Latest news with #DarshanShah
Vogue
16-05-2025
- Health
- Vogue
The Best Infrared Sauna Blankets for Improved Recovery—And Full-Body Detox
Infrared sauna blankets offer a type of heat therapy, which is generally thought to offer a number of benefits. 'In addition to warming the body/increasing core temperature, infrared sauna blankets can also help to stimulate tissue, contributing to improved blood and oxygen flow and increased muscle relaxation. Infrared sauna blankets may also activate cellular processes and activity, such as protein synthesis, detoxification, and/or immune responses from white blood cells,' says Dr. Connor. That said, there is still very limited research about these blankets and their efficacy. In theory, the benefits should be similar to other forms of heat therapy, however, there isn't currently enough evidence to know for sure. 'It's very subjective, and everyone who does this has to try the blanket and see if it's working for them,' says Darshan Shah, MD, a health and wellness specialist and board-certified surgeon. 'Some people can have no benefit, and some people can can see benefits, and it just depends how each individual reacts to it, because we don't have large scale studies for red blankets, there's no way to know for sure how many people it's helping as far as longevity.' Still, if you are using the sauna blanket safely (considering time, temperature, proper hydration, consulting with your doctor before, listening to your body) and you feel good after using it, then it can be a great addition to any wellness routine. Just know that researchers are still determining their true health potential.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
US doctor reacts to woman dropping from 120 kg to 78 kg, reveals 2 things that helped her drastic weight loss
Dr Darshan Shah, a US-based neurologist and surgeon specialising in electrodiagnostic medicine, shared an Instagram video on May 12 highlighting how strength training and adequate protein intake are crucial for both muscle gain and weight loss. He was reacting to a woman's impressive 47 kg weight loss. Also read | Woman who lost 17 kg reveals these 3 high protein Indian vegetarian breakfast recipes helped her drastic weight loss In the video he posted, Dr Shah re-shared before and after videos of the woman, who dropped from 120 kg to 78 kg. He warned people against using weight loss drugs and asked them to try strength training and increasing their protein intake instead to not just lose the extra kilos but also gain muscle. According to him, 'lifting weights for just 45 minutes' three days a week and 'eating your goal body weight in grams of protein daily' can support weight loss by increasing metabolism, building muscle mass, and improving body composition. A post shared by Darshan Shah, MD (@darshanshahmd) He said, 'I don't know exactly how she lost the weight, but as a longevity expert, I can tell you this that the muscle she built tells me she prioritised two things — strength training and adequate protein intake.' Dr Shah went on to explain: 'If you're lifting weights for just 45 minutes, three times a week, getting 10,000 steps on your non-lifting days, and eating your goal body weight in grams of protein daily — yes, it's possible to lose weight and change your body without GLP-1s. Before jumping into your next diet — or reaching for Ozempic — try these three habits consistently for six months. You might be surprised by what your body can do when it's supported properly.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Business Insider
05-05-2025
- Health
- Business Insider
6 supplements a longevity doctor who lost 50 pounds takes every day
A doctor who owns a longevity clinic and does experimental treatments to try to live longer shared six of the supplements he takes every day. In 2016, Dr. Darshan Shah, 52, founded Next Health, which now has locations in the US and Dubai. Shah told Business Insider he improved his own lifestyle 10 years ago when he had his first child and feared he wouldn't live to see him grow up. As well as focusing on eating healthily, exercising, and sleeping more, he takes multiple daily supplements. "I'm a believer in supplementation, but you have to be very careful," Shah said. "There are so many supplements out there that people take that don't have a lot of good research behind them." Dietitians recommend getting nutrients from food rather than supplements. But supplements can be useful for those with specific deficiencies or health goals — including those who use them as an experimental longevity treatment. Shah gets a blood test every four months to check his vitamin levels and whether he needs to take the same supplements, because "deficiencies come and go," he said. He recommends others get tested before taking supplements, too. "And make sure that you are buying good quality supplements and that you're working with a practitioner who is very familiar with supplements — they can help you sort through what's going to work for you," he said. Here are six of the daily supplements Shah takes and why. Vitamin D3 vitamin D3. D3 is a form of vitamin D that is easy for the body to absorb. It supports the immune system and helps the body absorb calcium, which is important for bone health among other things. Many doctors, longevity investors, and biohackers take vitamin D because research suggests it can help reduce inflammation and the risk of broken bones and cancer, BI's health correspondent, Hilary Brueck, previously reported. Vitamin D is also widely recommended for those who live in the Northern hemisphere, who won't always get enough from the sun. Methylated B vitamins Shah has a gene called MTHFR, which means his body doesn't easily process B vitamins. So, he takes methylated B vitamins, which are more easily absorbed by the body