Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The bacterial infection with a growing colon cancer reputation

H. pylori is a nasty bacteria known for infecting the stomach and small intestines, causing bad breath, painful gastritis, ulcers and gastric cancer. But research indicates its cancer-causing reputation is growing, Good news, it’s a treatable risk…

Joyce Hollman

The nut that’s a colon cancer-fighting trifecta

Nuts are like disease kryptonite, especially when it comes to cancer. But one nut in particular contains a special cancer fighter that launches a three-pronged attack on the growing threat of colon cancer…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The mouth bacteria stealing your memories

When you think about memory loss, you likely picture a problem that starts in the brain. But what’s happening in your mouth can block the formation of a chemical crucial for a youthful brain, memory retention and independence…

Joyce Hollman

3 amino acids can slay your mental and physical fatigue

Mental and physical fatigue doesn’t just make it hard to do things, it makes you depressed. Don’t miss out on life just because your body’s missing 3 critical amino acids that can make a world of difference and aren’t that hard to get…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The drinking habit linked to stroke 10 years early

One of the most debated topics of health is alcohol consumption. Studies have shown benefits, while others show harm. Is moderation key? You may be surprised at how few drinks a day can put you at the same risk as heavy drinkers for a catastrophic brain bleed.

Carolyn Gretton

The fiber that could stave off liver damage

High fructose corn syrup isn’t healthy, in the least. But the damage it can do to our livers, without a single symptom, should be criminal. Protection against, and even reversal of, fatty liver could lie in a warm bowl of oatmeal…

Carolyn Gretton

3 benefits of a daily coffee that cut Afib risk

Afib is a heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too quickly and irregularly. People with Afib have been warned off coffee for years. But in a shocking turn of events, a daily coffee could help manage the condition. Here are 3 reasons why…

Joyce Hollman

Turn up the tunes to turn down dementia risk

Music has always been a vital part of my life. I depend on my playlist to help my mood, get work done and relax. If music doesn’t play into your life, here’s why it should: Music is medicine that may significantly lower dementia risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The vitamin that slashes second heart attack risk by half

Anyone who’s suffered a heart attack knows they have a 1 in 5 chance of another within 5 years. It’s not inevitable. Diet, exercise, managing stress and healthy habits can help. But cutting that risk in half just got easier…

Carolyn Gretton

Best for blood sugar control: cardio or weights?

Which is better, aerobic exercise or strength training? While the ideal answer is “both,” one is clearly better at improving one aspect of health that, unchecked, is a kick-off point for metabolic disaster…

Joyce Hollman

Weight loss without hunger? Try Hara Hachi Bu

Japanese culture offers a wealth of wisdom on how to nourish the body, including hara hachi bu, one simple principle for shedding weight, getting healthier and feeling satisfied when you leave the table…

Carolyn Gretton

What happens when you stop supplementing omega-3s

Omega-3s are healthy fats your body can’t make on its own. They help lower triglycerides and reduce risk of stroke. Here’s what you should know about getting them from food or supplements and the impact your metabolism could have on your levels…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Processed food fats may not be so bad on our hearts

By now, you’re sure to have heard about the heart health dangers of processed foods. Relax, there’s good news: Some processed food fats may not be nearly as bad for our health as we were led to believe — within reason…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Metformin cancels out the diabetic benefits of exercise

Yes, you read that right. The most popular drug for treating type 2 diabetes may cancel out the biggest benefits expected from exercise when part of a treatment strategy. Beyond diabetes, that may be a setup for long-term health risks…

Carolyn Gretton

The scientific reason it really is better to give than receive

Everyone loves giving and getting gifts. But it seems we enjoy gift-giving a bit more. Turns out the old adage “it’s better to give than to receive” is actually true in terms of the response it elicits from your brain…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The serious threats that stick around after the virus is long gone

Fever, cough, chills, congestion and body aches… a viral infection can be rough. When the symptoms are gone, it feels like the worst is over. But a surprising symptom sticks around: elevated risks for stroke and heart attack.

Easy Health Options Staff

Read before hanging out under the mistletoe

A kiss under the mistletoe is a longstanding holiday tradition, steeped in ancient lore. Depending on the health of your kissing partner, when you indulge in a 10-second kiss, you exchange much more than good tidings…

Joyce Hollman

Half a dozen ways to avoid weight gain over the holidays

The holiday season isn’t kind to people who are trying to lose weight or maintain a holding pattern. But don’t give up hope. I’ve got some strategies to avoiding tipping the scales to share with you…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The best way to beat down inflammation

Inflammation seems like such a benign and common symptom. But as the saying goes, “give it an inch and it’ll take a mile.” Once it takes hold — which is easy because it’s fueled by stress, sleep loss, sugar, pollution and countless other modern-day threats — it can completely wreck your health.

