All posts tagged: supplement

When is the best time to drink a protein shake? Here’s what one supplement scientist thinks

When is the best time to drink a protein shake? Here’s what one supplement scientist thinks

Fit&Well created this content as part of a paid partnership with Onnit. The contents of this article are entirely independent and solely reflect the editorial opinion of Fit&Well. A protein shake is a quick and convenient way to increase your protein intake, but is there an optimal time to drink one? Some people have one immediately after a workout, others prefer one before bed. However, Steven Kahn, a product development scientist at Onnit, suggests there may be a tendency to overthink the issue. When is the best time to drink a protein shake? “I don’t think there’s a bad time to take whey protein,” says Kahn. “Ultimately, as long as you’re hitting your daily protein goals, that’s more important than the timing of anything you’re eating or consuming.” However, Kahn says there could be a benefit in reaching for your shaker soon after your gym session. “You are going to have a slightly better response to protein immediately post-workout, especially if you’re training fasted in the morning. The impact would be a little more elevated …

Natural dietary supplement improves memory and cognitive function, study finds

Natural dietary supplement improves memory and cognitive function, study finds

Researcher is leading a study into whether nicotinamide riboside (NR) improves memory and brain blood flow in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. (CREDIT: University of Delaware) This discovery holds immense significance as it suggests that NR may influence the metabolic pathways implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The research, funded by an NIH grant and the Intramural Research Program of the NIH National Institute on Aging, was recently published in the journal Aging Cell. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is readily converted into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a crucial molecule for cellular repair and DNA damage restoration. According to Christopher Martens, assistant professor of kinesiology and applied physiology at the University of Delaware, and Dr. Dimitrios Kapogiannis, a senior investigator at the National Institute on Aging, the levels of NAD+ decline with age and in individuals with chronic diseases. Christopher Martens, assistant professor of kinesiology and applied physiology and director of the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research, works with blood samples as part of his groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research. (CREDIT: University of Delaware) This decline is …

Common mineral supplement linked to lower dementia risk in new study

Common mineral supplement linked to lower dementia risk in new study

With the global surge in dementia numbers, the link between nutrition and cognitive health has never been more important to investigate. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) With the global surge in dementia numbers, the link between nutrition and cognitive health has never been more important to investigate. Recent studies have placed focus on how vitamins and minerals shape our brain’s performance. Now, groundbreaking research suggests that our daily intake of magnesium might play a pivotal role in promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia. Over 6,000 participants, all cognitively healthy and aged between 40 and 73, formed the study’s basis. The team used a 24-hour recall questionnaire, administered five times over a 16-month period, to estimate the daily magnesium intake of each participant. Dr. Erin Walsh. (CREDIT: Jamie Kidston, ANU) The results were illuminating: individuals who consumed over 550 milligrams of magnesium daily appeared to have a “brain age” nearly one year younger by the time they turned 55, as opposed to those who consumed the average magnesium dose of around 350 mg daily. Khawlah …

3 marketing myths the supplement industry wants you to swallow

3 marketing myths the supplement industry wants you to swallow

This article was originally featured on The Conversation. Americans seem to have quite a positive view of dietary supplements. According to a 2023 survey, 74% of U.S. adults take vitamins, prebiotics and the like. The business of supplements is booming, and with all the hype around them, it’s easy to forget what they actually are: substances that can powerfully affect the body and your health, yet aren’t regulated like drugs are. They’re regulated more like food. Thanks in large part to a 1994 law, the Food and Drug Administration is essentially toothless when it comes to supplements. As the agency acknowledges: “FDA does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements before they are marketed. Companies can sell supplements without going through any sort of approval process, or even having to share safety evidence.” As a research faculty member in graduate medical education, I’m responsible for teaching resident physicians how to understand and critically engage with health research. I also write about health, wellness and supplements for a broader audience. As a result, I spend a lot of time thinking about supplements. It’s important to …

New antioxidant supplement improves cognition and memory

New antioxidant supplement improves cognition and memory

Age-related decline in cognitive and muscle function remains a significant challenge in healthcare, with associated costs expected to rise. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) Age-related decline in cognitive and muscle function remains a significant challenge in healthcare, with associated costs expected to rise. This decline is often attributed to oxidative stress, which damages cells through oxygen-free radicals. Antioxidants found in certain foods neutralize these radicals, reducing cell damage and slowing age-related decline. When an antioxidant-rich diet isn’t feasible, people may turn to supplements. A recent study led by Professor Koji Fukui from the Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), along with Dr. Fukka You from Gifu University, discovered that administering a blend of antioxidant supplements to aged mice notably improved spatial cognition, short-term memory, and muscle durability. Changes in various measurement indices during breeding in TwX-treated aged mice. Body weights of the mice from 18 to 19.5 months old. (CREDIT: MDPI) Prof. Fukui explained, “In this study, significant improvements were observed in spatial learning ability and short-term memory in supplement-treated aged mice. Long-term intake of blended antioxidant supplements …

