Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How concerning is news about lead in Stanley cups?

Drinking water is a healthy habit — one that’s made tumblers popular for keeping it cold and tracking how much we drink. But headlines implying some cups contain lead could make you wonder if your healthy habit has been sabotaged. Here’s why that cup may be the least of your worries…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Study reveals what men can expect after prostate cancer treatment

Prostate cancer presents a range of outcomes. Some diagnoses are favorable enough doctors only advise watching and waiting. Others need more aggressive treatment. From one end of the spectrum to the other, men have needed more to go on to make critical decisions. Now they may have it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Cholesterol, hearing loss and the plant compound that could help you hear again

Not all cholesterol is bad. In fact, cholesterol could be all that’s standing between you and age-related hearing loss. Luckily, researchers may have found the secret to maintaining youthful cholesterol levels in your ears to reduce the threat of hearing loss…

Carolyn Gretton

Activating a gene that slows brain aging and increases lifespan

No one really likes restricting calories. However, it becomes much more attractive when research says it could help slow brain aging and increase lifespan. But to this point they haven’t been entirely sure how. A gene influenced by diet may change all that…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why a fat cell’s ability to burn energy fails and how to avoid it

Being overweight or obese is like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. That’s because it becomes harder to lose weight and easier to gain it, all at the same time. But now we know why fat cells lose their ability to burn energy, what triggers it and how to avoid it…

Joyce Hollman

The daily trick for overcoming pain

Chronic pain can consume you, make you unable to concentrate on work or family, and ultimately keep you from doing things you enjoy. Drugs can be both disappointing and risky. But science says there’s a daily habit for overcoming pain that really works…

Carolyn Gretton

The nutrient deficiency driving age-related memory loss

There’s an idea emerging among researchers that the aging brain requires specific nutrients for optimal health, just as the brain of an infant needs certain nutrients for proper development. That’s led them to discover one particular deficiency that drives age-related memory loss…

Joyce Hollman

The vitamin your spine needs the most to battle disc degeneration

If you live in the northern hemisphere, you’re most susceptible to a vitamin deficiency that can have far-reaching health consequences, mostly involving your bones. If you’re a woman that makes you especially vulnerable to a perfect storm that sets you up for disc degeneration…

Joyce Hollman

The diet habit exercise can’t save your heart from

To avoid just about any ailment, you’ll find some research that shows how exercise can shut it down. When it comes to heart disease, it may just be the Holy Grail. But there are heart health risks associated with one diet habit that even exercise may not help…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The high-calorie snack that burns fat and slims bodies

What would you say if I told you there’s an amazingly healthy snack food that most of us don’t eat, even though the disease-fighting benefits are through the roof? Why? For fear this high-calorie, delicious-tasting snack causes weight gain. But the truth, in fact, is the total opposite…

Jenny Smiechowski

Boost this hormone to banish fibromyalgia pain

When you suffer from fibromyalgia, pain and fatigue can be your constant companions. But for people suffering this debilitating condition, there’s a straightforward way to push back, ease your aches and get your life back…

Carolyn Gretton

The double danger moms face from ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods bear little resemblance to their original form. They’re unhealthy, but what makes them dangerous are chemicals known as phthalates tied to problems ranging from the heart to hormones. They seep into the bloodstream, and in moms-to-be, don’t stop there…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

3 steps to make exercise a habit you can stick to

Everyone needs a little motivation and get-up-and-go just to get started with an exercise routine. Then, if we can get up and do it again the next day, with a little help — before we know it we’ve formed a habit. That’s the ticket. Here are three steps to do just that…

Joyce Hollman

6 supplements a scientist who studies aging swears by

Most doctors advise geting nutrients from food and only supplementing for deficiencies. But an expert in the anti-aging space says he and others like him are willing to throw caution to the wind, especially on supplements with little risk, for the best shot at a long, healthy life…

Margaret Cantwell

What do blood sugar, Alzheimer’s and cancer have in common?

