Optimal Health Insider
Research broken down for ease of use
Drink more than you should during the holidays? Studies say you need to restore your gut microbiome
The holiday season presents a twin attack on the immune systems of many people because both sugar and alcohol consumption increase. But even before the holiday onslaught you may have noticed that heavy drinkers get sick frequently. This happens because heavy alcohol...
Damage to bones from forever chemicals shows low bone density isn’t just a problem of the elderly
Low bone density is a health concern usually relegated to the realm of the middle-aged and elderly. Doctors are unlikely to discuss it with younger patients, unless there's some related health concern; and coverage in magazines is limited to publications for the...
Ashwagandha: twin studies highlight stress relief and energy production benefits
Ashwagandha, also known as winter cherry and Indian ginseng, is an evergreen shrub in the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Ashwagandha grows in India, the Middle East, and in parts of Africa. The herb's scientific name is Withania somnifera. The herb is an important...
Cold plunge therapy not just for athletes—check out these 5 health benefits
You may have seen a locker room video of professional athletes submerging into an ice bath after a big game. This routine is referred to as a "cold plunge." It's also known as cold therapy, cold water immersion, and, when used historically for a specific medical...
Green tea studies from Iran and China highlight weight loss properties
Green tea hasn't always been just a pleasant drink. It has a long history of medicinal uses dating back over 3,000 years. Most people don't realize it, but both black and green tea are brewed from the dried leaves of the same plant---Camellia sinensis. It is the level...
Healthy sweets: The sugar in fruit is not the evil you’ve been told it is
Is all sugar bad for you? We all know that refined sugar---the kind used in sweets, processed food and soda pop---contains no nutrition and loads of calories. It also makes your blood sugar skyrocket and is the primary cause of the ongoing type-2 diabetes pandemic....
What do people who live past 100 have in common? Healthy guts with diverse bacterial colonization
When it comes to the question, "Why are some people able to live past the age of 100?" there is plenty of debate. Vegetarians argue for eliminating meat from the diet completely. Advocates of the Ketogenic diet urge cutting carbs in favor of fat. Followers of the...
Rhodiola crenulata can help high-altitude pilots with cognition and blood oxygen, new study suggests
According to a new study from Taiwan, supplementing with a Rhodiola crenulata extract prior to takeoff could help pilots maintain blood oxygen levels and combat cognitive impairment at high altitudes. Rhodiola is a genus of perennial plants that grow in high-altitude...
From fighting age-related diseases to improving depression—studies show benefits of Rhodiola
Rhodiola is a genus of perennial plants that grow in high-altitude and other cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Rhodiola species are often called "stonecrops" due to the types of terrain they typically grow in. Though 96 different species of Rhodiola have been...
Valerian root extract enhances sleep quality and daytime mood, new study affirms
According to a new study conducted by Indian researchers, valerian root supports different aspects of sleep quality---including the time it takes to fall asleep and time staying asleep. The researchers reported the benefits of valerian root begin as soon as three days...
America moves a step closer to pushing insect foods into the mainstream
With the announcement by food giant Tyson Foods that they are investing in the "insect protein" business, it appears America is a step closer to incorporating bugs into its food supply. The big question is, will we be aware of it when it happens? Becoming unwitting...
Regular cell phone use shown to affect sperm quality in new Swiss study
Attention men: Are you taking a supplement to support your "manliness" yet? By now you're probably aware that sperm counts in Western countries have been declining since the 1940s. In fact, according to a review of 185 studies, total sperm count declined by 50% to 60%...