
Raw milk may be trending, but Ariana’s experience is a good reminder that ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe – especially for those with intolerances.
Strength training & high intensity workouts
"I’ve finally accepted that it just doesn’t work for my body – at least not right now. While I fully support the idea of strength training (especially for women) as a way to support bone density, metabolism and long-term health, actually doing it is a different story. Having scoliosis means my body can easily fall out of alignment, and I have consistently found that traditional weightlifting and high-intensity classes like Barry’s or SolidCore leave me injured or burnt out. Instead, I’m a big advocate of Pilates. It makes me feel strong without pain and I genuinely enjoy it. Right now, consistency and enjoyment matters far more to me than following trends.
Cold plunging
"I used to run a cold plunge community – now I’m totally out. It had a long run in my life and I was even leading early-morning beach plunges every Thursday in Santa Monica. But when my life circumstances changed, so did my relationship with the practice. With more stress in my day-to-day, plunging started to leave me feeling more drained – almost like adrenal fatigue. I got so much from it in the beginning, but I’ve moved on. I don’t need to prove I can do hard things anymore.”
Whilst Ariana is not ruling it out forever, for now, it’s off the agenda. If you too are in a similar boat, try switching to a warmer experience in a sauna instead. Read more about the many benefits here - Sweat It Out – The Powerful Health Benefits of Saunas.
Plant-based eating
“Social media made me think this was best for everyone – it’s not. I used to eat mostly plant-based, largely influenced by the wellness echo chamber online. But after years of experimenting, I’ve found that my body thrives with animal protein – especially given I have Hashimoto's. I feel better eating high-fat, high-protein meals with minimal carbs. It helps manage both my energy and symptoms.”
The takeaway? What works for others won’t always work for you. And sometimes, real health means tuning out the noise and tuning into your own body.
Random, non-personalised supplements
"As the Head of Buying, I’m sent an often overwhelming amount of products and used to rush to try them all. I never really measured my blood levels beforehand, so I didn’t always notice a significant difference. It felt like a pretty random, hit-or-miss approach most of the time. Eventually, I realised I was just taking a bunch of things without much of a plan… so I stopped. These days, my supplement routine is much more streamlined. I only take what I actually need and I can genuinely say I feel so much better for it. Testing regularly and personalising your supplement routine really is key. It’s not about popping the latest pill, but instead about making sure you’re supporting your body in a meaningful way.”
If you too want to take out the guesswork, sign up for early access to Healf Zone - an easy (and at-home) advanced testing system to identify what your body really needs by testing key biomarkers to help you tailor your supplement routine to fit your own needs.
Intermittent fasting
"I used to be tempted by intermittent fasting fads, but honestly, the most I ever do is align with my natural eating windows - typically eating breakfast by 8am and finishing dinner by 6pm giving me a 10-hour eating window with 14 hours of fasting. This feels balanced and sustainable for me. I’ve learned that while methods like 16/8, 20/4 or OMAD are often recommended for men, they can actually be too stressful on a woman’s body. Especially since I have Hashimoto’s, intermittent fasting beyond a certain point isn’t something I’d recommend. It can play havoc with your hormones and have the opposite effect on thyroid health. So, for me, keeping things simple and intuitive has been the most effective."
Let Ariana’s experience be a reminder that it’s all about finding a rhythm that aligns with your own needs, rather than forcing yourself into rigid rules, trends or copying what someone else is doing.
Final thoughts
Wellbeing really isn’t a one-size-fits-all. Just because something is trending it doesn’t mean it’s worth your time, money or health. Try things. Learn from them. And don’t be afraid to move on.
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
Samantha Nice is a seasoned wellness writer with over a decade of experience crafting content for a diverse range of global brands. A passionate advocate for holistic wellbeing, she brings a particular focus to supplements, women’s health, strength training, and running. Samantha is a proud member of the Healf editorial team, where she merges her love for storytelling with industry insights and science-backed evidence.
An avid WHOOP wearer, keen runner (with a sub 1:30 half marathon) hot yoga enthusiast and regular gym goer, Samantha lives and breathes the wellness lifestyle she writes about. With a solid black book of trusted contacts (including some of the industry’s leading experts) she’s committed to creating accessible, well-informed content that empowers and inspires Healf readers.
.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)