Optimal Health Insider
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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...
Adding flavanol supplements to the diet improves memory function in adults, new study finds
A new large-scale random control trial has found that supplementing with flavanols is able to improve memory scores of older adults. Moreover, the beneficial effects of the flavanol supplementing was sustained over a three year follow-up. The researchers found that...
Elderberry and probiotics combo improves health in many ways, says new study on airline crews
A combination supplement with elderberry and probiotics improves health in a number of ways, according to a new study from Italy. The research was conducted specifically on airline crew members because they face a number of health challenges due to their work...
L-carnitine supplementation aids post-exercise muscle recovery, new review finds
A new study from Spain has shown that L-carnitine supplementation can aid muscle damage and speed up recovery after exercise. The researchers noted the results are especially effective for test subjects who are already deficient in L-carnitine. The study, a review of...
Is Sucralose Safe? Researchers Find Evidence of DNA Damage and Gut Health Risks
On May 30, 2023 the U.S. Food & Drug Association (FDA) updated its webpage Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food---and reiterated that the six artificial sweeteners on the FDA's list are safe for human consumption. Ironically, just one day earlier researchers...
Second major study in less than a year highlights cognitive benefits of a basic vitamin/mineral supplement
Many consumers have been convinced that taking a multi vitamin/mineral is a waste of money. Unfortunately they're missing out on what could possibly be the easiest step to take in protecting their long-term health. Repeated surveys show even the most diet-conscious...
Already a nutrient superstar, new study shows Vitamin K provides additional diabetes benefit
In recent years sales of Vitamin K skyrocketed as consumers become more aware of the vitamin's "blood, bone and brain" benefits; however, Canadian researchers have identified a new role for Vitamin K: protection against diabetes. The discovery was made by scientists...
Garlic powder improves digestion and boosts cardiovascular health, new study finds
According to the findings of a new study from Iran, using garlic powder as a prebiotic supplement decreases the cardiovascular risks associated with metabolic syndrome. A person is considered to have metabolic syndrome when they are diagnosed with a combination of any...
Chlorella supplementation boosts athletic performance of cyclists, new UK study finds
According to a new study from the United Kingdom, three weeks of supplementation with Chlorella improved the performance of cycling athletes. When compared to the athletes who received a placebo, a performance improvement was documented in three areas: • Improvement...
The potent nutritional supplement that emerged from the fake food shortage crisis of the 1950s
If you've ever purchased a "healthy green dink" at a smoothie bar, it probably contained a green superfood powder that the cashier told you was called "Chlorella." Chlorella is a single-celled alga that is native to Taiwan and Japan. It belongs to a genus of about...
How Cell Phone Use Impacts Cardiovascular Health
During the past decade a number of studies have made headlines after establishing a link between cell phone use and brain tumors. While detractors are still arguing over the methodology and conclusions of these studies, new research is highlighting a completely...