Optimal Health Insider
Research broken down for ease of use
Australian study highlights cognitive benefits of Lion’s Mane—the ‘smart mushroom’
A new study from Australia is adding to the growing body of research supporting the neuroprotective effects of Lion’s Mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus). According to the researchers, who conducted the study on mice, the compounds isolated from Lion's Mane have the...
Senate resolution recognizes vital health role of nutritional supplements, other natural products
When tourists from the U.S. visit Asian countries they are often shocked by the amount of medical freedom enjoyed in these "backward"countries. Not only can consumers there choose between "traditional medicine hospitals" and "modern hospitals," but they can also...
Use of sleeping pills increases dementia risk, new study finds
It's easy to see why the practice of simply popping a pill to fall asleep faster is a growing trend. Life is stressful and full of daily challenges. Who would want to deal with another issue---like not falling asleep easily? A sleep prescription is a quick and easy...
Quercetin shown to improve Covid-19 recovery in new study
Quercetin may be the latest nutrient to offer hope in reducing the symptoms of Covid-19. In a test of Covid-19 patients in Pakistan, a one-week treatment with quercetin was linked to milder symptoms and faster conversion from positive to negative tests. Quercetin is a...
Extra protein beyond RDA has no benefit for most people, European study concludes
Protein is one of the three essential macro-nutrients. Adequate intake is necessary for strong bones, muscle, organs, and pretty much every other part of the body. Protein is also responsible for numerous biological reactions in the body. In fact, it is present in...
Cellular healing benefits of D-ribose can also assist Covid-19 recovery, review finds
Ribose is a sugar-like molecule that your body uses to make adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. ATP is the body’s most basic form of energy and the fuel burned by the cellular mitochondria---the powerhouse of the cell. D-ribose is the type of ribose commonly found in...
Amazing diversity: L-arginine supports heart health, erectile dysfunction… and now Long Covid
For decades L-arginine has been used in nutritional supplement blends to support muscle growth, heart health and erectile dysfunction. Now a new study has examined L-arginine with regards to a new medical condition---Long Covid. In the study, conducted in Italy,...
Two new studies highlight the diverse immune benefits of probiotic supplements
2023 may be the year that probiotics become "medical mainstream." Barely two weeks into the year, and two freshly-published studies are reinforcing the potent and diverse immune benefits of different probiotic strains. One study demonstrated the effectiveness of...
Study projects less chronic conditions and billions of dollars saved with more widespread use of supplements
A 2022 report produced by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has detailed how tens of thousands of lives---and hundreds of billions of dollars---could be saved by simply expanding the use of the most-needed nutritional supplements. According to the report,...
B-vitamins provide immune benefits including Covid-19 protection, researchers say
According to new research, supplementing with key B-vitamins provide general immune protection and protection against Covid-19 specifically. The research was conducted by examining the B-vitamin intake of 9,189 adults then comparing that intake with the likelihood of...
Study finds dose-response between protein intake and muscle strength, but only when coupled with exercise
Unless you've been asleep for the past few years you know there's a robust debate about whether a high protein diet is beneficial and effective or whether it's detrimental to health. There are primarily two groups of advocates for high protein dieting. The first group...
Research shows probiotics aren’t just for moms—they’re for babies too
Though the health benefits of probiotics are now widely accepted, the use of probiotics for infants is still being debated---at least by medical "authorities." Forty years ago probiotics were relegated to the status of snake oil by the medical establishment in the...