Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

Alzheimer’s drug’s accelerated approval leads to deadly stroke

Ever hear the expression, “out of the frying pan, into the fire”? In healthcare, that expression could apply when a drug meant to treat a disease carries side effects far worse than the disease itself. That’s exactly the case with a newly approved drug for Alzheimer’s…

Carolyn Gretton

Eating grapes leads to subtle gut changes for major benefits

More than 1,600 phytochemical compounds have been identified in grapes, all of which affect different processes in the body. So benefits from lowering cholesterol to protecting the brain are not surprising. Now we have a better understanding of how they work, starting in the gut…

Joyce Hollman

Nature’s Ozempic? Berberine’s impact on blood sugar and weight loss

Berberine is a natural plant compound found in the barberry and goldenseal plants that, in study after study, has been shown to improve blood sugar, cholesterol and even weight loss efforts. Here’s all you need to know…

Joyce Hollman

Study finds optimal dose of omega-3s to lower blood pressure

Omega-3s have been under a lot of scrutiny. From cardio-protective to cholesterol-lowering and brain-boosting, the studies have had one thing in common: discovering that dosage matters. Now an analysis of 71 trials has found the magic amount for lowering blood pressure…

Joyce Hollman

Vitamin D levels bolster skin cancer treatment

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer drugs that take the brakes off the natural immune response so T cells can anihilate cancer cells, are especially effective against melanoma, when caught early. But a new finding says vitamin D levels play into how effective the immunotherapy can be…

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘genotoxic’ sweetener that damages your DNA

Artificial sweeteners are just as popular as ever. And it’s really suprising considering the health concerrns that have been raised over the years, including tumors and heart problems. Now we know why one in particular is especially troublesome…

Margaret Cantwell

What are your health risks from the Canadian wildfires?

Raging wildfires in Canada are causing major headaches and dangerous breathing conditions for parts of the U.S., reaching as far south as Georgia. Fine particulate air matter from wildfires is among the most toxic and passes to your lungs quckly and easily. But the biggest concern is the threat to heart health…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Tips to treat and avoid the fungus among us

We all have yeast on our skin, and for the most part you never know it’s there. But when you do, it’s quite annoying, itchy and uncomfortable. Some can be downright dangerous. So how can you avoid a yeast or fungal infection especially during the summer months?

Carolyn Gretton

How age, diabetes and dementia intersect

A growing body of research has established a link between diabetes and dementia. But where they intersect could triple dementia risk. That intersection? The age when prediabetes becomes full-blown type 2 diabetes…

Joyce Hollman

An apple a day could keep frailty away

Frailty is a syndrome that leads to a greater risk of falls, fractures, disability, hospitalization and mortality. In other words, it can take your independence and make life a lot less fun. Here are 5 signs it could be creeping up and maybe the easiest way to avoid it…

Dr. Geo Espinosa

Pygeum: Natural prostate support that stacks up

Enlarged prostate is typically a benign condition that significantly impacts a man’s health and lifestyle. It can be both uncomfortable and inconvenient, making you feel you can’t be as spontaneous and active as you once were. A remedy with ancient roots and scientific clout could be just what you need…

Joyce Hollman

The blood pressure drug that makes blood pressure worse

A common class of blood pressure drugs has come under scrutiny. They’re designed to keep calcium from stiffening the vascular smooth muscle cells so blood flows freely and BP stays in the healthy range. But research is showing they may actually cause damage that can make your BP worse…

Joyce Hollman

Three ways diabetes can cause Afib

There’s a long list of things that can trigger AFib, a heart arrhythmia that causes the heart’s upper chambers to beat irregularly and rapidly and increases stroke risk. Most people don’t know how close type 2 diabetes is to the top of that list…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The meal that boosts your heart health the most

Heart trouble isn’t just a man’s problem. We’ve learned that for women, heart attack can be doubly deadly. If you want to slash your risk for coronary artery disease, consider the meal that boosts your heart health the most…

Carolyn Gretton

The crazy high cancer risk that comes after gallbladder surgery

Few of us give our gallbladders any thought until trouble starts. As a result, gallbladder removal is one of the most common procedures in the United States. So no big deal, right? Wrong. New insights into what happens after the tiny organ is gone highlight a very high risk for kidney cancer.