You may have heard that people with diabetes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and vice versa. What’s not as widely-known is the connection between diabetes and cancer. Research shows it may all come down to…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The furry green fruit that chases away the blues

A blue mood isn’t quite depression. Sometimes we may feel blue for short-term reasons, ones that you may not need a risky medication for. That’s where this once-a-day snack comes in. Discover the impact a little green can make on your mental health and why…

Carolyn Gretton

Too much of a good thing: HDL and dementia

It’s been the mantra of health experts for a long time: LDL is “bad” cholesterol and should be kept low, while HDL is the “good” kind that you should have plenty of. However, the reality is much more complicated. The truth is when it comes to HDL, there can be too much of a good thing…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Why you shouldn’t lower cholesterol with OREOS

A published study showing that eating OREOs can lower cholesterol better than statins is getting a LOT of attention. But before you reach for a sleeve of the black and white disks, there’s more than meets the eye about what led up to this crazy story and the 71 percent drop in LDL…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The herb that helps you get your groove back

When your adrenals are constantly stressed, this sets off an autoimmune inflammatory response in your entire body. If you’ve got thyroid problems as well, things can go south real fast. The result? Feeling hopelessly stuck — tired, overweight and unhappy. There’s a way out…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why the ancient Greeks didn’t get dementia, but Romans did

Most of us know at least one person who suffers from cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer’s. But was it always like this? Researchers who stepped back in time don’t believe so, but helped pinpoint when and why that changed…

Carolyn Gretton

Your organs may be aging faster: What it means for you

Scientists have shifted their focus from chronological age to biological age. They’re finding biological age is a much more accurate measure of our health. That’s even more relevant when you know your organs can experience accelerated aging. Here’s what that could mean for you…

Joyce Hollman

A step closer to solving women’s autoimmune connection

Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect the lives of women. They’re also among the top 10 causes of death for women under 65. A new discovery that may finally solve the connection has also revealed a shocking reason they’ve been so hard to diagnose…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Fasting’s inflammation-fighting trigger may work like aspirin

A unifying theory of disease strongly suggests that inflammation is the major contributing factor to disease and aging. Fortunately, scientists are fast on track to identifying what cools it down to support healthier aging…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Potentially deadly fungus on the rise: What you need to know

A potentially dangerous fungal infection is in the news again. Though cases have cropped up recently, they’ve actually been on the rise for a few years in the U.S. So what do you need to know about C. auris and how can you determine whether you or your family is at risk?

Carolyn Gretton

6 ways to keep from having another kidney stone

Why do some people produce kidney stones multiple times, while others may only once? Those unfortunate folks are “stone formers,” and there are a few reasons frequency is a problem for them. Good news? Six of them can be managed to drastically reduce anyone’s risk of this dread experience.

Carolyn Gretton

Stoking the body’s fat-burning furnace

White fat makes up more than 90 percent of the body’s fat and is right where we don’t want it: the abdomen, buttocks and thighs. But brown fat uses energy and heat to eliminate unwanted fat. Harnessing it for weight loss may be the next big thing…

Joyce Hollman

The one thing women should eat for healthy aging

On average, women outlive their male counterparts by 6 years. And when it comes to the truly long-lived, those who live to at least 100, women make up 85 percent of the centenarian club. The challenge is decreasing the chronic disease that happens in those extra years…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Why winter raises cholesterol levels

Heart health is always in season. But during the winter season, there are a few reasons to pay it special attention. According to experts, just like the snow, some health-related factors can pile up to increase cardiovascular risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Did mild COVID zap your ability to exercise?

