Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

The common condition accelerating Alzheimer’s

More than a blood sugar problem, T2D can set you on the road to cognitive decline by kickstarting mild cognitive impairment, a transitional phase from cognitive changes in normal aging to those typically found in dementia.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Need an excuse to clean your tongue? Try these alarming conditions

You brush and floss, but do you scrape your tongue? One reason for this practice is to get rid of smelly bacteria that cause bad breath. Another is to keep ahead of conditions that steal your health.

Margaret Cantwell

Cordyceps: Superfood or Brain-hijacking ‘zombie’ fungus

Mushrooms are potent botanicals. And at the moment, one fungus in particular is trending: Cordyceps. You should know about its history with (hopefully, not the last of) us, and the fungus that’s made the jump from soil to humans…

Joyce Hollman

What vitamin C can do for pancreatic cancer

Some cancers are especially cruel, like pancreatic cancer. It’s hard to detect and can progress rapidly. But a treatment added to standard chemotherapy, could double the life expectancy for those facing this challenge…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The warning men get 10 years before their brain shrinks

While we all face risk factors that could steal our brain health, men need to start paying attention to them an entire decade earlier than women. For one brain threat, in particular, men’s vulnerability is greater, begins sooner and lasts longer…

Joyce Hollman

The snack swap that takes cholesterol down

Eating lots of fiber and doing lots of exercise can help lower cholesterol — an important measure to avoid metabolic syndrome, stroke and heart attack. But a simple nutty snack swap could work just as well…

Carolyn Gretton

The herbal compound that could reverse Alzheimer’s

Lifestyle factors help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. But once you have it, there’s precious little that can help. Or so we thought. Meet the herb research says slowed decline and turned brains back to normal…

Joyce Hollman

The condition you won’t find in a long-lived family tree

Do you get leg cramps when you walk even a short distance? Do your legs feel heavy, numb, or weak? Don’t write these symptoms off as arthritis or “getting older.” It could be the reason your family gets short-changed when it comes to longevity.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The longlasting harm of brief glyphosate exposure

Glyphosate, the herbicide made famous by Roundup®, opened up a Pandora’s Box. It’s not in the news much, but it’s still a threat. That’s because even when exposed to a little, research shows it hangs around harming the brain…

Joyce Hollman

Sugary drinks linked to rising rates of oral cancer

Research has found clear links between sugary drinks and accelerated aging, diabetes and heart disease. Now, the popular drinks look to be outpacing smoking and alcohol in contributing to oral cancer…

Carolyn Gretton

The overlooked menopause symptom stealing your energy

During menopause, most women experience a new level of fatigue. There are a lot of reasons why, including hot flashes, sleep problems, pain and depression, to name a few. But a common culprit is often overlooked…

Joyce Hollman

Balance this organ to balance your stress response

Sleep is only one process your body clock handles. Stress response is another. If your stress response feels out of control, research has discovered how you can balance it by doing the same with an organ critical for regulating stress hormone secretion…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Are plant-based milks all they’re cracked up to be?

Plant-based diets are linked to better health, longevity and healthier body weight. But a close look at the nutritional value of plant-based milk and the process of making it that may bring cancer into the mix, begs this question…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Sleep apnea’s dementia double threat for women

Two conditions that seem to have nothing in common may team up to increase dementia in women. They both steal sleep and starve the brain of oxygen. But 90% of women with one of the conditions go undiagnosed. Bet you can guess which one…

Jenny Smiechowski

5 health issues that cause muscle cramps

It’s not always easy to get to the bottom of mysterious muscle cramps. But if you pay attention to the signs you can most likely narrow it down to one of six common causes of cramping.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 nutraceuticals for natural migraine relief

Most of my life I’ve been one of the 40% that suffer from migraines. Some medications have helped, but often with difficult side effects. It’s good to know there are other choices…

Carolyn Gretton

Is your brain care score enough to beat dementia and stroke?

Lifestyle habits impact brain health. And now, that impact can be measured with a simple online test. But here’s the real question: if you’re genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, stroke or depression, can you change your brain care score to beat it?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Got 5 minutes? Lower your blood pressure

Managing blood pressure has its ups and downs. But when research tested this option on 14,700 volunteers, they had great news. If you’ve got 5 minutes a day you could have an easier time keeping those numbers down…

Carolyn Gretton

The fruity swap that beats back insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is a slow but steady road to chronic illness, starting with type 2 diabetes. You can sit back and do nothing or reach for the tasty fruit that beats back blood sugar trouble…

Joyce Hollman

The best processed foods for weight loss

If you find it hard to follow a whole foods diet, abhor frequent trips to the market for fresh produce and enjoy the convenience of processed food, I’ve found a deal for you: Processed foods that make the weight fall off…

Carolyn Gretton

Medications that can increase your skin cancer risk

I learned at a young age that my pale skin burns fast. So I have an arsenal of all the “right ways” to protect it. Imagine my dismay at discovering all the medications that could sabotage my efforts…

Carolyn Gretton

High blood pressure? Lower it and your dementia risk

It’s become increasingly clear that the health of your heart can affect the health of your brain. In fact, studies have found a link between high blood pressure and dementia. How much can you lower it to reduce your risk?

Carolyn Gretton

An over-the-counter medication activates cancer-protective genes

There are upsides and downsides to daily medication. Take aspirin. It may help prevent a heart attack, but for some, the risk of bleeding or stroke goes up. But, with care, there’s one disease where daily aspirin’s possible side effects may pale compared to its prevention potential…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This one thing reduces Alzheimer’s plaques by 76%

Research shows it can beat back heart disease, stroke and cancer, and even slow brain aging and reverse age-related brain shrinkage. So, should we even be surprised it significantly reduces amyloid plaques?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Wearable devices help predict IBD flare-ups

Unpredictability might be the worst thing about an inflammatory bowel condition. There are times when pain and diarrhea are more than inconvenient. What if you could predict your next flare-up weeks in advance?

Carolyn Gretton

Glaucoma joins growing list of statin side effects

Statins are prescribed to millions of people. However, the drugs are not without downsides, including pain and heightened risks for diabetes and dementia. Now, there’s evidence they may lead to a sight-stealing condition…

Joyce Hollman

Art by the numbers boosts seniors’ mental health

Older adults are at higher risk for depression. They can also fall victim to anxiety. You may have heard of paint by the numbers, but it’s art by the numbers that can give them the mental health boost they need…

Carolyn Gretton

What women should know about pelvic organ prolapse and UTI

Pelvic organ prolapse affects roughly half of all women to some degree. Surgery can relieve its impact on quality of life, but surgery alone may not be the answer to the frequent UTIs…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The heavy metal making your allergies worse

Living with allergies, you might think your miserable symptoms are something you’re stuck with. Hold on to your socks. If you’ve noticed they’re worse, it’s not your typical trigger…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Eat this food to see why you can’t go #2

Gut problems are often revealed by your transit time — the time it takes for food to pass through. Depending on yours, you may be straining on or running to the toilet. This at home test will help you figure out why…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The not-so-sweet stroke danger of two popular sweeteners

Low-calorie or no-calorie substitutes are often recommended, especially for people with cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. But more evidence about an increasing stroke and heart attack risk may have experts singing a different tune…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The seed that takes out disease-causing cells

Traditional seeds are making a comeback as people turn to options like quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and black cumin to avoid gluten, but benefits don’t end there. One such seed used in a medicinal Chinese liquor has been found to kickstart a process that helps rid disease-causing cells associated with Alzheimer’s and alcoholic liver disease…

Carolyn Gretton

Microplastics: From your gut to your kidneys, liver and brain

The dangers that microplastics present is no longer speculation. They’re in artery-clogging plaques and may cross the blood-brain barrier. Now it appears the gut may be an open door to how they wreak even more havoc on the human body…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 supplements that put the brakes on late-stage AMD

Age-related macular degeneration will strike around one in three of us by age 75. With no cure, slowing progession has been the best hope, except for those already in late AMD, the vision-threatening stage. But a second look at a group of supplements says otherwise…

Joyce Hollman

The 8-week diet proven to slow aging

Making a diet change is a big commitment. But there’s one diet that appears to confer substantial anti-aging benefits, even when followed for just a matter of weeks. This may be the nudge you need to give it a try and slow your rate of aging in the process…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Fat burning ‘default’ switch?

What’s the difference in white, brown and beige fat cells? Beige cells burn energy (calories) and your body can be coaxed to produce them throughout your lifetime. Even better, scientists say a switch could turn hard-to-get-rid-of white fat cells to beige for a fat-burning metabolism…

Joyce Hollman

Accelerated aging: the downside of sugar you can slow

Over the years I’ve shared sugar’s unsweet impact, from heart disease to aggressive tumors. The fact it cuts life short is no surprise. But the discovery that it can undermine our healthiest efforts makes understanding how it hurts us all the more compelling…

Carolyn Gretton

What facial exercise can and can’t do for these signs of aging

Even with a positive attitude about aging, many of us struggle with the signs we see in the mirror and the desire to put our best face forward. Botox and fillers work, but they’re invasive, costly and temporary. What about those face exercises you’ve been hearing so much about?

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The effects of probiotics on cholesterol levels

Probiotics have been linked to various health benefits, including enhanced immune function, reduced inflammation, and most notably, improved gastrointestinal health. But what can they do for your heart health? Let’s start with cholesterol…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Feel like your body fell apart after 40? Here’s why

If you’ve ever felt like your body is breaking down all at once, you’re not wrong. Researchers have found the aging process isn’t that gradual. We’re hit particularly hard during two specific times in our lives. Here’s when and a tip on avoiding the worst of it…

Joyce Hollman

Orange peel extract: Natural heart disease prevention

People with higher levels of TMAO in their blood may have more than twice the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular problems. And when we eat a juicy orange, we’re throwing away the part that can inhibit this dangerous enzyme…

Carolyn Gretton

3 foods to take down blood sugar, blood pressure and weight

Few of us eat the recommended eight to 10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and it’s bringing our health down as a nation. Easy fix. Focus on just three: one you can drink and the other two only require one serving a day…

Joyce Hollman

Stopping ‘recurring loop of infection’ can end chronic UTI

Want to make a woman cringe? Just mention urinary tract infection. For the really unfortunate, UTIs can become a chronic problem, recurring over and over. Finally, they’ve figured out why that happens: Doctors have only been treating one body part responsible for harboring the virulent bacteria…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Olive oil: The easy antidote for a high-fat diet

We all know that eating greasy, high fat foods, like burgers with fries and a milk shake, aren’t good for us and can lead to health problems, like fatty liver disease. But, what if you could enjoy these foods and still remain healthy?

