Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

The sneaky way salt can lead to diabetes

If you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, hopefully, you already know the ground rules, like avoiding high glycemic foods. But what most of us don’t know is that salting our food can be as quick a path to diabetes as sugar…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Anti-cancer key found in anthocyanin-rich foods

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. And survivors are left reeling from the chemotherapy, radiation and surgery used to fight it. That’s why our focus must be on prevention, starting with the unbelieavable power of purple food…

Jenny Smiechowski

6 ways to make your varicose veins and blood clot risk vanish

Whether varicose veins put a kink in your style or not, you should know they’re not as benign as we’ve been lead to believe. They could increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis. Here are 6 ways to reduce the threat…

Joyce Hollman

4 tips for protecting your heart from menopause

Menopause is a time of life that many women dread. It is fraught not only with major changes but also health challenges. For women who have completed this journey, heart disease is the #1 killer. That needs to change…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How beer can beat back a common stroke syndrome

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never thought of drinking beer as a healthy habit. But there’s no denying it contains a powerful compound that just might be the answer to a dangerous metabolic condition affecting one-third of Americans…

Joyce Hollman

4 symptoms of a blood clot you should never ignore

Clotting of the blood is a normal bodily function. When things go as planned, blood clots any time there is an injury to a blood vessel. Sometimes, though, the process goes off the rails and dangerous complications can occur. Here’s how to know the signs, and how to minimize your chances of a deadly blood clot…

Jenny Smiechowski

What dark chocolate does to your eyesight in just 2 hours

Carrots are full of antioxidants that support healthy vision. So are citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables and plenty of other plant-based foods. But what if you’re in the mood for something a bit more decadent, delicious and fast-acting? Well, this should be a pleasant surprise…

Carolyn Gretton

5 micronutrients Alzheimer’s brains are missing

With Alzheimer’s on the rise, experts are exploring every angle to slow the disease’s progression. Drugs have been disappointing, but nutrition is another story. Researchers just identified five key nutrients found in normal brains, but missing in brains affected by Alzheimer’s…

Joyce Hollman

It’s official: Cranberries keep urinary tract infections away

Centuries ago, Native Americans valued cranberries for bladder health. And like me, you probably grew up with a mom who suggested cranberry juice to avoid UTIs. But science scoffed at this anecdotal evidence, chalking it up to an old wives’ tale. That is, until now…

Margaret Cantwell

Does setting the clock back make you blue?

Setting the clocks back means fewer hours of sunlight for the coming months. That’s not a big deal for everyone. But if your mood plummets as the days grow shorter and darker, you might need help lifting the winter blues…

Joyce Hollman

The real reason fiber keeps disease away

The fact that fiber is essential to gut health is no surprise. But the role our gut plays in many other aspects of our health is coming to light in tons of research. Now we have a big clue as to why: hidden compounds that keep disease at bay…

Carolyn Gretton

The dark side of daily aspirin use

Millions of Americans are taking aspirin daily to prevent cardiovascular disease based on a decades-old recommendation, and many are doing it without their doctor’s supervision. Health experts have recently revised this advisory due to a dangerous side effect that outweighs its benefits…

William Davis

Nitric oxide: The pathway to better blood vessels, blood pressure and blood flow

Have you heard of nitric oxide? It’s a key biological signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system so important, its discovery earned a Nobel Prize. It helped make a little blue pill famous, but what it can do for blood pressure, blood flow and blood vessels is where NO truly shines…

Joyce Hollman

5 ways cinnamon can keep you slim and healthy

There are so many ways to enjoy the taste of cinnamon: tea, coffee, baking, casseroles. In fact, almost any food group can be enhanced by this stimulating flavor. Consider adding it into your cooking and baking, but to reap its amazing health benefits, all cinnamon is not created equally…

Jenny Smiechowski

This common virus more than doubles Alzheimer’s risk

Some viruses don’t go away when your symptoms do. They stick around silently for years and can put you at risk for serious diseases in the future. And now research shows a group of common viruses may double your risk of Alzheimer’s…

Joyce Hollman

Recipe for recovery: The science in chicken soup

Is chicken soup the best recovery for a cold? A lot of cultures worldwide swear by it and have for thousands of years. Here’s the science behind how chicken soup, done right, can speed up your recovery from colds and flu this winter…

Carolyn Gretton

Is your ‘true age’ increasing your stroke and dementia risk?

