Weight Loss Tips

Friday, September 25, 2026

Adaptogens, Botanicals, and Boosters: Which Products Actually Deliver? | Nutrition Diva LIVE in NYC!

Adaptogens, Botanicals, and Boosters: Which Products Actually Deliver? | Nutrition Diva LIVE in NYC!

In this special live episode, recorded at the Drinks with Benefits alcohol-free festival in New York City—brought to you in partnership with Liquid I.V.—host Monica Reinagel dives into the fascinating world of functional beverages to separate scientific fact from clever marketing.

Monica explains exactly what you should look for on a label, how much of an active ingredient you actually need to see results, and why a sprinkle of "mushroom dust" doesn't necessarily make a beverage functional.

This episode explores the real evidence behind today's trendiest drink categories, including:

Adaptogens: How ingredients like ashwagandha affect stress resilience and why daily consistency matters.
Nootropics: The truth about mushroom coffee blends, and the powerful, jitter-free cognitive focus created by combining L-theanine and caffeine.
Sleep Aids: Why timing is everything for melatonin, and the current evidence for valerian root and magnesium.
Immune Support: The effectiveness of high-dose vitamin C, elderberry, specific probiotic strains, and medicinal mushrooms like reishi and turkey tail.

Not all functional drinks are created equal, but Liquid I.V. is a perfect example of formulation done right. Their hydration multipliers are clinically proven to hydrate you more efficiently than plain water alone. As discussed in the show, their Sugar-Free Lime Energy Multiplier perfectly balances 100mg of caffeine with 200mg of L-theanine to give you sharp focus and mental clarity without the jitters.

💧 Listener Perk: Use code 2026ND for 20% off your first order at liquidiv.com

A big thank you to our event partners for making this night possible:

🎉 Drinks with Benefits, for hosting this incredible alcohol-free festival

🍋 Liquid I.V., for bringing the clinically proven hydration and providing amazing White Peach and Lime Margarita mocktails for our live audience

Presented by Liquid I.V. @liquidiv #paidpartner

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

* This article was originally published here

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Five tips to get arms like Tony Blair’s in your 70s - The Telegraph

Five tips to get arms like Tony Blair’s in your 70s The Telegraph

* This article was originally published here

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

What does creatine actually do for muscle, brain, and sleep?

881. Bodybuilders have been taking creatine for decades, and its effects on strength and muscle mass are well established. Lately it's also being sold for brain health, better sleep, and menopause. The evidence on those newer claims is a lot thinner, but it isn't nothing.

Creatine is stored mostly in your muscles, where it powers short bursts of high-intensity effort. Your body makes some of it, and you get the rest from meat and fish, which is why vegans tend to run lower. Stores also decline with age as muscle mass drops.

Monica walks through what the research actually shows, including her own experiment with creatine supplementation:

Why creatine doesn't build muscle directly, and what it does instead
The 2 to 5 pounds of water weight most people gain in the first few weeks, and why it isn't the kind you'd notice in your jeans
What a 2025 meta-analysis found about creatine, resistance training, and strength in adults over 50, and why the training group eventually caught up
The sleep-deprivation studies, where a single large dose measurably improved memory and processing speed for up to nine hours
Why women may respond differently than men
What the cognition research in older adults does and doesn't support
Whether creatine is hard on your kidneys, and what that creatinine bump on your bloodwork really means
Loading doses versus starting straight at maintenance

New to Nutrition Diva? Check out our special Spotify playlist for a collection of the best episodes curated by our team and Monica herself!

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Find out about Monica's keynotes and other programs at WellnessWorksHere.com

Nutrition Diva is a part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.

References

Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation | Scientific Reports

Single-Dose Creatine Reduces Sleep Deprivation-Induced Deterioration in Cognitive Performance

Creatine and Cognition in Aging: A Systematic Review of Evidence in Older Adults | Nutrition Reviews | Oxford Academic

The impact of creatine supplementation associated with resistance training on muscular strength and lean tissue mass in the aged: a systematic review and meta-analysis | European Review of Aging and Physical Activity | Springer Nature Link

Creatine in women’s health: bridging the gap from menstruation through pregnancy to menopause - PMC

Creatine Improves Total Sleep Duration Following Resistance Training Days versus Non-Resistance Training Days among Naturally Menstruating Females

Impact of creatine supplementation on menopausal women’s body composition, cognition, estrogen, strength, and sleep: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: Vol 22, No sup1