Optimal Health Insider
Research broken down for ease of use
More cardiovascular disease, less conceiving: Household chemicals linked to chronic health issues in men
"Common products inside your home are contributing to serious health conditions." Thanks to volumes of research conducted since the 1980s, this statement can now be said emphatically---with few detractors. Moreover, with the problem now more widely accepted, research...
Quercetin and anthocyanin—the flavonoid duo that make onions a cancer-fighting superstar
When scanning the ingredients in your favorite nutritional supplement, you're not likely surprised by the inclusion of exotic herbs from the Far East or Africa. The potent nutrients in plants found in remote places around the world are often featured in scientific...
Elderberry: The world’s favorite immune boosting nutrient also proffers a fat-burning benefit
At the start of a new year just about everyone has the same two health goals: keep the immune system strong in the heart of winter and lose weight that was gained over the holidays. As challenging as these two goals are, a new study has shown that the an innocuous...
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...