Most of us don’t worry about health problems till we’re older, when disease risks can skyrocket. But If your body’s biological age is older than your birth certificate shows, you can face higher stroke and dementia risks much sooner…

Joyce Hollman

Early-onset cancers jump 80 percent: Lower your odds

Cancer has been considered a disease of aging. But the fastest-growing group of cancer victims doesn’t fit that stereotype. Fortunately, identifying the culprits is the first step to lowering odds that have jumped significantly in the last 30 years…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 ways diabetes shortens lifespan up to 14 years

Diabetes can strike at anytime. And whether you’re diagnosed at 30 or 50, a countdown begins that can steal up to 14 years of your life. Researchers identified the three most common ways diabetes leads to an early grave…

Jenny Smiechowski

Cottage cheese: 3 big benefits of this old-school superfood

I love cottage cheese, even though it’s fallen out of fashion. I eat it often, and you should too, because the benefits of this retro superfood still hold strong several decades later. Here’s what eating a hefty bowl of cottage cheese every day can do for you…

Carolyn Gretton

The Wegovy plateau you should know about

Wegovy and other GLP-1 agonists, hailed as miracle drugs, have helped people drop pounds like nobody’s business. But a new consequence no one’s talking about is how these drugs work until they just don’t anymore, and the weight isn’t the only thing that comes back…

Joyce Hollman

Menopause: Why some women have it worse

Menopause is hard enough. The hot flashes and night sweats can make life miserable, not to mention the unmentionables…UTIs, dryness and a vanishing libido. But some women have it a lot worse, and now we know why…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The seed that offers protection against Parkinson’s disease

With no definitive causes and or gold-standard treatments, living with Parkinson’s encompasses medications that help manage symptoms but hold little hope for disease progression. As far as Parkinson’s prevention, we’ve been left out in the cold. Until now…

Carolyn Gretton

The artery assault that happens when you go to bed late

Sleep is just as important as diet and fitness to your health and well-being. Still, a few nights a week, most of us burn the candle a little past bedtime. The harm? A shocking attack on your blood vessels linked to inflammation, dysfunction and serious heart trouble…

Margaret Cantwell

Molecule ‘switch’ programs cancer cells to self-destruct

As long as research into treating cancer has gone on, there are still just a handful of therapies oncologists rely on. Even when used together, cells can become resistant and the treatment can cause significant harm. But switching on cancer’s self-destruct switch is closer than you think…

Carolyn Gretton

Blood work differences reveal why some live to 100

There’s been much speculation as to why some people live to 100 and beyond. But why wonder when you can compare the blood work of centenarians against their shorter-lived counterparts and see the specific biomarkers linked to exceptional longevity…

Carolyn Gretton

Neighborhoods that decrease cancer risk have a common thread

Obesity carries some dangerous health risks, including obesity-related cancers. While stats show a small decrease in most cancers, those associated with weight are on the rise. Weight loss could help, but there’s another common thread among the cancer-free: their neighborhoods.

Margaret Cantwell

Why going meatless isn’t always a good idea

What happens when you exclude all meat and animal products from your diet? For starters, that makes you a vegan. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But if it’s about health, you should know that much of the research warning us off meat is being called into question…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Breakthrough: Scientists cause aging cells to self-destruct

Anyone over the age of 50 can agree: getting older isn’t for the faint of heart. Thankfully research into slowing the effects of aging is at a fever pitch. The latest? Breakthrough research that shows aging cells can be made to self destruct before causing age-associated ailments…

Carolyn Gretton

3+ ways pumpkin can boost your wellness

Fall is the time of year that pumpkin spice abounds. But if you can get past the pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream topping, the pies and pastries, pumpkin can be a remarkably healthy and versatile vegetable. Here are three reasons you should be adding pumpkin to your menu…

Joyce Hollman

A late bedtime won’t turn you into a pumpkin but possibly a heart attack statistic

There are numerous ways to lower your risk of becoming a heart disease statistic, from exercise to eating habits to stress reduction. Apparently, picking just the right bedtime is just as crucial. Too early or too late means a 12 to 25 percent increase in your risk. But there was an optimal bedtime to aim for…

Carolyn Gretton

The ancient Chinese practice that helps with stroke recovery

Tai chi, an ancient Chinese mind-body practice, involves a combination of deep breathing and a series of slow, deliberate movements of the hands, arms, neck, legs and core. A tailored version has been found helpful in helping stroke victims get back on their feet…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is your weight setting you up for cognitive decline?

It’s easy to look in a mirror and gauge if we need to lose weight. But there’s another kind of fat that isn’t so easy to see. It’s called visceral adipose fat and it’s stored inside your body around your organs. Turns out these fats may team up to set you up for cognitive decline…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How much daily activities add up to heart protection

How much time do you devote to exercise? If you’re like most, not as much as you’d like. By the time you’re done with work, housework, kids or grandkids — who feels like a half hour of heart-protective cardio? If you think you’re not getting as much as you need, you might be relieved to know how much your daily activities are helping…

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…

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…

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