While high cholesterol is genetic for about 1 in 200 people in the United States (Familial Hypercholesterolemia), several studies say it is more often the result of poor habits.
Read More

How impactful can a single food item be? Research shows that a diet rich in nitrates can have positive health effects, including lower blood pressure levels.
Read More

Preventing or reversing Type-2 Diabetes may be easier than you think! —And may only take having more of this flavorful food item…
Read More

While egg yolks are a no-no for hypertensive patients due to their high cholesterol content, egg whites are now said to help reduce blood pressure the same way as some common medications, according to scientists.
Read More

While most people would agree that sensible dietary choices are a crucial aspect in keeping blood pressure readings on the healthier side, high blood pressure still claims the lives of over 600,000 Americans annually—causing 15% of deaths in America.
Read More

Avoiding the sun is a risk factor of a similar magnitude as cigarette smoking in terms of life expectancy, new research now suggests. Scientists followed 30,000 women for 2 decades and found that those who avoided the sun were twice likely to die.
Read More

Whether you've just been diagnosed with or are genetically pre-disposed to having high blood pressure, you might start considering getting your BP numbers in place with more sensible lifestyle swaps—including eating clean & sweating it out a couple of times a week.
Read More

Today, most people are affected with some form of blood pressure issue and high blood pressure or hypertension is the cause for 15% of the deaths each year in America, says Harvard University. This means that over 600,000 Americans lose their lives to high blood pressure annually!
Read More

Preventing or reversing hypertension (a.k.a. high blood pressure) may be easier than you think! — And may only involve having less of one popular food item.
Read More

For many years, it was accepted knowledge within medical circles that a better hand grip strength was associated with proper cardiac functions that help reduce the risk of cardiovascular incidents. This led to thousands of hand grip devices (a.k.a. grippers) proliferating in the market.
Read More

Breakfast as we know it is a day’s first meal—and now experts around the world are saying that it could be the most important meal for preventing strokes.
Read More

While high cholesterol is genetic for about 1 in 200 people in the United States (Familial Hypercholesterolemia), studies now show that cannabidiol (CBD) oil can cause a modest drop in blood pressure.
Read More

Eating more potatoes (the popular starchy tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum) may boost heart health by reducing chances of vascular calcification and aortic stiffness, scientists say.
Read More

As sensible lifestyle choices like sweating it out a couple of times a week & eating healthy can help to lower high blood pressure, the National Health Service (NHS) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercises weekly for all adults (18 years up).
Read More

One of the oldest life forms on Earth, the blue-green algae Spirulina is often referred to by scientists as a “superfood” due to its astoundingly dense nutritional profile...
Read More

Whether you've just been diagnosed with high blood pressure or are genetically pre-disposed to acquiring it later in life, you might want to start considering normalizing your numbers today to prevent an unnecessary, untimely death.
Read More

Incorporating bananas to your meals boosts heart health by reducing chances of vascular calcification and aortic stiffness, say health experts.
Read More

Breathe, breathe out. Nobody would ever think that this would be a great way to strengthen the heart, right? Read on...
Read More

The “blue” in blueberries can help lower blood pressure, says a new study published in the Journal of Gerontology Series. Scientists say that the polyphenols in blueberries called anthocyanins (which also give them their distinctive blue coloration) are found to help lower down blood pressure.
Read More

Keep your blood pressure at bay by eating three kiwis a day, says new study. Eating three kiwis a day is linked to a reduction in blood pressure numbers says research presented at the American Heart Association.
Read More

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the Malvaceae (mallow) family, and experts say they may help lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Read More

Good news, chocolate lovers! A study released by Harvard University finds that eating a small square of dark chocolate (containing at least 50 to 70% cocoa) everyday can actually help lower blood pressure for hypertensive individuals.
Read More

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Many of us have heard this saying, right? However, a group of researchers are now saying otherwise.
Read More

How impactful can a single nutrient be? Esteemed medical journal The Lancet recently published a study that found that eating more of this important food item led to lower rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke & colon cancer in test subjects.
Read More

FACT: If you are able to keep control over your blood pressure with more sensible lifestyle choices—including sweating it out a couple of times a week & eating clean; you will be able to prevent, delay or eradicate the need for statin medications (and its side-effects!).
Read More

United Kingdom—According to the results of a clinical trial led by Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), a one-off operation targeted towards the nerves connected to the kidney has been found to maintain reduced blood pressure in hypertensive patients for at least six months.
Read More

