Welcome to the Era of Health Tech!

We're in an era where technology plays a pivotal role in our health and fitness journey. Fitness bands that monitor our workout progress and calorie counters that keep tabs on our dietary habits are just some examples of how tech has become an integral part of maintaining well-being.

The app stores are flooded with countless fitness apps, with new ones being developed continuously, making it quite a task to find the perfect fit for your lifestyle.

Do Fitness Apps Deliver?

It's subjective. While there's a scarcity of scientific research, available data suggests that these apps can't single-handedly motivate you to eat healthily or exercise regularly.

Diet and exercise tracking apps are most effective for individuals who are already dedicated to a healthy lifestyle. If you're not committed to a regimen of health, simply downloading an app won't magically transform your habits.

Top Health and Fitness Apps

MyFitnessPal reigns supreme in the realm of food tracking and is the most downloaded health & fitness app on iTunes. It boasts an extensive database of nutritional information for over 5 million foods, aiding users in keeping food journals.

This app is particularly helpful if weight loss is your goal. Its barcode scanning feature simplifies the logging of packaged foods, and it integrates with most fitness tracking devices.

The main drawback is that meticulously logging every morsel can become tiresome over time. In reality, many users stick with it until they grasp appropriate portion sizes and balance their macronutrient intake.

MyFitnessPal provides both a complimentary version and a premium option for $49.99 per year.

Lose It! is another app that aids in achieving fitness goals by monitoring food and exercise. Similar to MyFitnessPal, it features a barcode scanner and compatibility with other fitness devices. Unique to Lose It! is the Snap It feature, which allows users to log meals through photos and track any fitness challenges they undertake.

The primary limitation of this app is its lack of micronutrient tracking, a crucial feature for those on restrictive diets needing to ensure they're receiving all necessary micronutrients for optimal health.

Lose It! offers a free version and a premium tier for $39.99 annually.

Strava is the quintessential social fitness app for runners and cyclists seeking a competitive edge. It fosters a rivalry between you and others who frequent the same routes. Syncing with most fitness trackers and running watches, it eliminates the need to carry your phone. However, to fully engage, you must be willing to share a significant amount of location data.

Like many fitness apps, Strava is available in both a free and premium version for $59.99 per year.

This list isn't exhaustive, but MyFitnessPal, Lose It!, and Strava are solid choices for those aiming to monitor their dietary and exercise routines.