Joyce Hollman

10 neurotoxic pesticides linked to Parkinson’s

A cure for Parkinson’s has been elusive. But one thing’s for sure: the death of dopamine-producing neurons is a hallmark of the disease. Research has identified 10 commonly used pesticides toxic to those neurons linked directly to Parkinson’s development.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Prickly pear: The cactus fruit that lowers cholesterol

High cholesterol can affect our health in some surprising ways. And relying on statins has its downsides too. You might be excited to know a fruit that tastes like a cross between all-natural bubble gum (if there were such a thing) and watermelon is surprisingly effective…

Carolyn Gretton

The habit the healthiest and happiest seniors practice

Nothing can stop the march of time. But there are plenty of ways to slow it down and avoid age-related decline. If you follow certain lifestyle habits, you’ve got the recipe for living your senior years long and healthy. But there’s one thing that’s like the icing on the cake…

Joyce Hollman

Laugh away stroke and get happy to lower hypertension

Happiness and laughter do more than make us feel good. These emotions affect our blood vessels and directly impact hypertension risk and heart health. Need proof? See what these studies found out about the emotional connection to these serious health issues…

Jenny Smiechowski

What almonds do to your cholesterol

Your body needs cholesterol to make hormones and vitamin D, help you digest your food — not to mention it’s like brain food. But once your body has enough cholesterol to do what it needs to do, the rest is just superfluous. This is where HDL comes in…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How CoQ10 supports kidney health

37 million people in our country are living with chronic kidney disease, mostly due to high blood pressure and diabetes. And most don’t even know it. Luckily, a review of multiple studies is offering up an easy way to help make sure you don’t become one of them…

Carolyn Gretton

For women, heart attack can be doubly deadly

When it comes to heart attack, the gender gap is real. In past studies, women were found to be 20 percent more likely than men to die within five years of their first severe heart attack. Now, more research out of Europe indicates women’s odds of survival may be even worse than that…

Joyce Hollman

The bad bedroom habit that leads to metabolic syndrome

When you don’t turn off all the bedroom lights, processes in your body that normally shut down after dark keep going. And when they’re running overtime, they impair glucose and cardiovascular regulation — risk factors for a metabolic nightmare…

Carolyn Gretton

4 ways mouth breathing wrecks your health

Do you often wake up in a puddle of drool? Is your mouth drier than the Mojave desert in the morning? These are annoying signs of a common issue that can impact your health far more seriously than you ever dreamed. From bad teeth to low oxygen, mouth breathing takes a toll…

Jedha Dening

What this tiny seed does to your big appetite

Blood sugar spikes chip away at your body’s sensitivity to insulin. Make a habit of them and they’ll lead straight to insulin resistance, putting type 2 diabetes just a hop and a skip away. But there’s a tiny food that can help… and curb your appetite, without any side effects…

Margaret Cantwell

The secret to lower blood pressure in your pickle jar

How does eating a salad with a tasty dressing that includes salty ingredients and sugar lower blood pressure? Your doctor would roll his eyes, but the research validates the numbers went down. And the secret’s in the vinegar…

Joyce Hollman

Sleep apnea: A much bigger worry than just snoring

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that causes a person to stop breathing multiple times during the night. It often goes untreated in people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, although up to 80 percent of people with heart disease also have OSA. Here’s everything you should know about this serious health threat…

Joyce Hollman

What a doctor with cancer discovered about cannabis

No matter the cancer type, when it comes to treatment, chemo brain, pain and poor sleep are along for the ride. And even though some doctors are supportive of alternatives like CBD, they don’t know what to tell their patients. A doctor with cancer believes her research can…

Joyce Hollman

The gut problem that hardens your arteries

It’s no secret that a high-fat high-cholesterol diet is bad for the heart. But understanding why it’s worse for some people is another story. Until you understand the gut is a window to the body capable of turning the thermostat up on atherosclerosis…

Joyce Hollman

The carcinogens behind that new-car smell

I remember my first new car. It was exhilarating driving it around. And that new-car smell? Funny how we thought of it almost like a status symbol. But now we’re learning that new-car smell is a byproduct of a chemical process known as off-gassing, and the cancer threat stinks more than you know…