Sensible dietary choices are crucial in keeping your blood pressure reading on the healthy side. For example, avocados and other Potassium-rich food like bananas, cooked broccoli, cooked spinach and beetroot all help to lower blood pressure.
Read More

While high cholesterol is genetic for about 1 in 200 people in the United States (Familial Hypercholesterolemia), it is more often the result of what we’ve loaded onto our shopping carts at the supermarket.
Read More

Lifestyle plays the lead role in the prevention and treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). Whether you've just been diagnosed with high blood pressure or are pre-disposed by way of genetics, you might start considering bringing your numbers.
Read More

Yes. Bread can be sinister to individuals with high blood pressure (hypertension)! Shocking, isn’t it?
Read More

High blood pressure claims the lives of over 600,000 Americans annually—and 20% of Americans don’t even know they have it!
Read More

Epistaxis episodes (a.k.a. nosebleeds) are common and usually quick & harmless. However, the American Heart Association (AHA) warns that nosebleeds in individuals with heart conditions like hypertension and congestive heart failure usually entail a hypertensive crisis caused by a sudden, rapid increase in blood pressure.
Read More

It’s well after night time and you’re getting the munchies. It’s true—it’s hard to fall asleep when your tummy is growling. The challenge is now figuring out what you can eat that’s easy, delicious and will still help you maintain a healthy weight.
Read More

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease causes 1 in every 4 deaths in the United States making it responsible for the deaths of about 610,000 Americans annually.
Read More

If you've just been diagnosed with hypertension or are pre-disposed by way of family history, you might be worried about taking medication to bring your numbers down. Lifestyle indeed plays the starring role in the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure.
Read More

Statin use to help lower cholesterol in the blood, is now linked to an elevated risk of Type 2 Diabetes among high-risk (i.e. overweight) individuals, reports Erasmus University in Rotterdam.
Read More

Over 600,000 women & men die each year in the United States because of Heart Disease! That’s 1 in every 4 deaths -- Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for both sexes in the country.
Read More

It started in July of last year when the United States FDA (Food & Drug Administration) announced that it was pulling several types of generic cardiovascular drugs such as Valsartan and Losartan, due to trace amounts of the nitrosamines N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA) found in many of the prescribed medications.
Read More

Preventing or reversing Type-2 Diabetes may be easier than you think! — And may only take a sweet little addition to your daily breakfast…
Read More

Yet another high blood pressure medication – Losartan (Patented in 1986, and sold under the trade name Cozaar, among others) has been recalled due to contamination with a Cancer-Causing impurity.
Read More

High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is the cause for 15% of the deaths each year in America, according to a Harvard University study. While it causes no symptoms, it raises the risks of...
Read More

The key to maintaining blood sugar is to use portion control especially with anything that is high in sugar. This is particularly true if you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes.
Read More

Today, most people are affected with some form of blood pressure issue. Whether high or low, any unusual blood pressure can be quite dangerous.
Read More

Your liver may be adversely affected due to the overwhelming presence of accumulated fat and toxins if you are experiencing any of the mentioned symptoms.
Read More

Heart Disease claims the lives of over 600,000 Americans Every Year! High Blood Pressure or Hypertension causes 15% of deaths in America, according to a Harvard University.
Read More

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a critically essential vitamin required for the proper function and development of the brain, nerves, blood cells, as well as many other parts of the body.
Read More

Fruits are not only rich in vitamins, they are also very delicious! So if you’re diabetic and are forbidden to eat fruits, don’t fret. What you are about to discover are the 8 fruits that are low in carbohydrates, low-GI, and yes, good for your diabetes diet regimen!
Read More

Always keep in mind to not change everything at once. It’s always healthy to choose a new habit or two that you think is the easiest to change.
Read More

For many, coffee is a welcomed kick-starter to the day. But did you know that aside from its energy boosting effect, coffee actually offers a number of health-benefits?
Read More

Many doctors will prescribe the usual high blood pressure medicines to make you manage your blood pressure levels but what you don’t know is, you can easily lower your blood pressure down with a healthier and more affordable alternative.
Read More

I bet you've recently heard the words eat clean at least a couple of times since everybody is talking about it. But what does eating clean really mean?
Read More

When we were younger we wanted to be superheroes. Who doesn’t want enough telepathic power to move objects with their mind, or the ability to fly across oceans? Present day, here we are as adults and all we want is to be healthy.
Read More

When rehydrating the body, you’d be surprised how certain beverages are actually more effective than others at promoting Weight Loss.
Read More

It is important to keep blood sugar levels as stable as possible when you have diabetes. And the simple act of avoiding or minimizing foods that cause big blood sugar spikes is essential.
Read More

There’s no secret that our eating habits play a significant role in our health and when someone is living with Diabetes or Insulin Resistance, the most natural, effective and doable treatment is to control the amount of carbohydrates and sugars in their diet.
Read More

When it comes down to losing weight, we all have been told at least once that we need to “Exercise and Eat Less”. Simple right? However this becomes useless if you don’t make the right food choices and if you do not start a routine that you can commit to.
Read More

To understand the importance of knowing the pH in your body, let’s start with some basic knowledge. Potential hydrogen (pH) is a measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions in your body.
Read More

Do you find it hard to stay away from chocolate? If so, your body may be trying to tell you that you need more Magnesium in your daily diet.
Read More

Your immune system is your first line of defense against bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that can invade and harm your body. So a healthy immune system is crucial to your overall health.
Read More

Berries aren’t just delicious and colorful additions to yogurt, cereals and smoothies. Berries are among the healthiest foods on the planet. Here are eight (in no particular order) that are high in health benefits.
Read More

If you can’t remember the last time you checked your blood pressure, you’re long overdue. As a leading cause of heart attack, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, high blood pressure has no symptoms.
Read More

Few people come in from a frosty winter walk or day of tobogganing and rush for a cold glass of water, and that makes sense. When a winter chill has seeped right down to your bones, most people want to warm up.
Read More

Your odds of catching a cold or the flu may go up in winter but that doesn’t mean that winding up sick in bed is inevitable. Here are four ways to boost your immune system and strengthen your shield against illness.
Read More

If you struggle with fatigue and brain fog, I’m going to tell you something you already know. How you feel is just as important as how you look. In fact, how you feel may be MORE important. You can walk into a wedding reception, for example, wearing your best clothes. But if you’re physically and mentally worn out, that’s that people notice.
Read More

The trouble with brain fog is, it’s easy to dismiss as “nothing serious.” Misplacing your car keys, for example, can certainly feel frustrating as you desperately try to retrace your steps. Yet after you find your keys, it’s easy to laugh it all off and forget about it.
Read More

Staying on target with your diet and fitness goals may seem contradictory to enjoying a holiday feast with friends and family. Yet you really can enjoy your turkey with gravy and eat it too. If you plan accordingly, you can easily make both goals work for you! Here are 10 ways to keep your diet and fitness goals.
Read More

Late fall and winter are known to be the seasons when people get sick the most. Why? Because during these seasons, people suffer big activity and dietary changes. Good fruits and non-starchy veggies are harder to find in stores.
Read More

You’ve likely heard the term “superfood” and how they’re great for your health. Yet you may have wondered what “superfood” really means. The term “superfood” describes foods that are richer than most in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and phytochemicals.
Read More

I can’t count how many times I’ve felt mentally exhausted after a long week. On many occasions, I’ve felt so forgetful and brain-fogged from stress and over-stimulation that it felt like I’d literally put my brain in a microwave and turned it to mush. I’ve come to realize that many of us don’t take care of our brains the way we should.
Read More

Have you ever met a stranger and made hair contact before eye contact? I know I can’t be the only one. Honestly, one of the first things I notice about a person is their hair. I notice hair that is healthy, strong, glossy and beautiful. Having beautiful hair is something to be proud.
Read More

Life isn’t something you can control. Yet you can control how you respond to life, and you don’t have to respond to difficult and challenging situations by feeling distraught or overwhelmed. Such feelings are symptoms of stress, and stress doesn’t just cause insomnia.
Read More

Even the cleanest homes in the world can cause fatigue, irritation, drowsiness and other symptoms of a toxic body. From cleaning and paint products to air deodorizers and scented candles, the chemicals from things people use to clean and beautify their homes are ironically the same products that fill those homes with air toxins.
Read More

Three things are inevitable each Thanksgiving. People everywhere will warmly gather with friends and family around a table filled with delicious food and give thanks for the bounty that is life. People will pile their plates high with mashed potatoes, turkey and pumpkin pie.
Read More

From lattes and chocolates to donuts and Cheerios, the temptation and aroma of pumpkin spice seems to be everywhere each fall, and people can’t get enough. According to Nielsen, U.S. sales of pumpkin-spiced foods, personal and household goods topped $360 million in 2015.
Read More

