Trying to improve your health and wellness in 2026? Keep it simple

The new year is a time when many try to start new good habits and commit to improving health and wellness.

But resolutions, lofty as they may be, can turn daunting quickly with all the advice and sometimes contradicting information coming at you from news reports, advertisers, influencers, friends and even politicians.

But they don't have to be.

This year, The Associated Press got the downlow on all manner of health and wellness claims and fads. The good news is that the experts mostly say to keep it simple.

As 2026 arrives, here's what you can skip, what you should pay attention to and how to get credible information when you are inevitably faced with more confusing claims next year.

When it comes to your diet, experts say most people can skip the upcharge. If you're eating enough, you're probably getting enough protein and don't need products that promise some big boost.

And it's true that most people could use more fiber in their diets. But, please, ditch the “fiber-maxxing” trend. Instead, eat whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.

That 20-step skin care routine and $200 serum some TikToker sold you on? Dermatologists say you really don't need it. Stay away from the beef tallow and slather on a good sunscreen instead (yes, even if you have darker skin ), they say.

And the same rule for simplicity applies to that hourlong “everything shower." The best showers are simple and short, dermatologists say, no "double cleansing" required.

If the gym and all its equipment feel intimidating, you can drop the illusion that a good workout requires either. This year, the comeback of calisthenics put the focus back on no frills, bodyweight workouts you can do in the comfort of home. Research shows calisthenics helps with muscle strength and aerobic conditioning. You may eventually need weightlifting or other equipment, but it is a great place to start to build consistency and confidence.

Even if you imbibe too much this New Year's Eve, doctors say you can do without “ IV therapy ” which have vitamins you can get more easily and cheaper in pill form — if you even need more, which is unlikely if you have a balanced diet. You're pretty much just paying for “expensive urine,” one doctor said.

Same for “wellness” focused products like microbiome testing kits that generate information that doctors can't actually act on. And if you don't have diabetes, there's scant evidence that you need a continuous glucose monitor.

The idea of a panacea pill, product or routine can be enticing. But science already knows a lot about how to improve mental and physical health, and they are tried and true:

These lifestyle changes don't just make you feel better in the moment. Research shows they impact your life for years to come, by lowering the risk of dementia and many other health issues.

It can be tough to know who to listen to about your health, faced with compelling personal stories on social media from people who swear something worked from them, or clever marketing and advertising from companies that scare you or promise an easy fix.

Doubts have been raised this year about established medicine, including the safety of food dyes, fluoride dental treatments,hepatitis B shot for newborns, and hormone therapies for menopause.

While the medical system is not perfect, your doctor remains the best person to talk to about prevention, health concerns and potential treatments.

If you can't get to a human doctor and turn to Dr. Google instead, be sure to follow these tips and never use it to diagnose yourself. When you do get that doctor's appointment, you can make the most of it by bringing a list of written questions — and don't hesitate to ask for any clarification you need.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

FILE - A woman carries an umbrella while walking at Alamo Square Park in San Francisco, Nov. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

FILE - A free blood pressure machine is used at the public library in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Ingram, File)

FILE - Jackie Brennan, of Merrimac, Mass., front, pedals on a stationary exercise bike with others during a spinning class in a parking lot outside Fuel Training Studio,Sept. 21, 2020, in Newburyport. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

FILE - People run on treadmills at Life Time Athletic May 8, 2020, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

FILE - A man is silhouetted against the sky at sunset as he jogs in a park at the close of a hot summer day, Aug. 1, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

CHANTILLY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 29, 2025--

Amentum (NYSE: AMTM) delivered advanced end-to-end ground systems engineering for a key Artemis II launch rehearsal at the Kennedy Space Center on December 20. The Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT) simulated launch day operations for the integrated Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS). During the Artemis II mission, Orion will carry four astronauts on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon and back. It will be propelled by the SLS, the most powerful and capable rocket NASA has ever built.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251229578106/en/

“As the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, Artemis II represents a groundbreaking step in human space exploration,” said Mark Walter, Amentum’s president of Engineering & Technology. “The successful execution of the Countdown Demonstration Test highlights the depth and breadth of Amentum’s capabilities, including launch vehicle integration, spacecraft processing, and ground systems engineering. With this critical milestone we continue to demonstrate our commitment to excellence in high consequence launch operations.”

Under NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) program, Amentum provides engineering and systems integration for Artemis II. Amentum is responsible for modernizing ground equipment, integrating launch vehicles, and assisting with launch, recovery, and overall operations for Orion and the SLS.

Amentum played a direct role in the configuration and systems performance of the crew module during the CDDT full vehicle power-up. The company mobilized more than 300 personnel across critical functions including countdown operations and field support. Key team members also assumed critical roles in the Firing Room , the heart of NASA’s Launch Control Center, where engineers conduct pre-launch checks, monitor systems, and issue commands to the rocket and spacecraft .

Finally, Amentum provided support on the Launch Control System (LCS), the software backbone of the Firing Room. LCS enabled real-time data processing, remote command and control, and comprehensive data recording throughout the test, ensuring safe and efficient operations. This critical software infrastructure is essential to every phase of integrated testing and launch countdown.

Artemis II is expected to launch no later than April 2026.

About Amentum

Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by the United States and its allies to address their most significant and complex challenges in science, security and sustainability. Our people apply undaunted curiosity, relentless ambition and boundless imagination to challenge convention and drive progress. Our commitments are underpinned by the belief that safety, collaboration and well-being are integral to success. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, we have approximately 50,000 employees in more than 70 countries across all 7 continents.

Visit us at amentum.com to learn how we advance the future together.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains or incorporates by reference statements by Amentum Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) that relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements may be characterized by terminology such as “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “target,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “predict,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated work and revenue under the awarded contract, and the Company’s objectives, expectations and intentions, applicable legal, economic and regulatory conditions, and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements.

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Artemis II crew L-R: Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch