Health Studies Hub
Your go-to source for daily breakdowns of the latest health, fitness, and nutrition research.
97% of Americans Are Deficient in Essential Vitamin K2.
In a review by Dr. John Douillard from LifeSpa.com, drawing on studies like the Rotterdam Study (2004) involving 4,807 adults over 55, vitamin K2's role was examined. K2 activates proteins to direct calcium to bones and away from arteries, preventing stiffness and brittleness. The study found at least 32 mcg daily cut cardiovascular death by 50% and all-cause mortality by 25%.
Ultra-Processed Foods Worsen Depression-Diabetes Link.
In 2025, Yunxiang Sun and team from Johns Hopkins and Brazilian universities analyzed survey data from over 87,000 adults in Brazil. They used self-reports on diabetes, depression, and diet (via food frequency questionnaires) to check how ultra-processed food (UPF) intake affects the depression-diabetes connection, running stats adjusted for age, income, and more.
Less Smart Phone Scrolling Leads to a More Fulfilling Life.
In 2025, EMJ reported a study testing ways to cut recreational screen time in adults. Using digital behavior interventions like app timers and mindfulness prompts, researchers tracked phone use and well-being over weeks.
Magic Mushroom Compound Could Delay Aging in Humans.
In 2025, Kosuke Kato and team from Emory University studied psilocin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, in human cells and 19-month-old mice (equivalent to ~60-year-old humans). They treated cells with psilocin and gave mice monthly psilocybin doses for weeks, measuring cell lifespan, mouse survival, and aging signs like fur condition.
7,000 Steps a Day Slashes Death Risk by Nearly Half.
In 2025, Melody Ding and team from the University of Sydney analyzed 57 studies with over 160,000 people across multiple countries. They used data from wearable devices like pedometers to track daily steps, comparing health outcomes like death rates, heart disease, dementia, and depression against a baseline of 2,000 steps.
Vitamin B1 May Ease Alcohol-Related Headaches.
In 2025, Kuan-Hung Lin and team from Taipei Medical University studied 60 adults with frequent alcohol-related headaches. In a 4-week trial, half got 100 mg daily vitamin B1 (thiamine), while others received a placebo. They measured headache frequency, blood flow via ultrasound, and brain cell health through blood markers, adjusting for alcohol intake and age.
Juice Powder Plus Exercise Cuts Inflammation in Obese Women.
In 2013, Manfred Lamprecht and team from Graz, Austria, studied 34 obese women in a 12-week trial. They split them into four groups: one got a fruit/vegetable juice powder concentrate, another got the powder plus exercise, a third just exercised, and the last got a placebo. They measured inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood flow markers.
Just Two Workouts a Week Cut Heart Death Risk in Diabetics.
In 2025, a study from AnnalsofIM and others tracked 50,000+ adults with diabetes over years, using health records to compare exercise habits. They grouped people as inactive, insufficiently active, weekend warriors (≥150 min/week in 1–2 sessions), or regularly active, measuring heart-related deaths and overall mortality.
Dietary Creatine From Meat Cuts Constipation Risk.
In 2025, Baohua Zheng and team from Chinese hospitals analyzed NHANES data from 2005–2010 on 10,721 adults. They calculated creatine intake from meat sources over two days and checked links to gut issues like chronic constipation and diarrhea using stats that adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and health factors.
The Potential Harm of Apeel Coatings on Fresh Foods.
In 2023, Carly Fraser from Live Love Fruit reviewed Apeel Sciences' edible coatings, like Organipeel for organic produce. Apeel mimics fruit skins to reduce spoilage, using citric acid from black mold fermentation and mono/diglycerides from plant oils processed with solvents like heptane.
Big Pharma's Role in Spreading Wellness Misinformation.
In 2025, EMJ published a piece by Marc Beuttler analyzing pharmaceutical companies' role in wellness misinformation. It reviewed industry tactics, like funding influencers and pushing unproven supplements via social media, often bypassing strict regulations. Data showed $4.4 trillion in global wellness market spending, with pharma exploiting gaps in oversight.
Retirement Can Speed Up Health Decline Without Purpose.
In various studies from 2013 to 2023, researchers like those from the University of Manchester and NBER analyzed data from thousands of retirees in cohort and longitudinal setups. They tracked health changes post-retirement, focusing on cognitive, physical, and mental aspects, adjusting for age, job type, and voluntary status.
Daily Fermented Dairy Intake Linked to Decreased Stroke Risk.
In 2025, researchers Shuai Ma, Yu Miao, and Xinxin Wu from Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine analyzed data from NHANES 2007–2018 on 27,487 U.S. adults. They looked at intake of fermented dairy like yogurt, cheese, and buttermilk, using surveys and health records to link it to stroke history, adjusting for age, smoking, and other factors.
Omega-3 Fats Improve Post-Workout Muscle Recovery.
In 2025, Yosuke Tsuchiya and Eisuke Ochi from Hosei University studied 24 male athletes doing intense leg exercises. They gave half of them 3.6g of omega-3 supplements daily for four weeks before and one week after, while the other half got a placebo, checking muscle strength, soreness, and inflammation markers.
The Pros and Cons of Cold Plunging for Muscle Growth.
Based on studies from 2015 to 2024 by researchers like Llion A. Roberts from the University of Queensland and Emma S. Malta from Victoria University, cold water immersion was tested after workouts. Trials involved people doing strength training, then plunging in cold water or doing active recovery, measuring muscle gains, soreness, and performance over weeks.
Fasting Twice a Week Helps Type 2 Diabetes Control.
In 2025, Haohao Zhang and team at Zhengzhou University compared three diets for 52 obese people with type 2 diabetes: intermittent fasting (5:2 plan, eating normally five days and cutting calories two), time-restricted eating, and steady calorie reduction. They measured weight, blood sugar, and insulin response over months.
Music Therapy Eases Distress in Dementia Patients.
In 2025, researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust ran a pilot program called MELODIC on two hospital wards for people with dementia. They brought in a music therapist to lead sessions and make custom music plans for each patient, aiming to prevent and handle tough emotions without always using meds.
Will AI Turn a Generation Into Copy-Paste Learners?
A recent MIT EEG study reported by Time found that students using ChatGPT showed significantly lower brain engagement during essay writing—exhibiting reduced neural, linguistic, and behavioral effort compared to peers who researched or used Google. Over time, they “got lazier with each subsequent essay,” frequently resorting to copy-and-paste, and underperformed overall.
Ginger Slashes Joint Pain and Inflammation in Just 8 Weeks.
A 2025 randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Nutrients tested the effects of 125 mg/day of a high-potency, fermented ginger extract (12.5 mg gingerols) over eight weeks in 30 men and women (average age 56) with mild to moderate joint or muscle pain. Participants on ginger reported less muscle pain after exercise, improved functional capacity, and lower overall stiffness.
Not Just Hot Flashes—Early Menopause Hides a Depression Epidemic.
A 2025 cross-sectional observational study of nearly 350 women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) revealed that almost 30% experienced depressive symptoms, far higher than the general population—highlighting a hidden mental health crisis linked to early menopause.