The old 8X8 rule recommends drinking eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day to ensure you’re properly hydrated. Yet if you’ve ever tried drinking that much water every day, you likely know how challenging it can be, but here’s the good news. You don’t have to drink all that water.
Read More

If you’ve ever injured your hand from a fall or twisted your knee from a sports injury, you know what follows. First comes the pain, then comes the swelling (or, inflammation), and many people believe that inflammation is PART of an injury. But believe it or not, inflammation is your body’s way of trying to protect itself.
Read More

Omega-3 fatty acids aren’t just essential for YOUR long-term brain health, vision, and overall physical health. If you are a pregnant, Omega-3s are especially important for the normal development of your unborn child.

As the name of a family of polyunsaturated fats, Omega-3s fall into three main groups:
Read More

You may not know it, but a bad night’s sleep does more than leave you feeling groggy, fatigued, and irritable the next morning. When you routinely have a bad night’s sleep, you increase your risk of major health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. You also risk personal injury operating a motor vehicle and/or on the job through lack of focus, and you increase the risk of harming others around you.
Read More

If you’re feeling sluggish, depressed, or just aren’t feeling as sharp as you once did, then you may be suffering from a common nutrient deficiency.

Did you know, Vitamin B12 is a powerhouse nutrient for boosting energy, improving mood, and protecting your brain health?.
Read More

Storing food in the freezer is an easy way to make food last, and saves on trips to the grocery store. But not all foods can handle being frozen. In fact, some can even become harmful to your health! To avoid this, here are 10 foods that don’t take kindly to the cold:
Read More

Let’s face it. Healthy foods go out the window pretty fast when pizza hits the table. And it’s not just the mouthwatering taste of melted cheese and tomato sauce that suddenly makes healthier foods seem about as appetizing as a jellied-eel smoothie.

Fast foods like pizza are also appealing because, as the name implies, they’re fast!
Read More

Americans are eating better than ever before. According to the Organic Trade Association, Americans spent $47 billion on organic and household products in 2016 (up from $20 billion in 2007). And studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that 73% of Americans are focused on eating better.
Read More

If you’ve been struggling to lose weight, you are not alone!

It’s easy to understand why the big drug companies don’t want you to know about 5 key nutrients that safely and naturally blast away stubborn fat… and why they want you to buy their weight-loss drugs… even if those drugs come with the risk of addiction and lethal side effects.
Read More

If you have high cholesterol and find yourself occasionally going a bit nuts with worry over health risks like stroke and heart disease, the solution is simple:

Go nuts! Really!

Now, just to be perfectly clear, I’m not talking about skiing downhill dressed as a giant hotdog or mountain biking on a unicycle or anything like that (as entertainingly “nuts” as those activities may sound).
Read More

Yes, you heard right. Sexual activity isn’t just pleasurable. Having sex is good for heart health, and I’ll be the first to admit that, at first glance, the above headline just sounds like humorous marketing within a relationship:

“Not only that, sex is good for our heart health. We’d be stupid NOT to have it every day—like a multivitamin!”
Read More

Real Beauty Is About Respecting the Amazing Story That’s You

If you’re not used to hearing that real beauty is NOT just about looking younger, then I apologize for being long overdue with this email and something you really need to hear.

If you have wrinkles and other visible signs of aging, and you’ve been looking for a skincare solution that quickly delivers younger-looking skin, you deserve a lot more respect.
Read More

Few people dispute the taste appeal of brown sugar.

With its complex hints of toffee or caramel, brown sugar lends exquisite flavor to all kinds of recipes, from cookies to baked ham.

However, when it comes to brown sugar being “healthier” than white sugar, that’s just a myth. There’s really no difference between the two in terms of calories and nutrition..
Read More

Every New Year’s Eve, millions of people promise themselves, “This is the year I’m finally going to lose weight!” (Yes, they even include the exclamation mark.) Gym membership enrollments soar. Diet and weight-loss books fly off the shelves and people get serious about kicking their pudge to the curb. However, when February/March rolls around, those unwanted pounds return (if they’ve left at all).
Read More

Congratulations! If you’ve decided today to take better care of your heart health and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease, you’ve made an important decision that thousands tragically fail to make until it’s too late. Every year, about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. More than 47% of sudden cardiac deaths (or, over 345,000 fatal heart attacks) happen outside a hospital, suggesting many people with unhealthy hearts wait too long before acting on the early warning signs of heart attack.
Read More

