Optimal Health Insider
Research broken down for ease of use
Study finds age 40 is the worst for sleep health; separate study shows valerian root can help
Research conducted in 2022 at University College London found people ages 33 to 53 get less sleep than people of all other age groups. Another study took the stats a step further and pinpointed age 40 as the exact age when Americans are getting the least amount of...
A healthy gut with the right microbes can lower cholesterol, according to U.S. research
Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome as been linked to better health in a number of areas. In 2024 alone studies have demonstrated a positive association with cognitive health, weight loss, irritable bowel syndrome and markers of stress. In another notable 2024 study,...
Study shows ashwagandha should be one of your go-to nutrients for holiday season stress
A 2023 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 89 percent of U.S. adults feel stressed during the holiday season. "Holiday season" typically refers to the roughly six-week period between Thanksgiving and the first week after New Year's Day. In...
Glutamine supplementation improves gut health and immune defense within two weeks, study finds
Glutamine is an amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It is considered by most scientists to be a "conditionally essential" amino acid to humans since the body can usually synthesize sufficient amounts of it. The usually is a big caveat because...
Vitamin D supplementing linked to blood pressure reduction in new study
A year of daily supplementing with Vitamin D was linked to reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure according to a new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society in November 2024. The study was conducted by researchers at American University of...
Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy conveys many years of bone health benefits to children
Mothers who want their children to have strong bones as they grow should consider taking a Vitamin D supplement during their pregnancy. This is the primary finding of a freshly-published study from the United Kingdom. According to the study's conclusion, mothers who...
Add it to the benefit list: Study finds fruit and veggies help you avoid colon cancer
Many diseases that used to be considered diseases of the elderly are now affecting younger people at alarming rates. One of these diseases is colon cancer. The rate of colon cancer---also known as colorectal cancer and bowel cancer---has doubled in people under 55...
Undeniable: Studies from around the world link ultra-processed food consumption to Type 2 diabetes
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that regular consumption of ultra-processed foods leads to a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is vastly different than Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with symptoms...
The worst of the worst: study shows some ultra-processed foods more damaging to health than others
An Australian study published in the British Medical Journal in February 2024 linked ultra-processed foods to heart disease and diabetes, among other health conditions. Three months later another eye-opening study---also published in the British Medical...
Australian study links ultra-processed food to increases in numerous health conditions
Processed food consumption has mushroomed in recent decades and, according to numerous studies, the price being paid by consumers is a reciprocating increase in disease, obesity and early death. A 2021 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition...
As diabetes rates skyrocket, research shows a major contributing factor is nutrient deficiencies
According to new research published in The Lancet, the number of adults living with diabetes worldwide has surpassed 800 million. This number is more than quadruple the number recorded in 1990---and about 95% of these are lifestyle-induced type 2 diabetes. The...
Resveratrol and Vitamin C supplement combo reduces oxidative stress in women, study finds
A new study found a combination of resveratrol and Vitamin C increased the antioxidant capacity of postmenopausal women with insulin resistance by up to 33%. Antioxidant capacity, in this case, refers to the disease-preventing antioxidant activity found in a person's...