Carolyn Gretton

How a zinc ‘burst’ activates the immune system

Scientists have long known that people whose zinc levels are too low have few to no infection-fighting T-cells. And their thymus, an immune system organ that generates those T-cells, starts to shrink. When corrected, their thymuses grow and start generating T-cells again. But activation needs a burst…

Carolyn Gretton

10 health consequences of not having sex

It can be deceptively easy to slide into an extended period of not having sex. Life gets busy, you get tired, and sometimes we think we’re just too old. But lack of sex isn’t just a relationship issue: not having sex can negatively impact your health, happiness and well-being…

Joyce Hollman

The fiber that offers the most heart protection

Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. But if you’re nearing 65, one food source in particular is the best choice for fending off the inflammation that leads to heart problems. Here’s why it’s better than fruits or vegetables at keeping your heart healthy…

Joyce Hollman

Long-term proof: An avocado a day keeps heart disease away

It’s no secret that avocados have lots of health benefits wrapped up in one little package, including phytochemicals that protect eyesight and fight cancer. But the connection between eating avocados and lowering your risk of heart disease just got even stronger…

Joyce Hollman

Nerve pain: The latest symptom of long COVID

Following the pandemic, the effects of long COVID are slowly coming to light. Almost daily, new symptoms and conditions are revealing their strange connection to SARS-CoV-2. Not too surprising, the latest has also been linked to diabetes and the shingles virus…

Carolyn Gretton

The simple vitamin/mineral pairing that can help with vertigo

If you sometimes experience the kind of dizziness that feels like a sudden spinning sensation, you’re probably experiencing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). And it can range from annoying to downright debilitating. Some people experience a “once and done” episode, but others aren’t so lucky. Fortunately, getting relief could be as simple as the right nutrients…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The pain-relieving power of nostalgia

Opioids are proof that modern medicine has a long way to go in the battle against pain. Thank goodness there are natural ways to decrease pain levels, including the ones you can find down memory lane…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The relationship between loneliness and memory problems

Many people enjoy “alone time.” It helps us reset, be productive and sparks creativity. But loneliness is different. It is a feeling of social isolation fueled by a lack of fulfilling interactions with others. And research has been finding for years that it’s harmful to our health, especially your brain…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The supplement that makes it easier to cut out sugar

There’s good news for all of us who love our sweet and carb-laden treats but would like to tone them down a bit… and it’s all wrapped up in helping your gut help you make better choices, release appetite-suppressing hormones and increase calorie burn…

Easy Health Options Staff

Common erectile dysfunction drugs tied to vision problems

Drugs for ED have become incredibly popular in the last several years, helping many men overcome a problem that impacts their quality of life. But they may come with a serious price: a higher risk of three conditions that could cause vision loss…

Joyce Hollman

Avoiding heart failure is the best reason to stay hydrated

You’ve probably heard that your body is 50 percent water. But did you know some of your most vital organs are up to 80 percent water? Your heart is one of them. And we’re hearing that your future risk of heart failure may hinge on how well-hydrated you keep it…

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘weight optional’ diet that lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

Your doctor says you’ve got to lower your cholesterol and blood sugar. Of course, he also says to do that, you’ve got to lose weight, and you’ve found that hard. No worries. Meet the diet that gives you these benefits and more, with or without the weight loss…

Carolyn Gretton

Broccoli: An antiviral vegetable that slows coronavirus replication

Both the common cold and Covid-19 are coronaviruses. Of course, one is much scarier than the other. But they also have something else in common: a vegetable considered the original superfood, that stands up to them and slows their attack…

Joyce Hollman

Antibiotics and the surprising threat to women’s brains

It’s no secret that antibiotic overuse is harmful. It contributes to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance that threatens us all. But for women, it’s personal. If you’re not careful, fighting a simple infection could age your brain and hasten cognitive decline…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Diabetes: Why a broken biological clock affects treatment

Mitochondria communicate with time-keeping molecules in our cells, and this communication is disrupted in people with type 2 diabetes. That’s a problem because some of the most common diabetes treatments affect mitochondria, meaning they may work differently depending on the time of day they are taken…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The ‘silent hormone’ that doubles women’s Alzheimer’s risk