Carolyn Gretton

7-decade study reveals lifetime of diet on dementia risk

Cognitive performance can keep improving well into middle age, but typically begins to decline after the age of 65. And severe conditions such as dementia can develop alongside these aging-related declines. 70 years says there’s one sure fire way to avoid them…

Carolyn Gretton

Explained: How a high-fat diet fuels anxiety

If you tend to eat when you’re anxious, you probably go straight for your favorite junk foods hoping to feel better. But in reality, you’re fueling a vicious cycle of anxiety that starts in your gut and travels a superhighway to your brain…

Joyce Hollman

The changes that happen when you eat less red and processed meat

So, you’ve gotten the message loud and clear, and are ready to reduce the amount of meat you eat. What changes could you expect to see? How would your health improve? And just how much do you have to give up? If you need those answers to take the dive, read on…

Easy Health Options Staff

Another spice-related recall for lead contamination

Cinnamon is in the news again as yet another recall for a lead-contaminated brand has recently affected a few states. Here are the details you need to keep safe, and news you need to know about spices as a growing heavy metal health threat…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Carbs aren’t the only macronutrient with an impact on blood sugar

If you’ve been ditching the bread, pasta and grains in order to keep your insulin in check, you might be missing some important information. It turns out two other macronutirents impact blood sugar in ways never before characterized by science…

Joyce Hollman

Are these foods behind your chronic insomnia?

Stress, pain, bathroom trips, frequent screen time and irregular sleep habits can add up to occassional sleeplessness. Chronic insomnia, where sleep is elusive night after night can be maddening. But a growing connection means a simple solution may be in reach…

Joyce Hollman

The most critical habit for keeping Alzheimer’s symptoms at bay

An “amyloid cascade” starts with an abnormal increase of β-amyloid protein in the brain, which triggers tau tangles. Memory and cognition can start to falter and, ultimately, Alzheimer’s can set in. But even with these brain changes, one thing can keep symptoms at bay…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This ‘living drug’ could be the real fountain of youth

No need to travel to Florida. New findings reveal the real fountain of youth is much closer to home. Tweaking our own T cells, immune system cells, is the start of what scientists are calling a “living drug” to halt the ravages of time…

Carolyn Gretton

Grow an indoor garden and watch your immune system flourish

Research has shown that gardening is good for your joints, longevity and stress levels. And those benefits come from the dirt. But there’s more… getting your hands dirty is tied to the healthy functioning of your immune system thanks to beneficial microbes.

Joyce Hollman

The viral heart risk that’s greatest for boomers

Liver problems are often serious. But some chronic liver conditions often go under the radar. That doesn’t mean they’re not doing damage, and not only to your liver. Even though they can affect anyone, if you’re a boomer like me, this is urgent for you…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Soak up the sun to ramp up your calorie-burning metabolism

Spending time in the sun isn’t just fun and recreational. It’s a great way to power up your health with the sunshine vitamin. But as if you needed one more reason, it turns out catching some rays has quite an advantageous effect on burning fat and calories…

Joyce Hollman

Why poor balance is a sure sign of a shorter life

If you don’t use it, you lose it as you age, specifically muscle strength and flexibility. But balance may not be something you give much thought to, at least not its impact on how long you live or how early you die. Here’s a test than can answer that for you…

Joyce Hollman

Memory problems: Validating Alzheimer’s first hint

Senior moments are the butt of jokes and over-50 birthday cards. But all joking aside, it’s time to get serious if you notice the first hints of a memory problem. It’s called subjective cognitive decline and could be key to slowing changes to your brain…

Carolyn Gretton

When weight loss is a sign to get checked for these cancers

Losing weight without trying may seem like the Holy Grail for anyone struggling to shed some excess pounds. However, unintentional weight loss may be an early sign of one of these developing cancers…

Joyce Hollman

Hidden food allergies and the link to heart damage

What if you had a food allergy to a common allergen, like milk, peanuts or shellfish, but it was mild enough that you had none of the typical symptoms? New findings say continuing to eat an offending food could cause heart damage that could shorten your life…

Joyce Hollman

For a happy liver and digestion, balance your bile

Bile produced by the liver helps digest fats and vitamins. But too much bile can be toxic to the liver and other organs. Here’s the run-down on what happens when there’s too much bile, and how you can keep things flowing smoothly.

«SPONSORED»