Top five predicted health trends for 2026

1. Creatine for women

Data from Google reveals that more women in the UK are exploring the benefits of creatine for their hormonal health

Creatine is a natural substance made by your liver and kidneys, that helps you to produce energy quickly. You can also get creatine by eating foods such as red meat and fish, or taking supplements such as creatine monohydrate.

Creatine is helpful for exercise performance, because it boosts energy levels and supports muscle growth. But it can also be beneficial for women’s health.

From October 2024 to September 2025, average monthly Google searches around creatine and women’s health significantly increased. Two topics that saw especially higher searches were the benefits of creatine for women, and creatine during menopause.

Research suggests that creatine can improve muscle strength and exercise performance in women, as well as boosting mood and brain function. Creatine supplementation may be particularly beneficial for post-menopausal women.

More information is needed to fully understand the role of creatine in women’s health. But the increasing search volume over 2025 may lead us to predict that creatine for women will be a popular health topic in 2026.

2. Menstrual cycle phases

In the last year, average monthly searches around phases of the menstrual cycle increased.

There are four menstrual cycle phases. Each stage can affect your mood and energy levels in different ways.

If you aren’t familiar, the four phases are as follows.

• 1. Menstrual phase. This stage begins from when you start bleeding on the first day of your period, until you stop bleeding. Your oestrogen and progesterone (sex hormones) fall during this time. This can make you feel tired.


• 2. Follicular phase. The follicular phase starts on the first day of the menstrual phase and lasts for 12 days. Hormones rise again once you’ve stopped bleeding. This can lead to improved mood, higher energy levels and increased sex drive.


• 3. Ovulation phase. At around day 14, oestrogen levels rise to prepare your body to release an egg. The egg is released and travels down your fallopian tube. It is here that the egg can be fertilised.


• 4. Luteal phase. The last phase of the cycle lasts from day 16 to 28. If the egg hasn’t been fertilised, it travels to your uterus to be shed with your next period. Your energy levels may start to decline during this phase. Pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS) may occur here which can cause mood swings.

Common searches show particular interest in the last menstrual (luteal) phase. For some women, this is where their mood is most affected. Mood changes are normal. But you should speak to a GP if you experience symptoms that interfere with your daily life.

It can be helpful to note down how you feel within each phase, so you can adapt your lifestyle accordingly. For example, you might want to switch to low intensity exercise during your menstrual and luteal phases.

3. Heart rate training

If you’re into running, cycling or other forms of cardiovascular exercise, you’ve probably heard of heart rate zone training. Searches for zone two cardio doubled between October 2024 and September 2025, suggesting an increase in interest for this way of training.

And searches for heart rate training continued to rise in the latter half of 2025, highlighting a predicted interest in 2026 too.

Some experts think zone two (moderate) cardio can improve fitness by increasing endurance, gently boosting aerobic capacity and metabolism, without overdoing things or risking injury. Your body uses both fat and carbohydrates for energy at all heart rate zones. At lower intensities (heart rate zones one to two), more energy comes from fat. As intensity increases (zone three and above), your body relies more on carbohydrates because they can be converted to energy more quickly.

Whether you follow heart rate zone training or not, you should still aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. And don’t forget to add in at least two sessions of strength training. This form of exercise has many health benefits that cardiovascular exercise alone can’t offer.

4. Skin cancer checks

Searches related to skin cancer checks saw a notable uptick between 2024 and 2025. This included search terms such as:

• moles to be checked
• skin cancer detection

Increased searches during this time suggests people are becoming both more aware and concerned about taking their skin health seriously.

Melanoma is one of the five most common cancers in the UK, so this increase in interest is promising in terms of proactive health care.

Everyone should regularly check their skin for signs of any changes. It’s particularly important to check your moles for signs of skin cancer if you:

• spend a lot of time in the sun
• use sunbeds
• have had family members diagnosed with skin cancer

If you spot any changes you’re worried about, make sure to ask a health professional as soon as possible. Many skin cancers can be easily treated if detected early.

5. DNA Sequencing tests

Search data shows that people are becoming more interested in personalising their approach to health. This includes using DNA health tests to uncover key data about your personal health risks. People are increasingly curious about:

• DNA nutrition
• at-home DNA tests

The personalised health trend is likely to grow even more in 2026. Some key data you can discover from taking a DNA sequencing test includes:

• which specific medicines may work best for you
• health risks you may face based on your genes

This information can be used to help personalise your treatment for various conditions, as well as giving you more power to future proof your health. While you need to pay for them, it’s now possible to buy your own full genome or DNA health test privately. It can help to have input from a healthcare professional in terms of understanding and applying this data to your own situation.

A final word from our expert: Dr Samantha Wild

When it comes to health trends, what works for a friend might not be suitable for you. Make sure any health information you follow is evidence-based. And always see a healthcare professional for advice about your health – whether it’s your menstrual cycle or your moles.