Magnesium deficiency has been called the “silent epidemic” of modern times, and it’s on the rise. Research by the World Health Organization concluded 75% of Americans are Magnesium-deficient, which can lead to major health problems like heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes. The trouble is, insomnia, brain fog, depression, and other early warning signs of Magnesium deficiency are so common to other issues like stress, doctors rarely test for Magnesium deficiency until you’re lying in the hospital in critical condition.
Read More

The American Heart Association calls high blood pressure “the silent killer” for good reason. As a leading cause of death worldwide from stroke and heart disease, high blood pressure (HBP) has few signs or symptoms—and it’s a killer on the rise. According to the American Heart Association, there was a 39% increase in HBP-related deaths in America between 2001 and 2011 despite medical advances in preventing and treating heart disease and stroke. And the death toll is only expected to rise. By 2030, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts 40% of Americans will have HBP
Read More

Vitamin B12 is a dynamo when it comes to keeping you energized, mentally sharp and feeling great. It boosts metabolism by helping convert carbohydrates to glucose and maintains healthy digestion. It also keeps blood cells healthy, promotes mental clarity and helps reduce depression and stress. Plus, B12 promotes vibrant hair, skin and nails—so you look great too—and protects against heart disease and cancers like prostate and breast cancer.
Read More

Hey, it’s Amanda and a few hours have passed since eating my dinner, which usually means I’m making frequent trips to my refrigerator to look for something to nibble on. Truth be told, I am literally standing here with the refrigerator door open, typing this on my phone as I look for a healthy ...
Read More

Hello. It’s Matt, Senior Nutritionist for Optimal Health.
Did you know that roughly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure? Yet only about half of these people have it under control, and the statistic is due in part to some common misconceptions.
Read More

Hey, it’s Matt, Senior Nutritionist. Today I wanted to talk about a "healthy" snack that I absolutely love—but is unfortunately one of the worst snacks for your waistline. I’m talking about trail mix, Even the organic, "super-healthy" varieties that you find at the health food stores aren’t a great "healthy" snack option...
Read More

I’m the Senior Nutritionist at Optimal Health and I’m thrilled to be meeting you.

Today I want to give you my Top 8 Reasons why lemon water + salt can be such an important (but simple) part of your daily routine.

Your health and energy levels for the day largely depend on what you eat in the morning. A glass of warm lemon water with salt can serve as your...
Read More

It’s Matt, and today I have a little science lesson for you about your “belly fat” hormone, also known as cortisol. It’s a hormone that your body releases to deal with stress, and unfortunately, high levels of cortisol have been linked to increased levels of abdominal fat...
Read More

Hey there. It’s Matt, Senior Nutritionist with Optimal Health.
Did you know that high blood pressure affects over 70-million American adults?
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is the stealthy, sometimes...
Read More

Greetings. It’s Matt with 10 easy-to-implement recommendations to help protect you and your family against 10 nasty dangers you’re probably not aware of.
Did you know that a recent biomonitoring survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...
Read More

Hi. It’s Amanda, Head Exercise and Fitness Coach at Optimal Health. I wanted to give you a few tips to help you improve your heart health and avoid a condition that is becoming epidemic in North America.
Did you know that nearly two thirds of Americans have...
Read More

Hi again. It’s Amanda from Optimal Health. As a fitness professional, I often come across clients that are overweight, plagued with low energy and have a hard time focusing. Typically, these people just plod from day to day without doing anything to address these issues…
Read More

Hey guys. It’s Matt, and today I want to share some of my favorite “beauty foods” with you.
To look hot, you can hit the gym, wear cute clothes or try new beauty tricks. But aside from those, eating the right foods can really give you that extra boost to quickly look and feel amazing.
Read More

Since our first list of 20 must-try beauty tips was such a huge hit, we decided to put together another list of 20 indispensable tips that you can start using today to improve the way you look and feel.
Read More

Hey there. It’s Matt from Optimal Health and I’ve got some very important news for you today.
Typically, I focus on food-based nutrition, but I was recently doing some research on environmental toxins and came across this list that I wanted to get out to you ...
Read More

To help you make this the best year ever, we want to give you 20 of our very favorite "be-beautiful" tips. These little-known tips are easy to implement, inexpensive and highly effective.
Read More