Carolyn Gretton

A sweeter way to boost hair growth

Living with androgenic alopecia, a common cause of hormonal hair loss in men and women, is challenging, especially when the suggested treatment isn’t all that effective. That may be changing…

Joyce Hollman

The diet that could keep gum disease away

The Mediterranean Diet is always at the top of any “best diet” list. It just has so much going for it, promoting healthy aging, better blood pressure and protecting against cognitive decline. The lastest? Gum disease…

Joyce Hollman

How to have the memory of a 50-year-old at 80

Diet, exercise and sleep are important for keeping your brain sharp with age. But what if you can’t do it all, like exercise? SuperAgers do more of one thing that’s not on this list, and it works for them…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The hidden arterial dangers of being ‘skinny-fat’

You can easily zip your jeans and your doctor’s happy with the number on the scale. That means you’re fit and healthy, right? Not necessarily. Being skinny-fat may mask artery damage setting you up for stroke or heart attack…

Carolyn Gretton

What your neck size can reveal about your heart

BMI was considered the gold standard for estimating a person’s body fat, until we learned it overlooked a critical detail that’s a much stronger indication for heart trouble, one your neck size could reveal…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

9 signs of poor circulation you shouldn’t ignore

Good circulation is one of the most critical factors for good health. Your heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and everything in between receive life-giving oxygen via a complex network of blood vessels throughout the body. Do you know the signs if yours is failing?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Sugar ruins your gut surprisingly fast — but there’s an antidote

Thanks to all the sweet treats that go hand-in-hand with social gatherings, I have no doubt that I eat more sugar during the holidays than in the previous six months combined. But eating a high-sugar diet for even a short amount of time can result in shockingly fast health problems…

Jenny Smiechowski

Avoid hidden heavy metals this holiday season

Decorative tableware is never more popular than during the holidays. But those festive platters can serve up toxic metals that shorten lifespans and endanger your heart on par with cholesterol. Before you serve guests, how dangerous is your holiday setting?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Simple hack stops ‘viral vitamin’ from plummeting during winter

It’s no secret why cold and flu season go hand-in-hand with the dark days of fall and winter. Luckily, scientists have discovered an easy way to bio-hack the ‘viral vitamin’ we need most this time of year…

Margaret Cantwell

More proof of skin cancer prevention in a vitamin

A few years ago, a small study from Australia, the skin cancer capital of the world, suggested a simple vitamin could help prevent the most common skin cancers. A much larger study just put those findings to the test, and they were right…

Carolyn Gretton

The real cholesterol culprit cracked: It’s not eggs

If you have elevated cholesterol, you’ve probably been avoiding eggs. Turns out, that advice may be as dated as bell-bottom pants. In fact, it’s this Western breakfast staple that may be the real villain in the cholesterol war…

Carolyn Gretton

12 conditions signaled by the way you walk

Walking comes naturally easy to us as adults. But the way we walk tends to vary from person to person. That’s no big deal unless it’s a difference that signals one of these 12 hidden health problems tipped off by how you walk…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The vitamin D mistake that weakens your defense

Vitamin D is the secret to a strong immune system. It’s proven to stimulate your first line of defense against illness. But a simple mistake can do the opposite, setting your immune system up for failure by stealing your natural vitamin D…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Red flag dangers ignored for common hair loss drug

A drug that helps regrow hair and ease symptoms of enlarged prostate sounds like something a lot of men can appreciate. What they won’t appreciate are multiple studies showing the danger to their mental health that were ignored for the sake of profits…

Carolyn Gretton

The strange link between the kidneys and dementia

The kidneys and the brain are very different organs. But they’re similar in one respect: they’re nourished by a network of small blood vessels. When this network is damaged in the kidneys, it has consequences for the brain…

Joyce Hollman

10 reasons to eat potatoes

Potatoes have a reputation that’s not so healthy. But, if you think about it, from french fries and mashed potatoes to chips, we’re responsible for sucking the nutrition right out of a delicious food that can be part of truly healthy diet…

Joyce Hollman

The diet that improved heart health in just 8 weeks

Lots of studies say that restricting certain foods is heart-protective. But sometimes studies can be contradictory. But researchers really put the impact of food to the test using twins and say this diet can turn heart health around in just six weeks…

Carolyn Gretton

What cranberries can do for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and more

When you hear cranberries mentioned in a health conversation, you probably immediately think of urinary tract infections. But then we heard about their effect on cholesterol. Turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg for these little berries…

Joyce Hollman

12 healthy holiday baking substitutions

Here are a dozen easy recipe substitutions that will not only let you enjoy delicious baked goods without the guilt, but will also make a once-sinful treat into a nutritional delight!

Joyce Hollman

Why fruit matters for healthier lungs

Our lungs have a lot going against them. But unless we experience an illness, we don’t give them a second thought. If you want yours to stay healthy and keep effortlessly doing their job, you need to know why fruit matters…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Super sweet tropical fruit slashes blood sugar and fat

High-sugar snacks are usually a bad idea, unless it’s one specific tropical fruit, packed with over 30 grams of sugar, that can not only help you shed unwanted body fat, but also improve insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control.

