Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Craig Cooper

Best vegetables (and fruits) to protect your heart

It’s no secret that vegetables are good for your health… but exactly which are the best vegetables for your heart health — and why are they so beneficial? No worries… here are some rules to follow when cruising the grocery aisles.

Joyce Hollman

How to get (and stay) in shape after 50 without hurting yourself

As we get older, exercise becomes even more important than it was in our 20s and 30s. The tough part is that our bodies won’t, or shouldn’t, do the same things they did decades ago. We have to be more selective about the type of exercise we engage in.

Jenny Smiechowski

Are you taking a blood pressure medication linked to suicide?

Say you start taking a new blood pressure medication and suddenly feel nauseous and dizziness all the time. What would you do? Probably call your doctor. But if you’re suddenly feeling down or anxious, you may not immediately connect it to your blood pressure medication. Especially, if no one warned you…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Stress and sleeplessness triple risk for a hypertensive disaster

We’ve all heard high blood pressure called the “silent killer.” And, unfortunately, I’ve seen how deadly it can be in my own family. But, sometimes, it’s not just the hypertension you have to worry about… Two common factors can compound the threat to triple the risk of cardiovascular death.

Amanda Polden

The vitamin deficiency that makes type 2 diabetes 4x as dangerous

It’s easy to get conflicted about the importance of vitamins, especially when the mainstream tells us there’s no reason to supplement. But then a 20-year study comes out that proves for some, like diabetics, a simple deficiency could quadruple the risk of death from disease complications…

Jenny Smiechowski

This diet gets your gut health on track (and includes bread!)

Since I took a prolonged course of heavy-duty antibiotics several years ago, my gut has never been the same. Acid reflux, IBS — I’ve had all sorts of problems that impacted how I Iive my life. So I was excited to find a recent study revealed a diet that can improve gut health… even after it’s gone seriously awry.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Commonly used antibiotic linked to heart valve problems

With the season’s falling temperatures comes an increased risk for upper respiratory infections… If you find yourself coughing, sneezing or wheezing anytime soon and your doctor places an antibiotic prescription in your hands, make sure you’re not trading an infection for a heart problem…

Joyce Hollman

Pernicious anemia and other dangers of a B12 deficiency

It’s no exaggeration to say that Vitamin B12 is crucial to life. B12 helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. It also creates and regulates DNA. B12 is essential for proper nerve function. So a deficiency can leave you wide open for serious problems. Here’s how to avoid them…

Amanda Polden

Move over Manuka: New ‘medicinal’ honey discovered

Before the widespread use of modern-day antibiotics in the 1960s, honey was used around the world as a wound dressing. It’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties made it the perfect substance for treating wounds and skin infections.

Joyce Hollman

A glass of wine could help keep that sore throat away

As winter comes on, there’s good news for those of us who enjoy the occasional glass of wine, or even a nightly drink before dinner. Apparently, wine contains powerful antibacterial agents that could keep you clear of a sore throat and maybe even improve the results of your next dental visit…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to burn double the fat and control blood sugar

We all know that if we want to lose weight, slim down, and tone up, we have to do two things – watch what we eat and exercise. Yet too often, even when we stick to those two principles, it can be difficult to truly see much difference in a short amount of time.

Jenny Smiechowski

Is too much screen time making you age faster?

Electronics are so ingrained in our day-to-day, it’s hard to imagine life without them. But people who remember a pre-digital world, often wonder if being so plugged-in is harmful. A new study shows that the blue light from electronics may damage brain cells. But that’s not all… it could make you age faster too…

Amanda Polden

The complicated connection between dairy and prostate cancer

Dairy marketing has long convinced many of us that drinking a lot of milk is the express lane to strong bones. We’ve told that “milk does a body good.” Turns out, that may not only be false, but a downright dangerous statement that’s luring thousands of men to their early deaths.

Craig Cooper

12 health benefits of coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat, a fat long considered to be unhealthy. Yet coconut oil has been credited with a wide range of health benefits. What’s wrong with that picture? Here are 12 ways the research shows coconut oil can impact your health and wellness….