Common mineral supplement may also prevent dementia, study finds

Common mineral supplement may also prevent dementia, study finds

Recent dementia studies have placed focus on how vitamins and minerals shape our brain’s performance and promoting brain health. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) With the global surge in dementia numbers, the link between nutrition and cognitive health has never been more important to investigate. Recent studies have placed focus on how vitamins and minerals shape our brain’s performance. Now, groundbreaking research suggests that our daily intake of magnesium might play a pivotal role in promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia. Over 6,000 participants, all cognitively healthy and aged between 40 and 73, formed the study’s basis. The team used a 24-hour recall questionnaire, administered five times over a 16-month period, to estimate the daily magnesium intake of each participant. Dr. Erin Walsh. (CREDIT: Jamie Kidston, ANU) The results were illuminating: individuals who consumed over 550 milligrams of magnesium daily appeared to have a “brain age” nearly one year younger by the time they turned 55, as opposed to those who consumed the average magnesium dose of around 350 mg daily. Khawlah Alateeq, Ph.D., …

The surprise supplement that transformed my thinning hair

The surprise supplement that transformed my thinning hair

Brigid Moss: ‘I would eye Claudia Winkleman’s thick, lush fringe and mane on The Traitors, and think, why me?’ “You are a good candidate for a hair transplant,” said the surgeon, drawing a dotted line onto my temple to show where he’d put the new hair. I felt a flush of relief: something could actually be done about my hair loss. So desperate was I, here I was considering borrowing £6,000 for the procedure, the same one Wayne Rooney reportedly had. A strip of hair and skin is incised from the back of your head; you are only a “good candidate” if you have enough hair there. The surgeon tweezes out the hairs from the follicles and replants them, little rows of saplings growing on formerly barren land. I first noticed my hair loss in my mid-40s, although it likely started at the very beginning of perimenopause, when I was around 40. The hair around my face shortened, as if I’d had layers cut. It got thinner. When I noticed my temples were becoming sparse, …

The 1 Supplement You Should Take Every Day To Prevent Dementia

The 1 Supplement You Should Take Every Day To Prevent Dementia

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, 98% of people could improve how they look after their brain health and a study released this week has found that a simple supplement could be beneficial in preventing the onset of dementia thanks to brain-health properties. In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers found that a dietary supplement improved function in people over 60 when taken over the course of just 12 weeks. The supplement consisted of two inexpensive and readily available sources of plant fibre: inulin and fructooligosaccharide (FOS). These substances are considered prebiotics, foods that nourish the “good” bacteria that live in the human gut. These bacteria and other microbes, collectively known as the gut microbiome, have previously been linked to cognitive health and diseases like Alzheimer’s, so the researchers were keen to find out whether taking a prebiotic supplement could help support better brain function in older people. These bacteria and other microbes are collectively known as the ‘gut microbiome’ and have been previously found to be linked to cognitive health diseases like Alzheimer’s. …

Fiber supplement improves older adults’ cognitive function in just three months

Fiber supplement improves older adults’ cognitive function in just three months

In just 12 weeks, a daily fibre supplement improved brain function in twins over the age of 65. Could the microbes in our gut hold the key to preventing cognitive decline in our ageing population? The study my colleagues and I conducted showed that this simple and cheap food supplement can improve performance in memory tests – tests that are used to spot early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. As populations age globally, the prevalence of age-related conditions such as declining brain and muscle function is on the rise, so we need innovative ways to slow and prevent this. The number of gut microbiome studies has increased exponentially over the past 15 years. Researchers are recognising the huge potential of this under-explored facet of human health. We know that the gut microbiome can be influenced and changed from the outside, for example, using a prebiotic supplement. Prebiotics are simple fibres that encourage healthy bacteria to flourish in the gut. They are already widely available to buy. With this new study, we sought to understand how targeting …

Common mineral supplement may prevent dementia, study finds

Common mineral supplement may prevent dementia, study finds

With the global surge in dementia numbers, the link between nutrition and cognitive health has never been more important to investigate. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) With the global surge in dementia numbers, the link between nutrition and cognitive health has never been more important to investigate. Recent studies have placed focus on how vitamins and minerals shape our brain’s performance. Now, groundbreaking research suggests that our daily intake of magnesium might play a pivotal role in promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia. Over 6,000 participants, all cognitively healthy and aged between 40 and 73, formed the study’s basis. The team used a 24-hour recall questionnaire, administered five times over a 16-month period, to estimate the daily magnesium intake of each participant. Dr. Erin Walsh. (CREDIT: Jamie Kidston, ANU) The results were illuminating: individuals who consumed over 550 milligrams of magnesium daily appeared to have a “brain age” nearly one year younger by the time they turned 55, as opposed to those who consumed the average magnesium dose of around 350 mg daily. Khawlah …