Reflections from a holistic health summit: hydrogen, postbiotics and staying curious

Our takeaways

We recently spent a day at the Health Optimisation Summit, held on 12 and 13 September 2026, listening to speakers talk about therapeutic approaches to supporting the body, wellbeing and longevity. Many of the speakers were neuroscientists and respiratory doctors from America, and what struck us most was how curious and open the room felt.

A moment between talks at the Health Optimisation Summit.

As practitioners, we came away with a few simple thoughts. Wellbeing is rarely about one thing. Good questions matter more than quick answers. And it is worth staying curious about new ideas while keeping a healthy respect for the evidence behind them.

Our work at Nua is rooted in healthcare, so we are used to asking what is known, what is still being studied and what is simply interesting. A day like this is a good reminder to hold all three in mind at once. It was also lovely to be among people who care about the same big question we do: how can we help people feel well for longer?

We also left with a list of topics we want to understand better, and postbiotics is one we will return to below. It was not the thing that sat right at the top for us, though. What stayed with us most was the amazing singing sound therapy session we had, the talk from Dr Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, and the five V's of thriving.

What the speakers shared

Several speakers expressed the view that some of these approaches could become standard practice within the next ten years. That was their prediction, and it is worth hearing as exactly that. Nobody can say for certain how research and healthcare will develop.

Three talks stood out for us.

Dr Tyler LeBaron spoke about molecular hydrogen, sometimes called hydrogen therapy, in relation to energy, inflammation, recovery and brain fog. Dr LeBaron is a researcher in this field and founder of the Molecular Hydrogen Institute. As he presented it, hydrogen is being explored for how it may interact with the body's responses to oxidative stress and inflammation. We are noting it here as what was shared, not as advice.

Alastair Jessel spoke about prebiotics and postbiotics. Alastair is a British entrepreneur and holistic health practitioner, and the founder of The Postbiotic Company. He talked about the gut and the different ways the microbiome is being looked at, and he referred to Japanese studies in this area.

Dr Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, also gave a talk that stood out for us, including the five V's of thriving.

The five V's of thriving

In Dr Judith Joseph's talk, a slide set out a framework called the 5 V's of Thriving. As shown on the slide, it goes like this:

• Validation: acknowledge how you are feeling and be honest with yourself about the state of your mental health.

• Venting: open up about your burdens with the people who support you and express how you are feeling. Vent in authentic ways.

• Values: do not lose sight of your mission and morals, and do not get caught up in the analytics.

• Vitals: prioritise a healthy lifestyle, with daily nutritious food, movement, healthy relationships, healthy tech habits and good sleep.

• Vision: do not be stuck in the past. Celebrate your wins, be present with your friends and loved ones, and make plans you look forward to.

For us, these felt like a gentle, practical way to check in with ourselves.

We also heard talks from Wim Hof, who is publicly known for breathing and cold exposure practices, and Bear Grylls, known for survival and outdoor adventure. It was very interesting listening to them all, although we did not stay for the whole of each talk.

Two speakers on stage at the Health Optimisation Summit.

If you were at the summit too, feel free to ask us about the day.

Postbiotics in plain English

Postbiotics were new to us, so here is how we understand the family of terms so far.

Prebiotics are types of fibre and other ingredients that feed the helpful bacteria already living in your gut. Probiotics are live bacteria, taken in foods or supplements, that are intended to support the gut. Synbiotics combine the two. Postbiotics are different again.

The scientific definition, agreed by an expert panel at the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) in 2021, describes a postbiotic as a preparation of inanimate (non-living) microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host. In everyday terms, think of bacteria that have been inactivated, or parts of them, rather than live ones. ISAPP also stresses that any health benefit has to be shown for the specific product in the group of people who use it.

As far as we can tell, the idea has roots in Japan, where Professor Tomotari Mitsuoka used the term biogenics for beneficial food ingredients made from or by bacteria that are not alive. As far as we can tell, one possible appeal of non-living preparations is that they do not have to survive the journey through the gut as live organisms. We would like to read much more before saying anything firmer.

A note on animal studies. Some of the Japanese research discussed in this area relates to farm animals. Mentioning it is simply about the science of the gut. It is not an opinion on, or an endorsement of, any animal welfare practices.

What the research says so far

This is the part we think matters most, so we want to be straightforward about it.

Molecular hydrogen research is at an early stage. Much of it involves small studies, results vary, and it is not an established clinical standard. Nothing we heard should be read as a claim that it treats or improves any condition.

Evidence for prebiotics and probiotics is mixed and depends on what they are used for. Postbiotics are an emerging field, with ongoing debate about definitions and how products should be tested.

Speakers at events like this are often researchers who also have an interest in the field. We think the healthiest response is interest, plus a willingness to check things for ourselves.

What we want to learn next

We would like to understand how postbiotics are defined and tested, and what good quality research in this area looks like. We want to learn how a product made of non-living bacteria differs from a probiotic, and how the Japanese work fits into the wider picture.

We are also curious about the gaps: who has been studied, for how long, and what has not been looked at yet. If we find anything solid, we will share it here.

A note from us

This post is for general interest and is not medical advice. If you are thinking about changing your health routine, please speak to your GP or a qualified clinician first.

Nathaniel, Founder of Nua Sound Therapy / Sound & Energy Healing Practitioner, offers 1:1 sound sessions, group sound sessions and wellbeing for organisations. His work is shaped by over 14 years of healthcare experience as an HCPC registered paramedic and an IAST qualified holistic sound practitioner. Sound sessions are a space to rest and be still, and no outcomes are promised. If you would like to know more, send a message or use the enquiry form on our website.