than other forms. There are eight B vitamins, most of which help the body turn food into energy. Vitamin B12, for example, helps form red blood cells and supports healthy hair, skin, and nails. Research has also linked it to better mood and the prevention of dementia, although this isn't confirmed. Nicotinamide riboside Nicotinamide riboside is a type of vitamin B3. It helps the body produce an enzyme called NAD, which is necessary for cells to generate energy. It also helps repair DNA, maintain tissue health, and improve immune function. As we age, our bodies become less efficient at producing NAD. Supplementing with nicotinamide riboside to aid this process has become a buzzy longevity treatment, Brueck previously reported. It's important to note that the research is still in its early stages and has mostly been done on rodents rather than humans. But it's generally regarded as safe, and one 2022 review of research, published in the journal Nutrients, suggested it had promise for extending health and life span. Omega-3 supplements Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish such as salmon, walnuts, and chia seeds, have been linked to better heart and joint health, lower inflammation, and lower blood pressure. Omega-3 supplements are usually made from fish or algae oil — but it's unclear whether they carry the same benefits as eating foods that are naturally high in the acids. A study on 777 participants, published in the journal Nature Aging earlier this year, found that adults with an average age of 75 who consumed a gram of omega-3s every day had lower "biological ages" than those who didn't. Biological age refers to the health of cells, organs, and tissues as opposed to chronological age. Participants were on average three to four months younger than their actual age by the end of the three-year study. Ashwagandha Ashwagandha is a herbal supplement used in Ayurvedic medicine. It's an adaptogen, which is a plant substance believed to help reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Multiple studies evaluated by the US Office of Dietary Supplements suggest that ashwagandha could help reduce stress and anxiety levels, sleeplessness, and fatigue. However, the effects of different types and doses of ashwagandha supplements are unclear. Existing studies have used different parts of the plant (for example, extracts from roots vs leaves), and most looked at its effects when used in traditional medicine, not as a dietary supplement. Mushroom blend Every morning, Shah drinks coffee that is blended with "functional" mushroom extracts, specifically lion's mane and chaga mushrooms. Lion's mane and chaga are adaptogens, like ashwagandha. A 2024 review of research, published in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, suggested that lion's mane could help reduce anxiety and sleep disturbance. It's important to note that most of these findings come from studies on older people who took the mushroom for a long time at high doses, the researchers wrote, so the results might not apply to the wider population. Meanwhile, a 2023 review published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology found the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of chaga mushrooms could protect against cell damage. But the researchers said more research is needed to confirm the potential effects of chaga and its usefulness as a dietary supplement.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A longevity doctor lost 50 pounds because he worried he wouldn't see his son grow up. He made 4 simple lifestyle changes.
When Dr. Darshan Shah was expecting his first child, he was stressed and overweight. He feared he wouldn't see his son grow up if he didn't make lifestyle changes. He lost 50 pounds and came off medications after making lifestyle changes including improving his diet. At 42, Dr. Darshan Shah was used to being stressed. As a successful surgeon based in Los Angeles, he had spent 20 years regularly working 12-hour days, starting at 6 a.m. But when his wife got pregnant with their first child in 2016, he realized he needed to make a change to be healthier. "I found myself in a state of poor health. I had developed an autoimmune disease, I was 50 pounds overweight, I had high blood pressure that could not be controlled with medication, I had high cholesterol, and lots of risk factors for an early death," Shah, 52, told Business Insider. "But my son had a long life ahead of him, and I wanted to be around for it." Shah took a year off from being a surgeon and began researching the science behind long-term health. "I was able to completely turn my health around and completely come off 10 different prescription medications within a year. I lost 50 pounds, and my autoimmune disease completely disappeared," he said. His focus improved at work, too, and he found that he was no longer tired. Instead, he "wanted to wake up every morning and jump out of bed to attack the day." Shah's transformation made him realize this was the type of medicine he wanted to practice — helping people get and stay healthy rather than just addressing medical issues as they arise. In 2016, he founded Next Health, a health optimization and longevity clinic with locations across the US and in Dubai. Now, Shah does experimental longevity treatments at his clinics, but he still thinks that getting the basics right, as he did, is key for a long, healthy life. He told BI the lifestyle changes he made. "My nutrition was horrible. I was eating a lot of ultra-processed food, especially highly processed carbohydrates," Shah said, so he eliminated them from his diet. Evidence suggests that UPFs are associated with a range of health problems. In a 2024 metareview of 45 studies involving over 9.8 million people published in the journal The BMJ, UPFs were linked to cardiovascular disease, depression, and type 2 diabetes. Researchers don't agree on whether all UPFs are equally harmful, so nutritionists advise eating fewer without stressing about quitting them. Before his son was born, Shah said he "barely slept four hours a night." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that adults between the ages of 18 and 60 get seven or more hours of sleep a night. Not getting enough sleep can be harmful. A 2022 study conducted on over 10,000 British civil service workers found that participants who reported getting less than five hours of sleep a night at the age of 50 had a higher risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and dying from long-term health conditions. Getting enough sleep is also associated with eating fewer calories. Now, Shah sleeps for seven hours a night and says he feels amazing. Shah sees exercise as an essential part of a "good health routine," and doing a mixture of strength training and cardio has been linked to living longer. He goes to the gym every other day to do a routine that is 70% strength training using free weights, and 30% cardio, for which he runs on a treadmill — plus some stretching to warm up. Shah also tries to get up and move every 45 minutes when he's at work to break up periods of sitting. "They say that sitting is the new smoking, and I think that's true," Shah said. "As a surgeon, you spend a lot of time either standing or sitting in one position, and that sedentary non-movement leads to a high risk of disease." While research shows that sitting for longer than 10 hours a day is associated with a higher risk of dying early, a 2023 study of about 12,000 people over the age of 50, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggests a solution. It found that 22 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day — such as doing housework, brisk walking, or cycling — appeared to offset the negative effects of being sedentary all day. "I had no idea that my hormones were in the toilet. But when I measured my testosterone level, it was very low for a 42-year-old male," Shah said. Low testosterone can cause symptoms such as a reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, low moods, and increased body fat, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Shah used hormone replacement therapy and increased his testosterone levels to a range considered normal. The lifestyle changes he made may also have helped. According to Cleveland Clinic, eating a healthy diet, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding excessive alcohol and drug use can help to keep testosterone levels normal. As BI previously reported, once considered taboo, growing numbers of men are doing testosterone replacement therapy without an official diagnosis of "low testosterone," to help them build muscle, get erections, and have more energy. However, it's unclear whether it is beneficial for young, healthy men, and side effects can include acne, hair loss, and infertility. Read the original article on Business Insider
Associated Press
21-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Vitaboom and GetHealthy Announce Partnership to Revolutionize Practitioner-Driven Supplement Protocols
RICHMOND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 21, 2025-- GetHealthy, a leading e-commerce platform for integrative health practitioners, has partnered with Vitaboom, a trailblazer in personalized supplement packaging, to enhance the way practitioners create and deliver supplement protocols to their clients. Through this collaboration, Vitaboom's innovative technology will now be available on the GetHealthy practitioner portal, empowering practitioners to build customized supplement protocol packs tailored to their clients' unique needs. A Seamless Solution for Practitioners This partnership addresses a growing need among integrative health practitioners for tools that simplify supplement recommendations while elevating the client experience. By integrating Vitaboom's capabilities, GetHealthy users can: Easily build custom supplement protocols in just a few clicks. Create private labeled, branded pill packs, reinforcing their practice's identity. Provide clients with daily-dosed, travel-friendly packets for convenience and compliance. Access over 40+ professional-grade supplement brands. Simplifying Health for Clients For clients, this partnership ensures an effortless way to follow supplement regimens. Clients receive pre-portioned, daily packets containing everything they need for the month. Subscription based Pill Packs have been shown to increase patient compliance and lead to better health outcomes. Leadership Quotes 'We're thrilled to partner with Vitaboom to offer practitioners an even more powerful tool to customize and elevate their client care,' said Jon Armstrong, CEO of GetHealthy. 'This integration simplifies the process of creating personalized protocols while helping clients stay on track with their wellness goals.' 'This collaboration is a game-changer for practitioners looking to scale their impact while providing an exceptional, branded experience for their clients,' added Dr. Darshan Shah, Founder and CEO of Vitaboom. 'Together, we're making personalized wellness easier and more accessible than ever.' About GetHealthy GetHealthy, founded by Jon Armstrong, is a trusted e-commerce platform designed for integrative health practitioners, offering a wide range of professional-grade supplements, wellness products, and tools to help thousands of practitioners grow their businesses and better serve their clients. Learn more at CONTACT: GetHealthy Media Contact: Courtney Belle Marketing Director [email protected] Media Contact: Debra Wolf SOURCE: Vitaboom Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 02/21/2025 06:00 AM/DISC: 02/21/2025 06:02 AM