Long COVID has left some people with perplexing symptoms. But the most surprising may be how, in adults with only mild infections, it appears to steal their ability to keep fit, leaving them with extreme fatigue and pain even weeks after a single round of exercise…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

When eating a banana is a bad idea

Americans could really afford to increase our uptake of fruits, especially those containing flavanols that support brain, heart and blood vessel health. But the one fruit that surveys say is our favorite can undo all of that. Here’s when to avoid eating it…

Joyce Hollman

Fast-talking drug ads: Risky new drugs that don’t measure up

There’s big money to be made in shiny new drugs. And the pharmaceutical giants are banking on your help, especially since the majority of advertised drugs have been found not to measure up to older, cheaper existing ones…

Joyce Hollman

Pre-workout veggie boosts muscle nearly 10%

However you do it, exercise is on top of any experts advice for keeping a body healthy and fit. But what if you’re having a hard time giving it your all? No worries. This veggie can help you eat your way to more muscle power…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Another reason to floss: Atrial fibrillation

Is your gum health a priority? If not, listen up: a disease of the gums that can lead to bleeding and bad breath, can also leave your heart scarred and struggling to maintain a healthy rhythm…

Carolyn Gretton

Gut bacteria: The missing piece of the MS puzzle

Evidence keeps stacking up that the gut microbiome plays a strong role in MS. And recent findings reveal systems that may be manipulated for new treatments, perhaps with supplements that promote protective bacteria — without the side effects of medications.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Dopamine levels and testing: Get your pleasure hormone back

As part of the brain’s reward system, the hormone dopamine contributes to feelings of pleasure, happiness and motivation. Low levels do just the opposite and may indicate serious neurological conditions. Here’s your mind and body on dopamine…

Carolyn Gretton

Why some mitochondria ramp up aging

Mitochondria are tiny organelles that power our cells. Convention says they begin to slow down and kick off aging. But some ramp up, then burn out, taking your energy with them. Scientists have an answer that seems counterintuitive, but they say works…

Easy Health Options Staff

8 things you didn’t know vitamin D does

You go to the doctor for your yearly check-up and say to him, “Doc, I want a pill that will make me stronger, smarter, healthier, disease proof, age-proof, thinner and with great skin and strong bones. Got anything like that?” In a perfect world, the doctor would say, “Yes, I do. It’s called vitamin D.” Here’s why…

Jenny Smiechowski

Say goodbye to type 2 diabetes in 8 weeks

If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may be operating under a false belief about your situation… You may believe that once you’ve crossed the line into type 2 diabetes territory, there’s no going back. You’re stuck with this disease for the rest of your life. But that’s far from the truth.

Joyce Hollman

How to slash the dangers of sitting surprisingly fast

As someone who sits at her desk all day long, I’m a prime candidate for diabetes, heart disease and dementia. Obviously, my work day leaves only minutes to spare. But to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, that’s literally all I need…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Frontotemporal: The dementia that may be ‘repairable’

There are many different types of dementia, but no cures. One type though, known for severe behavioral changes, has been found to be rooted in a cause that could be repaired, reversing the disease..

Margaret Cantwell

Potato soup or toxic soap?

Each time I bring up the potato’s less than stellar qualities, it upsets some folks. I know you love your potatoes. I did too. But the science says that eating too much of this vegetable is just not good. Think Leaky gut, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

When hearing loss means your arteries are in trouble

Hearing loss is often lumped in with a long list of age-related changes many of us have a high chance of experiencing. Unfortunately, it’s not always a benign condition. Trouble hearing could be an indication of a condition that leads to stroke…

Joyce Hollman

An inconsistent link: Cholesterol, heart disease and statins

Doctors prescribe statins to lower “bad” cholesterol and to lower risks for heart attack or stroke. But do we really need to take a drug that can elevate risks for diabetes, liver damage, and neurological and cognitive problems — especially if there is any doubt it’s not at all what it’s cracked up to be?

Carolyn Gretton

The strange side effect of too much ‘good’ cholesterol

You probably already know there are two types of cholesterol: HDL (the “good” cholesterol) and LDL (the “bad” cholesterol). HDL supports heart health and fights inflammation. But, when it comes to HDL, too much of a “good” thing may hurt your bones…

Carl Lowe

The appetite suppressant the diet industry hopes you won’t discover

In the supermarket aisle that holds diet foods, you’ll find bars, shakes and an array of other processed foods that are supposed to help you lose weight. But there’s a superfood great for aiding your healthy weight efforts you’ll never find in that part of the store…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The common sense rule for best vitamin benefits

You can’t pick up a product these days without finding not only instructions on how to use it, but warnings on how not to, usually because one person did something most people with common sense wouldn’t dream of. Let’s talk about vitamin D and that guy…

Joyce Hollman

Lead and cadmium: The ‘dark side’ of dark chocolate

Some dark chocolate brands, even organic ones, have been found to contain dangerous amounts of cadmium and lead, heavy metals linked to hypertension, kidney failure, nerve damage and more. Take precautions if your favorite is on the list.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Anti-nutrients: The hidden danger of meat substitutes

Mountains of research and our doctors tell us a meat-heavy diet is a fast track to early death. But if you’ve embraced meatless burgers and other mock meat substitutes, you’re cheating your body of vital nutrition. It starts with ‘deception’ on the ingredient label…

Joyce Hollman

5 health-based benefits of kindness

Being kind to others feels good. But the benefits extend even further than that. Science shows acts of kindness have real effects that impact physical health, from depression to heart health. Check out these 5 you can get more of…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Fast food and fatty liver: How much is too much

Fast food, offering tasty and effective transport of unhealthy fat, is horrible on the liver. And the heart. We’d be kidding ourselves to think we could give it all up completely and forever. But knowing where the point of no return is would be really helpful.

Carolyn Gretton

Cannabis: A new breakthrough in anti-aging skincare

CBD products are growing in popularity. You can find tinctures, gummies and even topicals made from phytocannabinoids (pCBs). Topicals are non-intoxicating and include creams, balms and oils. One more thing you may want to know: they may be the next thing in anti-aging skincare…

Joyce Hollman

The obesity-AMD connection and the nutrient that helps both

Obesity can steal your heart health. Now, research shows it could steal your vision, too. Obesity appears to be a trigger that uses inflammation like fire on DNA and may be the reason some people get age-related macular degeneration and some don’t…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This six-minute trick beats fasting for brain health

The neurons in the hippocampus, the brain area responsible for memory and learning, depend on brain-derived neurotrophic factor for their production and survival. But BDNF’s potential to halt cognitive decline and how to boost it is what should really interest you…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What blood type can reveal about stroke risk

Stroke is a growing threat with age. In fact, after age 55 that risk doubles every 10 years. But people under 60 do have strokes. How can you know if that’s a probability so you can do your best to avoid it? See where your blood type stroke risk falls…

Joyce Hollman

How consistent hydration slows aging and prolongs life

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: it’s important to keep your body hydrated for reasons like termperature regulation, waste elimination and much more. But its effects on sodium may be the best kept secret yet…

Jenny Smiechowski

Keeping weight off requires different approach than losing it

You’ve probably heard weight loss is 80 percent diet/20 percent exercise. So, if you want to lose weight, focus on cutting calories and complement that with a modest calorie burn in realistic daily workouts. But for maintaining the loss, the same rules may not work…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Demystifying diagnostics: Blood tests and what they mean

Blood tests are part of annual health physicals for most of us. Sometimes, though, tests may be needed beyond the basics, including more advanced and in-depth tests for disease risk profiling. Here’s your insider’s guide to blood tests…

Carolyn Gretton

Plain and simple: The right diet keeps us from dying early

There’s just no denying the power of a healthy diet to reduce disease risk. But the payout gets bigger when you stick with it, as in reducing your risk of early death, period. But there is still the stroke conundrum…

Carolyn Gretton

10-minute test helps detect ‘curable’ hypertension

Is your doctor overlooking the most curable cause of high blood pressure? Nodules affect one-in-twenty people with the condition. Researchers found that a urine test and new scan help detect patients who come off all their medicines after treatment.

Margaret Cantwell

I gave up ONE food and my high BP vanished

I still remember the last visit with the doctor I saw for my blood pressure problems. She took my blood pressure and then matter-of-factly told me: “I guess your high blood pressure is gone.” And I was taking exactly zero medication. She didn’t know why, but I did. I had given up…

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