Wellness & Research Blog

Optimal Health Insider

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Study identifies best fiber supplement for the 94% of Americans who aren't getting enough dietary fiber

According to a 2021 study, 94% of Americans don't consume enough fiber. Considering the popularity of low-carb diets today, this statistic isn't surprising; after all,...
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Quercetin and anthocyanin---the flavonoid duo that make onions a cancer-fighting superstar

When scanning the ingredients in your favorite nutritional supplement, you're not likely surprised by the inclusion of exotic herbs from the Far East or Africa....
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Studies: Consuming alcohol increases macular degeneration risk while fruit and veggie consumption lowers risk

Most people recognize that heavy alcohol consumption comes with a number or health risks; however, one common health condition that isn't normally associated with alcohol...
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Study finds half of cancer deaths are preventable--one prevention tool is eating fruit and veggies

Everyone knows smoking is a risk factor for contracting cancer; however, according to researchers with the American Cancer Society, smoking is just one lifestyle habit...
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Another benefit of regular fruit and veggie consumption: Lower risk of kidney stones

Surveys show that roughly 10% of the population is affected by kidney stones. One in ten people will get at least one kidney stone in...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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How High-Antioxidant Diets May Lower Miscarriage Risk

A new study from UK's University of Birmingham is reinforcing just how important antioxidants are for good health---and how detrimental processed foods are. In this...
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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...
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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...
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NOVA: Dividing processed foods into four categories to help you manage your health better

Americans are eating more processed foods than ever, and surveys show that most consumers don't understand just how much this trend affects their health. Just...
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Cancer, dementia and early death: Five studies in 2022 that implicate ultra-processed foods

Notwithstanding decades of mounting evidence, most people still refuse to consider just how much damage is being done to their health by regularly consuming processed...
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Phytonutrients benefit all ages, say new studies: Fewer illnesses for women, less ADHD for kids

The health benefits of consuming regular amounts of phytonutrients are diverse and extensive. So diverse, in fact, that two new studies highlighted the benefits on...
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94% of adults don't get enough fiber, increasing their risk of chronic diseases

A whopping 94% of American don't get enough fiber in their diet. This is the conclusion from averaging two major recent studies. A study presented...
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Phytonutrients reverse cell damage in one study, lower all-cause mortality in another study

A new study from Israel has found that a type of phytonutrient called carotenoids inhibited the secretion of the MMP-1 enzyme---the enzyme responsible for collagen...
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Phytonutrient... Polyphenol... Flavonoid. What are the differences? A quick primer.

Numerous epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and herbs improve health in a number of ways. Phytonutrients in the...
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Children who eat more fruit and veggies have better mental health, research shows

Children who eat a diet that includes regular fruit and vegetables have better mental well-being, a new UK study has found. The research, published in...
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