Optimal Health Insider
Research broken down for ease of use
Study shows you should eat your vegetables—and when you have the flu, eat even more!
By now everyone knows that mom had good reason to tell you, "Eat your veggies." Vegetables contain just about every nutrient that growing kids---and adults---need for optimal health. But now new research is showing that eating vegetables is even more important when...
High fat diet and poor sleep: dual attack on the gut microbiome
Good health in general is dependent on good gut health. Good gut health is dependent on maintaining an optimal supply of beneficial bacteria being colonized in the gut. Unfortunately this "good" bacteria is constantly under attack by things that are difficult to avoid...
Collagen peptides shown to break the pain cycle while also improving mental health
The most challenging conundrum of pain management is that physical exercise lowers inflammation and pain levels, but pain itself limits exercise habits and decreases the likelihood of exercise. The situation creates a pain cycle that is difficult to defeat. The same...
Vitamin K linked to better lung health in first-of-kind Danish study
Vitamin K is well-known for supporting heart health and bone strength, but the results of a new study from Denmark prove the nutrient is also critical for lung health. According to the study's findings, people who don’t get enough Vitamin K are at a higher risk for...
Supplementing Omega-3 fatty acids helps maintain lung health, new study finds
When it comes to critical nutrients for supporting lung health, most people think of vitamins C and D. However, according to new research, Omega-3 fatty acids are another group of nutrients that are also critical for maintaining lung health. Omega-3 fatty acids are...
“DIM”—the powerful nutrient that can help offset your daily exposure to toxic hormone disruptors
Research is currently exploding on a little known anti-inflammatory compound called diindolylmethane, or "DIM." DIM, known to many health promoters for its cancer-fighting properties, is a nutrient commonly found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage,...
Glutathione and Vitamin C supplement combo enhances athletic performance, new trial shows
A new study has found that supplementing with a combination of glutathione and Vitamin C improves sporting performance in middle-aged triathlon athletes. The researchers reported marked improvements in three measurable areas of health---metabolic, cardiac and...
Four Vitamin D studies in one month prove the importance of supplementing the critical nutrient
First the good news: During the Covid pandemic more people became aware of the immune benefits of Vitamin D, so supplementing with the critical nutrient increased. Now the bad news: Even with the increase in supplementing, Vitamin D deficiency is still more common...
Highly processed, high-sugar foods affect REM sleep quality, say Swedish researchers
Sleep disorders are on the rise. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that an estimated 13.6 million U.S. adults suffer from at least one sleep disorder. This doesn't include the tens of millions that suffer from an occasional sleep...
Taurine time? Two studies during past year highlight the amino acid’s anti-aging benefit
If you're a workaholic you might recognize taurine as an ingredient in the energy drink you picked up at the local convenience store. If you're a pro athlete you might recognize taurine as one of the energy-enhancing supplements provided by your team nutritionist....
86 studies on mushrooms offer hope for preventing and treating cognitive decline
Both the ancient Chinese and Egyptian civilizations honored mushrooms as "gifts from God." And no wonder: not only could mushrooms fill the belly when hungry, many types of mushrooms were also found to have healing properties. Today--some 3,500 years later--mushrooms...
Study finds lutein and zeaxanthin not only support eye health—they also improve athletic performance
Lutein and zeaxanthin are already popular nutrients for supporting eye health, but with the publication of the latest research, the two nutrients may become even more popular for their documented ability to improve athletic performance. According to researchers from...