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The glitch in the French paradox

Since the early research on the French paradox, a lot of naysayers have come out of the woodwork to cast doubt on its validity. And they’re partly right: There was a glitch in the research concerning the correlations with red wine. But dismissing the French paradox completely would be a big mistake…

Easy Health Options Staff

Fighting Stigmas: Common disorders and why we should talk about them

Millions of Americans are so affected by health disorders that are so stigmatizing, they’re too afraid to get help. Many feel alone in their experience, so they don’t seek the treatments they need. Here are a few of the most commonly stigmatized health issues and tips on how to get help…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

At-home test measures risk of dying from heart disease or cancer

There are two things they say are 100 percent certain in life… death and taxes. And according to the CDC, in the U.S. you’re most likely to die from either heart disease or cancer. I can’t help you with your taxes, but there’s a way to measure your heart disease and cancer risk at home and do something about it…

Joyce Hollman

Why you may want a billing advocate on your side after a hospital stay

Being sick or in the hospital is hard enough, without having to figure out the bills that soon follow. Are you being overcharged? Did the doctor or hospital submit the charge to your insurance company? Is the insurance company paying what it should? Having someone in your corner makes a big difference.

Jenny Smiechowski

What the sugar you ate decades ago could be doing to you today

Ahhh… childhood… Cartoons. Games. Candy. Sugary cereals. It was a blast, wasn’t it? Well, that was then, and this is now: All of that stuff is still weighing down your (and my) health today. In fact, our childhood diets play a bigger role in our major health issues as adults than most of us ever realized…

Joyce Hollman

Heavy purse syndrome: How your favorite accessory is hurting you

Using your purse as a back-up plan, a place to throw things “just in case” they’re needed during the day, is a recipe for muscle and nerve damage. You’ve probably not thought about what that sort of load is doing to your body. Here are 8+ pains that it causes and how to avoid them…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Slow medicine and how it can improve your level of healthcare

Fast medicine is impersonal and cold. Patients are now just bits of standardized data. But the biggest casualty of fast medicine is the forgotten concept that if we remove the obstacles, the body can heal itself. That’s called slow medicine. Together, both ways of healing could optimize your health…

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

The cool (and beneficial) concept of chrononutrition and what it can do for you

The human body has a complex network of thousands or millions of clocks all over the body, all doing their own thing and all of which have to talk to each other and synchronize with each other. When that happens, health is good. A way to make all this work for you is called chrononutrition… and it’s easier than you’d think…

Jenny Smiechowski

The invisible factor that ages your memory an extra 10 years

You may have already hatched a plan to protect your memory as much as you can in these critical years. Mediterranean diet? Check. Daily power walks? Check. Sudoku book on your nightstand? Check. But there’s another factor influencing your memory, one you probably don’t realize you need to protect yourself against…

Joyce Hollman

What we’ve learned about coffee in the last 20 years

There’s a lot of research claiming to prove the health benefits of coffee. Some of those health claims have a good deal of solid research behind them, while others warrant further investigation. But after more than 20 years of research into coffee, there is one thing we know for sure that can keep you drinking, worry-free…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

8 cancers that underscore the importance of healthy BMI before midlife

We all know that being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of developing numerous diseases. But did you know your weight and your risk of cancer are inextricably linked? Not only that, but over 40 you’re at higher risk for certain cancers. The secret’s in your BMI. Here’s how to check your risk and lower it…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why these 3 herbs battle high blood pressure

Plants make potent medicine. Our ancient ancestors knew it. And modern scientists know it (why do you think most medications have their roots in plants?). Still, many folk remedies get written off as hogwash. That’s why it’s especially exciting when research can pinpoint the mechanism behind a plant’s medicinal power…

Joyce Hollman

When your bladder works overtime

Despite what many people think, an overactive bladder is not a natural or inevitable part of aging. It is a diagnosable condition that, while more likely with age, can occur at any age. If an overactive bladder is affecting your quality of life, check out your options — from botox to bladder training and more…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Metformin: Prescription against age and disease?

Metformin is a drug for treating diabetes. Like rapamycin that I wrote about last week, metformin has humble beginnings. It is derived from a kind of French lilac, reputedly used to treat diabetes-like conditions in medieval Europe.

Craig Cooper

Foods that help prevent Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease has no cure at this point. Does that mean you should sit back and only hope it doesn’t happen to you? That’s a big fat NO. There’s enough research on how to avoid the mind robber, starting with foods you should eat, those you shouldn’t and other helpful tips to live dementia-free…

Jenny Smiechowski

High doses of certain vitamins may put you at risk for hip fractures

A hip fracture is especially serious as you get older. It can mean a loss of mobility and even loss of life. People over 50 who fracture a hip have a much higher risk of death within ten years of their injury. Unfortunately, one certain B supplement can be problematic, especially for women…

Easy Health Options Staff

Pokémon Go reduces depression?

Lately, chances are you’ve come across hoards of teenagers and adults sitting together, staring at their phones. At first glance, it’d be easy to dismiss the groups as indulged millennials wasting their time, but the Pokémon Go app is actually being credited with something positive…

Kelley Martin

In the kitchen with Kelley: Healthy honey mustard sauce

What child doesn’t like to dunk or drown his food in condiments, dressings, dips and sauces? And let’s face it; we adults dip and dunk and smother our food, too. But more often than not, we compromise our health by doing so — because most condiments are made with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Peter Amen

Tips to stretch your vacation for all it’s worth

Many folks use a vacation in the summer to re-charge their health. But you may not be optimizing the benefits of your time off. It turns out there are a few tips you can follow before, during and after that can boost your vacation-related health benefits.

Dr. Mark Wiley

How to defeat MS fatigue

Everyone experiences a normal level of fatigue every day, be it from overwork, exercise, stress or just the length of a day’s activities. But for those suffering with multiple sclerosis (MS), fatigue seems to be a particularly tough hurdle to clear.

Jenny Smiechowski

12 early intervention Alzheimer’s warning signs

If you think a foggy memory is the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s, think again. There are other symptoms that can indicate your dementia risk well before your memory begins to slip, so you can do something about it.

Debra Atkinson

Is there an answer for cellulite after 50?

Is cellulite inevitable and are you stuck with it? No and no. However, cellulite does not discriminate and it can find anyone, athlete or couch potato. Your best cellulite solutions begin with a cellulite attack plan…

Jenny Smiechowski

80 percent of us do this deadly deed daily

There’s something nearly all of us are still doing that’s almost as bad as sucking down the old cancer sticks. And it’s more likely to kill you than having high blood pressure or high cholesterol if you don’t stop.

Craig Cooper

Is your job increasing your risk of prostatitis?

The work you do can have an impact on your risk of developing prostatitis. Based on information from the Urology Specialists of the Carolinas, the professions with the highest risk of prostatitis tend to include these three types of activity…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Do’s and don’ts for estrogen-positive breast cancer

Breast cancer comes in many variations. One of the primary factors in determining the type is the sensitivity of the tumor cells to estrogen. If a breast tumor is estrogen receptor-positive, estrogen transfers a message to the cells to grow. But we can minimize the activation of receptors a few ways….

Jenny Smiechowski

When omega-3s do more harm than good

Oxidation is a potential problem with all omega-3 sources, not just fish oil. That means your flax oil isn’t safe either. So watch for these tell-tell signs or choose the only omega-3 oil that’s relatively oxidation-proof…

Jenny Smiechowski

Insider advice: Don’t trade your bones for gold

Just when you thought medicine couldn’t get more expensive, there’s a new bank-breaking material slated for the next generation of knee and hip replacements — gold. But this vitamin is a better investment…

Dr. Mark Wiley

Best medicine for fibromyalgia pain is…

The age old advice for wellness is “diet and exercise” and it still holds strong to this day. With diet and exercise you can keep the muscles toned, the cardiovascular system in shape, maintain a healthy weight, and feel great.

Dr. Michael Cutler

Build muscle and lose weight with more protein

Patients often ask me what they should eat to lose weight. I point to healthy protein in instead of empty carbohydrates or unhealthy fats. Because of this, let me share in this article why dietary protein is …

Kelley Martin

In the kitchen with Kelley: Smoked salmon pinwheels with avocado and cream cheese

I’m trying to add more superfoods, including salmon, to my diet. This recipe features avocado, which is also a superfood and which just so happens to be one of my favorite foods. And I must confess that I’m not at all opposed to ingesting a smidgen of cream cheese.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The exercise that pumps seniors up

In your younger days it seemed important to boost muscle growth for larger, defined muscles. But after 40, it’s more important to exercise your muscles just to keep from losing them. And there’s one exercise that can produce big results…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Surviving summer’s health hazards

Summer is one of the most rewarding seasons. But as your appetite for adventure increases, so does your risk for a number of health issues. Here are some common warm weather hazards to look out for, and the best ways to keep them from ruining your summer…

Dr. Brad Cutler

5 proven gratitude practices that make your life better

How do we develop and benefit from gratitude as a habit in our lives? Here are 5 proven practices that net amazing results in the hearts and minds of those who practice them..

Jenny Smiechowski

Viral protection in a tea cup

If there’s one constant about viruses, they’re constant. Always there, usually always mutating to infect us in harsher ways and always striking when you least expect it. That’s why prevention makes sense…

Dr. Michael Cutler

5 sneaky factors (and meds) that cause weight gain

Patients often ask why they’re gaining weight. If you’re eating reasonably and getting some exercise, you have to dig deeper, because there are hundreds of factors that contribute to unwanted weight gain. Here’s how to tackle them…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Flatten your stomach with butterfat

Ghee is 100 percent butterfat. Butter contains primarily butterfat, but also milk proteins and water. It has a nutty flavor and lots of people consider it a superfood. When you see the benefits, you may too…

Margaret Cantwell

They say eat this, eat that, but who are ‘they’ and what do they know?

Before I provide any diet advice, you can rest assured I’ve researched it, followed it, and experienced the effects of it. And that’s what I’ll share. The rest is up to you.

Neeley Florence

Halo exercise for increased shoulder mobility

Your shoulders are such a necessary part of daily life. But over the years they become tight, injured, and immobile. Luckily, there is a simple exercise you can do at home that can keep the shoulders loose and mobile, or return them to that place.

Dr. Terry Wahls

Backward evolution: Getting back to foods that heal

There are many criticisms of the paleo diet and they all overlook a simple fact: It is not meant to exactly replicate what our ancestors ate. Instead, it is meant to take the general concepts and apply them to our modern food supply, in an effort to reverse the epidemic of chronic diseases.

Craig Cooper

8 steps to improve your prostate health naturally

Even though the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (aka benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) are not life-threatening, they can put a significant cramp in your lifestyle. And who needs that?

Easy Health Options Staff

8 drags on your metabolism

Good metabolism doesn’t mean you don’t gain weight, it means you feel good every day, have plenty of energy for daily activities and are in good overall health. But watch out for these 8 things that drag it down…

Dr. Mark Wiley

A heavenly stretch to invigorate body and soul

Most modern warm-up exercises only focus on the muscles and joints. But this ancient exercise of simple stretches can relax your body, stretch your muscles, elongate your spine and invigorate your energy.

Kelley Martin

In the kitchen with Kelley: Slow cooker oatmeal with bananas and nuts

Oats are also a great food if you’re trying to eat less. The fiber content can help you feel fuller longer so maybe you’ll snack less between breakfast and lunchtime.

Jenny Smiechowski

The verdict is in about alcohol and cancer

You already know that alcohol can have dire consequences on your health. But how bad is it really? Until now that hasn’t been completely clear. But if you’re looking for a concrete answer about the impact of a cocktail or two, you finally have it.

Jenny Smiechowski

Meditate to lose weight?

How often do you tell yourself that you don’t have enough time to do important things for yourself, like eating healthy or meditating? You’re not alone. It seems like we’re all high on healthy aspirations but low on time. Here’s how to do two at once…

Craig Cooper

The #1 supplement every man should take

It’s a tough world out there, and often the things that seem to be beneficial on the outside are insidiously chipping away at your health on the inside. You don’t even realize how they are changing your relationship with beneficial microorganisms and actually weakening your immune system.

«SPONSORED»