Carolyn Gretton

The vitamin that could save your fatty liver

Fatty liver, now called Metabolic-associated steatotic fatty liver disease, affects more than 100 million of us in the U.S. The good news is that it’s reversible when caught early, and that may have gotten a lot easier…

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.” She couldn’t explain it, but I can…

Joyce Hollman

Popular pantry staple fights driver of aging and disease

Inflammaging is a chronic inflammatory process linked to aging and the diseases that come with it, like heart disease. But it doesn’t have to be that way. While inflammaging is a natural part of aging, it’s in your power to mitigate its effects…

Joyce Hollman

The mineral that works like ‘insurance’ against dementia

If you’re health conscious, you might focus on getting important nutrients like vitamins through diet or by supplementing. But how much mind do you pay to minerals? There’s one that half of us are deficient in. Considering it just might be the best insurance against dementia, that’s a problem…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

3 prostate warning signs you shouldn’t ignore

Over half of men will encounter prostate problems by age sixty. With each passing year, those odds grow. Early warning signs can be vital to protect a man’s sexual and overall health. Here are three to never ignore…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The superfood compound that beats back prediabetes

Prediabetes isn’t just a stepping stone to type 2. Even in this stage, it can cause heart damage. Lifestyle changes may keep the scales from tipping, especially a diet that contains this glucose-lowering superfood…

Carolyn Gretton

14 steps that slow aging to avoid frailty

Frailty can rob you of your independence as you get older. One good way to fend off frailty is by walking. But whether it works depends on your cadence. That’s where the extra 14 steps come in…

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

15 foods to undo binging over the holidays

‘Tis the season of overindulging. Even if you’re a healthy eater, you’re going to encounter foods you probably don’t the rest of the year. This can wreak havoc with your digestive system, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. These foods can counter the damage…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Biomarkers prove wine’s heart-supporting benefits

Conflicting reports about the benefits or harms of drinking wine came from studies relying on self-reported data that’s often flawed. But when researchers got serious about the science, it resulted in great news for wine lovers and their hearts…

Joyce Hollman

The vitamin-packed “sweet” you should include on your holiday table

A Thanksgiving tradition, few know that the humble sweet potato is a nutritional giant. So, let me share these six ways sweet potatoes are one food you can stuff yourself silly with — guilt-free — and introduce you to three delicious recipes you can use to impress your holiday guests…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 changes that happen when you eat one ounce of walnuts

One of the easiest ways to grab big health and nutritional benefits is by adding nuts to your diet. But the cost of nuts, like everything else these days is going up. Good news: all it takes is one ounce to see these 6 improvements…

Jenny Smiechowski

The best holiday food to hamper holiday weight gain

They wouldn’t be holidays if we didn’t indulge, right? But rich, starchy, sugary desserts lead to weight gain and soaring blood sugar. There’s one seasonal treat that contains powerful metabolism boosters that can counteract the harm and help you enjoy the holidays guilt-free…

Margaret Cantwell

Don’t share these holiday foods with your dog

Is it hard to say no to your fur baby when the Thanksgiving turkey hits the table? Or maybe they just want to sample the ham. No matter how sweet those puppy dog eyes are, some under-the-table sharing can do your pet serious harm…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How your diet can cause your bladder to leak

Bladder betrayal doesn’t discriminate when aging and hormones are involved. But diet? Surprising new findings about what you eat and don’t eat may explain why you run faster to the bathroom than the next person…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The snack your heart loves that boosts your ‘happy’ hormone

When you reach for sweets or salty chips, your waistline and your health suffer. Don’t worry. If you need a little something to hold you over, there’s one snack that hits so many health marks — if you’re not enjoying it daily, you’re doing yourself a disservice…

Carolyn Gretton

How sugary drinks help colorectal cancer spread

Having an occasional soda can’t hurt, can it? Turns out it can. Modest consumption of sugary drinks can raise your risk of cancer, and, if you’re battling it, can cause it to spread. Here’s how…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How germs in your mouth more than double stroke risk

Not one but two studies add to a growing body of evidence that what happens in your mouth doesn’t just stay there. In fact, your oral health can more than double your risk for stroke and more…

Carolyn Gretton

The berry that takes down triglycerides and LDL

It’s America’s favorite berry because we love the taste. Now research shows if you’re having trouble managing your triglyerides and LDL, you have another good reasons to eat them…

Carolyn Gretton

That snap, crackle and pop in your knee may start with your thyroid

If you notice your knee crackling, it could signal osteoarthritis or a build-up of calcium crystals thought to only happen in really old age. Turns out they do structural damage much earlier than thought, especially if your mineral metabolism is off…

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