Optimal Health Insider
Research broken down for ease of use
Study finds half of cancer deaths are preventable–one prevention tool is eating fruit and veggies
Everyone knows smoking is a risk factor for contracting cancer; however, according to researchers with the American Cancer Society, smoking is just one lifestyle habit that contributes to high cancer rates. According to the findings of a new study, four in ten cancer...
Study finds black seed supports healthy blood, affirming thousands of years of traditional medicinal use
Black seed—also known by its scientific name, Nigella sativa—is a small seed that comes from a flowering plant by the same name. As an annual flowering plant, it is native to parts of Africa, India, Asia and the Mediterranean. It is also known as black cummin. While...
Pass Grandma the mushrooms: Study finds reishi extract improves immune function in older women
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a type of mushroom that enjoys a long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Written records document medicinal use of reishi in China well over 2,000 years ago. In China, this mushroom is called lingzhi. Reishi mushrooms are...
Society has become more aggressive: New study finds Omega-3 fatty acids can help
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania say a new study shows a nutrient known for heart health also helps the aggressive behavior that seems to permeate society today. That nutrient, or group of nutrients, are Omega-3 fatty acids. The fact that society has...
New survey shows 1 in 3 Americans live with chronic pain, but research shows supplements can help
A 2016 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found an estimated 50 million adults in the United States experienced "chronic pain resulting in substantial health care costs and lost productivity." That number represented around 21% of the...
Colostrum boosts immune system and helps maintain athletic performance, Polish study finds
According to researchers in Poland, bovine colostrum supplements strengthened the immune systems of athletes and helped them continue their demanding training schedules with more regularity. The study, which was conducted on professional football (soccer in the U.S.)...
Lutein supplements provide measurable eye health improvements in as little as two weeks, study finds
We live in an era that could be described as a blue light total onslaught. The damaging blue light---light that has shorter wavelengths and higher energy than other colors---comes from excessive exposure to cell phones, computers, tablets, t.v.'s and LED lights....
CoQ10 ubiquinol alleviates menopausal symptoms, according to new consumer survey of women
In the world of supplementing, CoQ10 is relatively new. It has only been available in the U.S. for a little more than a decade; however, during that time more than 60 studies have focused light on the nutrient's unique health benefits. "CoQ10" is an abbreviation for...
New research highlights another health risk linked to poor sleep: dementia
According to ongoing research, poor sleep quality negatively impacts immune function, heart health, risk of diabetes, obesity and chronic pain. But for those who find getting regular sleep a challenge, there is a health risk they may not be aware of: dementia....
After years of calling it unnecessary, Harvard Health now says taking a multi-vitamin is a good idea
The tide may be slowly turning on the medical establishment's vilification of nutritional supplements... but don't get too excited just yet. Last month Dr. Howard LeWinde, the chief medical editor at Harvard Health Publishing, reversed course and stated that he now...
Probiotics for skin health and pain management: New studies highlight lesser-known flora benefits
During the Covid pandemic surveys showed use of probiotic supplements had surged globally. Consumers had already become better informed about the immune benefits of probiotics, and the pandemic drove the interest even higher. Currently probiotic sales increase by...
Another benefit of regular fruit and veggie consumption: Lower risk of kidney stones
Surveys show that roughly 10% of the population is affected by kidney stones. One in ten people will get at least one kidney stone in their lifetime. "Kidney stone" is the common language referring to when a solid piece of material---the medical terminology is renal...