Optimal Health Insider
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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...
An easy New Year’s resolution with powerful results: consume fruit and veggies daily
If you're one of the 41 percent of Americans who make a New Year's resolution, you probably know that such resolutions are often difficult to keep. Especially health-related goals. But they don't all need to be difficult. In fact, there's one health resolution you can...
Studies show health benefits of mushrooms are amplified with synergistic blends
If you don't like mushrooms you're probably aware that you're missing out on a substantial health benefit. But, according to research, even the people who do consume mushrooms are most likely not receiving the full potential of the health benefits mushrooms offer....
Three years of vitamin/mineral supplementation slowed cognitive aging by 60% in new study
Cognitive decline in the elderly is growing at alarming rates, but one bit of good news is that a step as simple as taking a daily vitamin/mineral supplement will add a degree of protection. New research---referred to as the COSMOS Mind study---determined that daily...
New studies reinforce why pomegranate extracts make a potent addition to nutritional supplements
People living in desert regions appreciate pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) because they are so resilient and can thrive in harsh conditions. Meanwhile, people working in laboratories appreciate pomegranates for the myriad of compounds they contain, and the wide...
Turmeric extract shown to reduce post-exercise muscle soreness in new study
Supplementing with turmeric extract was linked to significant reduction in muscle soreness following exercise, according to a new study from India. Turmeric is a flowering plant (Curcuma longa) that is part of the ginger family. Both turmeric and the curcumin derived...
Consumption of ultra-processed foods up during past 20 years, especially among the elderly
In 1998 a study published in Journal of the American Heart Association documented what most health experts already knew: A diet high in processed foods speeds up clogging of the arteries and leads to an increase in heart attacks. Unfortunately the findings went...