Ever wondered why you were told to drink a cup of tea before bed to help you relax? Tea isn't just a good source of antioxidants—it also contains a unique amino acid, L-theanine, which has received recent attention for claimed “stress-reducing” effects.[1]  And though many "stress-reducing" supplements have come to market to combat the recent rise in societal stress, many don't live up to their claims. So what makes L-theanine different? Is L-theanine safe and effective to take to relieve ...

A new study finds that consuming chocolate may positively affect blood sugar and other health markers.[1] So, what’s the key to chocolate’s health benefits? Researchers chalk them up to a favorable nutrient profile and, surprisingly, the time of day the chocolate is consumed. 

Certain dietary patterns like intermittent fasting, beverages like coffee and green tea, and even playing brain games can all help slow the onset of the aging process (click to read more about those here). But what about the impact of supplements? Almost any vitamin, mineral, or bioactive compound (like phytonutrients) can be isolated into a supplemental form. And it’s enticing to believe that healthy choices can be simplified down to taking a pill, powder, or capsule, especially when many ...

Being in the information era, various "health and wellness" trends have taken off in popularity thanks to the reach of social media. This boom has resulted in widely-held (but scientifically-inaccurate) beliefs on the effects of various foods, compounds, and supplements on health. Though lectins, apple cider vinegar, bone broth, collagen, and biotin have all become web buzzwords, only a few have scientific evidence backing the common claims about them.

Research surrounding the gut microbiome and its impact on the body’s systems has taken off in recent years. And all this time, we've been stealthily collecting the evidence and preparing it for InsideTracker's algorithms, waiting for the day that the evidence base got strong enough to meet the high scientific requirement for the InsideTracker system. Finally, the day is here! Gut health research now meets InsideTracker's rigorous scientific criteria, and we can now give action-backed ...

Dietary supplements are extremely popular, and multivitamins can seem particularly appealing for their potential to cover multiple possible nutritional issues. But do you really need supplements? Do multivitamins actually help? Should you take a multivitamin every day? Contrary to common marketing practices, we do not believe that multivitamins are a worthwhile expense, as they can be (at best) a waste of money or (at worst) cause dangerous nutrient toxicities.

It's here. It's arrived—the new InsideTracker mobile app. After years of spirited debates, thousands of hours of scientific research, and countless iterations of designs, we are very proud to announce the achievement of a significant milestone for InsideTracker - the launch of our new iOS mobile app.   Now, InsideTracker customers can experience a new pinnacle of potential, personalization, and performance from your ultra-personalized nutrition system. With this first of its kind, ...

We know that sex hormones fluctuate substantially throughout the menstrual cycle, but are other blood biomarkers influenced by your period, too? Yes—research shows that many blood biomarkers (including those in your iron, lipid, and inflammation groups) can vary substantially according to menstrual cycle phase. And these fluctuations can have important implications when interpreting blood test results. In general, it's best practice to get blood tests done at the same point in your menstrual ...