As a clinical measurement, body mass index or BMI has become increasingly under fire for its lack of flexibility at the individual-person level, calling into question whether BMI is even accurate. BMI has been an ever-present measurement in research, insurance, and clinical care—in some cases appropriately so, but not in others. Here is a summary of BMI’s power as a research tool and its drawbacks for individualized care.

Resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats per minute (bpm) while at complete rest—measured either when sitting or laying down for a period of several minutes. RHR is a metric that is a useful tool as a predictor of both overall health and fitness level. Here’s everything you need to know about a healthy resting heart rate.

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.