Hops and Rhodiola Rosea—As Discussed on Dr. Oz

Last week, Montel Williams was a guest on the Dr. Oz Show. As you may know, Montel is living—and thriving, actually—with multiple sclerosis (MS). His continued good health in spite of MS is due, in part, to his use of various health-supportive nutrients. (Healthy diet and regular exercise are also crucial components to his health.) He discussed a lot of his secrets to good health with Dr. Oz, and I was really glad to see him mention two of my favorite nutrients: hops and Rhodiola rosea. Let me tell you why I am such a huge proponent of these two nutrients.

Hops is not only a natural relaxant, but it also has great potential in helping to reduce inflammation in the body. I especially like a hops extract called Perluxan, which is a unique botanical extract derived from the climbing hops vine native to North America. It has been studied for its effects on inflammation, and the results are impressive. In one study of Perluxan for the relief of osteoarthritis of the knee, 1 gram of the nutrient provided significant improvement in pain while walking on a flat surface. The same dosage also improved mean pain relief for the participants while in bed, sitting, or lying and walking on a flat surface. 

The herb Rhodiola is an adaptogen—a plant that has a balancing effect on the body. And when it comes to preserving energy levels, I think Rhodiola is excellent.

Russian research has found that Rhodiola wasn’t just effective for treating a long list of ailments, it also could alleviate the psychological stress and physical stressors from things like fatigue, trauma, toxin exposure, temperature extremes, infections, and sleep deprivation.

By modulating various stress-related hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, Rhodiola increases energy levels and improves physical performance and stamina. And, through the production and release of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and choline, it improves attention, memory, and other cognitive functions, while helping with depression and anxiety disorders.

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