Doctors have long known that if you’re a woman, your brain is in danger. Numerous studies show women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s. And as you may have guessed, hormones are believed to be the culprit following menopause. But not the ones you’re thinking of…

Joyce Hollman

The trick to using optimism to live longer and better

Research says being an optimist can absolutely add years to your healthspan, the number of years you get to live a healthy, disease-free, productive life. But it depends on when you’re optimistic in response to the stressors in your life — before they happen or after…

Carolyn Gretton

A single cell may be the start and end of Alzheimer’s

The brain needs a lot of oxygen. Without a hardy supply, brain cells begin to malfunction and die off. That’s why the brain has a mechanism in place to make sure its energy demands are met: a single cell that may be all that’s between you and a cascade that could lead to Alzheimer’s or stop it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why cutting calories could cut your colon cancer risk

While we used to think of colon cancer as a concern for those middle-aged and older, more people are being diagnosed under the age of 50. And while plenty of research speculates as to why that is, the best is finding ways to keep it from happening to you…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Poor liver health could be destroying your bones

If your liver goes down, so do you. It’s a fact that’s as true for your bones as it is for any part of your body. So, if you’re experiencing bone loss, problems with bone density or are worried about suffering from weak bones and fractures, your liver health, or lack of it, could be to blame.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Live cold, die old: How temperature affects lifespan

We’ve all heard the saying, “Live fast, die young.” It’s one that’s stood the test of time since living a fast and risky life is often cut short. Now, there’s one more adage that will likely stand up to that time test, and may have you cranking up your AC: Live cold, die old…

Carolyn Gretton

The harmful brain legacy of leaded gasoline

You may think the only way to get exposed to lead is through drinking water or paint chips in older houses. But if you were born in the U.S. before 1996, you were very likely absorbing lead with every breath you took. And researchers say that could be affecting how your brain is aging today…

Joyce Hollman

What dentists get but doctors don’t about pH balance

Every time you eat or drink anything other than water, the pH level in your mouth drops (becomes more acidic). This causes minerals in your tooth enamel to seep out as your body tries to re-establish a balanced pH. Any guesses what happens in the rest of your body?

Carolyn Gretton

Protein: How to eat it to avoid high blood pressure

Nearly half of the American population has high blood pressure. But what’s really odd is that for most adults, there’s no identifiable cause of their hypertension. Lifestyle factors, like salt intake, get a lot of blame. But if you’re not eating your protein right, you’ll be surprised at what may happen…

Margaret Cantwell

The Alzheimer’s drug on the horizon that’s really a vitamin

Could an existing FDA-approved drug be that magic Alzheimer’s pill we’ve been waiting for? It reduced those signature brain plaques and improved memory deficits in mice. Better yet? The “drug” is a simple vitamin that’s already shown that people with the lowest intake are 80 percent more likely to develop the disease…

Jenny Smiechowski

Perfect pill melts fat, fights disease and keeps your body young

There’s an all-natural “pill” shown to help you lose weight. Sure, diet and exercise can help. But why not give yourself a break and take this pill every day? You’ll drop pounds and end up not only with a healthier body weight but a better gut, bones, skin and more!

Craig Cooper

6 reasons you shouldn’t get testosterone therapy

The biggest complaints men have that can often lead to considering testosterone therapy are weight gain, lack of energy, low libido, depression and lack of muscle tone. They’re often convinced that testosterone therapy will solve everything. But there’s another side to that coin…

Joyce Hollman

Our organs age at different rates and what it means

When you read about slowing aging or promoting a longer lifespan, it’s a safe bet you assumed your biological age applied to your whole body. Turns out, while our organs are busy doing different jobs, they’re also aging at different rates. What’s that mean for us?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How to poop like a toddler (and why you should)

I warn you I’m going to be graphic when needed. I’m not going to be “politically correct” with my words — I’m going to give it to you straight. Because not going regularly leads to much more than just uncomfortable and embarrassing health problems…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Migraine may signal one of these four endocrine disorders

When is a migraine more than just a pain condition? When it’s a symptom. Having an endocrine-related condition is likely to increase your risk of migraine headaches. That means there could be a potentially serious condition behind those terrible headaches…

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