The Biggest Wellness Trends of 2026, According to Canada’s Top Health Foods Trade Show

Natural health trends are always evolving. But right now, high-protein products, hydration and women’s health are top of mind for many Canadians.

These were among some of the biggest wellness trends on full display at CHFA NOW Vancouver 2026—one of the two bi-annual trade shows for Canada’s largest national trade association focused on natural health and organic products—held this past weekend at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Over one thousand brands attended the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) West Coast trade show to promote their natural, organic and wellness (NOW) products. (Our friends at alive magazine were also there with their new cookbook, Nourish.) Think: healthy snacks made simple, clean beauty products, sustainable cleaning solutions and natural health supplements.

After spending hours mingling among thousands of industry professionals, here are the top six takeaways for what’s trending in health and wellness in 2026.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BCLiving (@bcliving)

1. High-Protein Foods and Drinks Are Bigger Than Ever in 2026

It’s no surprise that protein anything remains one of the most popular and sought-after products. You can increase your protein intake in seemingly any form now—tried-and-true protein bars (like Vancouver-based Nonfiction with simple ingredients), soft drinks and coffee (like Joyburst) and cafe-grade teas (like Vancouver-based Suna, making protein and collagen blends including hojicha and matcha). But many are realizing that it’s more than just protein that matters—hot on its heels are fibre, creatine, collagen and magnesium.

2. Functional Hydration: The Smartest Ways to Drink Your Vitamins and Electrolytes

Hydrate or die-drate. Ok, maybe it’s not that extreme, but it seems we’re still on the hunt to stay hydrated, get our daily vitamins and replenish electrolytes in the most efficient, seamless way possible (beyond just drinking good old H2O, of course). Canadian brand Ö Hydration makes powder mix and ready-to-drink vitamin water, while B.C.-based Happy Gut sells water kefir products (grains, DIY fermenting packs and cans) to support gut health with probiotic-rich water.

Other drinkable health boosters continue to be all the rage—and they don’t just stop at hydration. Ontario-based Ginny, for example, is a non-alcoholic spritzer infused with 4000mg of therapeutic adaptogens to support your nervous system and boost your mood.

Read More: Top 6 Food Trends for 2026

3. Plant-Based Products Are Expanding Beyond Food

The benefits of plant-based products, both for their nutritional value and sustainability, are ever-present in the health and wellness space. Plants are, of course, important for a healthy diet, where brands like B.C.-based Greens & Beans offer versatile and veggie-filled sauces for a healthy meal kids will eat up.

But, increasingly, the power of plants isn’t limited to food items—it’s in skincare (with brands like Newfoundland’s 7 Fathoms using wild North Atlantic seaweed to make skincare products for sensitive skin types) and even period products (Vancouver Island’s Joni makes non-toxic, plant-based pads and tampons).

4. Mushroom Supplements and Functional Fungi Are Having a Major Moment

Fungi are more than just fun. The wellness industry is increasingly acknowledging its valuable health benefits, whether the ‘shrooms are cooked, brewed or consumed as-is. Quebec-based Dodjivi‘s tasty superfood mushroom coffee blend, for example, offers vitality or immunity brews. It seems the mushroom mayhem is just getting started.

5. Women’s Health Products Are Finally Getting the Attention They Deserve

From supplements to sexual health, the natural wellness industry is validating and acknowledging women’s wellness in new, important ways. There are sustainable menstrual products like Revol Cares‘ reusable period underwear and Iris + Arlo‘s organic period products. There are also women’s hormone health-focused drinks like Her Dailys for every stage of womanhood (pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and menopause).

Read More: Managing Menopause: A Real Conversation

6. Ethical and Sustainably Sourced Animal Products Are on the Rise

More brands are working towards ethically sourced and cruelty-free animal byproducts for their goods. But many are also becoming increasingly thoughtful about how they include animal products, from sustainability to cultural significance. Here, look to Moody Bee‘s lip balm made with beeswax (from Kimberley, B.C.), beef tallow skincare products like Softer Skin or traditional Indigenous dried meat and pemmican strips packed with protein from Mitsoh.