Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

The diet linked to cancer, heart disease and 30 other conditions

It’s no surprise a steady diet of the wrong foods packs on pounds, raises blood pressure and blood sugar and ruins good health. But when you come face to face with facts from 45 studies that include 30+ conditions and cancer, time to look at what we’re eating…

Easy Health Options Staff

FDA Alert Concerning Cinnamon: Check your spice rack for lead-tainted brands

The FDA has issued an official alert concerning certain ground cinnamon products due to the presence of elevated levels of lead. We’re sharing the six brands you need to check for and dispose of, as well as a link to their full statement concerning the scope of the problem.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The down-the-road dangers of heart attack

Experts say quick emergency treatment is why seven in ten people now survive a heart attack. But the road they face post-heart attack won’t be an easy one. It’s the beginning of working even harder to secure their health, and why anyone should try that much harder to avoid a first attack…

Carolyn Gretton

Depressed? Your immune system may have been hacked

Your immune system defends against injury and disease. It attacks pathogens, neutralizes harmful substances and fights disease-causing changes in the body. But less has been known about its role in depression, until experts realized it can get hacked — by stress.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The menopause-migraine link to heart attack and stroke

Heart problems in women are risky enough for reasons like having symptoms doctors are slower to recognize. But a life transition there’s no escape from and higher odds for migraine makes matters worse. Here’s what you need to know about this risky combination and how to protect yourself…

Carolyn Gretton

Is it IBS or IBD?

IBS and IBD have a few things in common: they both affect the GI tract and can cause constipation, diarrhea, pain and fatigue. They’re both difficult to diagnose and can make life miserable. Here’s your guide to understanding the differences and getting relief…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising truth about medications and driving

If you take certain medications, you may have seen “Do not operate heavy machinery” on the label. For sleeping pills, that may seem like a given. But there are others you may be surprised to learn could get you into trouble if you take them before driving…

William Davis

Dimethylglycine: The key to stamina, performance and endurance

In the 1970s, scientists were able to isolate an amino acid known as DMG from its source. Eventually, it became one of many nutrients used by athletes to help give them a performance edge. But why should athletes get all the benefits? Find out what DMG can do for you…

Joyce Hollman

15 risk factors for young-onset dementia

When dementia hits before 65, it’s considered young-onset and may have strong genetic ties. But if epigenetics has taught us anything, it’s that genes don’t reign supreme, and scientists have identified 15 factors that can make all the difference.

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…

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…

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…

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

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

What gout and heart failure have in common

Gout has been established as a risk factor in certain cardiovascular conditions, including stroke and heart attack. But what about heart failure? Exploring a potential link between these two conditions may offer heart failure patients a new lifeline…

Joyce Hollman

Why the mercury in fish may not be so bad

We’ve been warned to avoid eating much fish over concerns about mercury. But now, Canadian researchers say the chemical form of mercury consumed from a high fish diet is completely different from the form found in the brains of those who were poisoned by mercury. What gives?

Jenny Smiechowski

Zinc: Too much or too little spells trouble

Zinc is one of those nutrients you don’t hear a lot about. People are all over vitamin C, but zinc, an equally important nutrient for a strong immune system tends to take a back seat to all the hype. But supplementing can be tricky…

Carolyn Gretton

This could be why your blood pressure medicine isn’t working

About 20 percent of people with high blood pressure are resistant to treatment, leaving them vulnerable to heart attack and stroke. Researchers trying to get to the bottom of why are onto something…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

New study shows 3 ways eggs benefit your heart

Remember how for years, doctors warned us not to eat eggs? They would raise our cholesterol, give us heart disease and leave us to die of a heart attack or stroke? Forget that old-school advice. The new-school lists three ways eggs do a heart good…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 lifestyle choices that add up to 6 years to your life

It’s no secret that the choices you make have a profound impact on your health. From protecting your heart to guarding against dementia and disability as you age, lifestyle modifications are taking center stage, and these four can add years to your life…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Slow walker? You’re on a fast track to a nursing home

We all want to age like those people who get laugh lines, not wrinkles, hold on to their memories and become more vital as the years pass. But it doesn’t always go that way. There’s a way to measure your odds — just in time to do something about it.

Joyce Hollman

The heart condition you can get from one episode of heavy drinking

A drink with dinner — no big deal. What about two or three beers? If you’ve had enough to drink that you get a hangover the next morning, you’re setting yourself up for a potentially fatal heart problem, even if you’ve never had heart issues before.

Carolyn Gretton

How your age at menopause impacts your dementia risk

Women are at much higher risk of dementia than men, and declining estrogen may have something to do with it. But it gets more alarming: The earlier menopause happens, the higher that dementia risk goes. What can we do about that? You’d be surprised…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The hidden factor increasing heart disease in lean people

I’m not body-shaming. My concerns stem from knowing that certain kinds of fat and where it’s carried, like around the middle, can do real damage. But there’s another type of fat we never see that goes after the heart. Surprisingly, the leanest among us may be most at risk.

Joyce Hollman

Reducing cravings: An added benefit of exercise

Exercise should be part of any weight-loss strategy. But can it do more? Scientists have looked into how it may help us resist the foods that often sabotage our best efforts. And it’s promising enough that you may start disliking exercise a whole lot less…

Joyce Hollman

A fiber fix for antibiotic-resistant infections

When bacteria become resistant, the original antibiotic can no longer kill them. The chances of experiencing an antibiotic-resistant infection are only increasing. But what you eat can shift the balance of antibiotic resistance genes in your gut…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What gallstones reveal about your cancer risk

Pancreatic cancer is tough. Often diagnosed late, survival rates are low. Knowing your risks can help. And now a predictor of elevated risk has been identified — a condition that could mean cancer isn’t far behind. But like those other risk factors, you can take control…

Carolyn Gretton

Vision loss as a dementia risk factor stacks up

None of us want to face dementia. So we do crosswords and brain teasers and hope we’ll maintain a sharp brain. But there’s actually a simple action that a lot of us aren’t taking that can make a big difference in our dementia risk…

Joyce Hollman

Middle-aged+? This is the ‘optimal’ amount of sleep for you

Ever wonder how much sleep you need for your best shot at overall health, including strong mental faculties? A huge study has answered that question for those of us middle-aged and up. Here’s the scoop, plus some tips for natural ways to help you achieve it…

Joyce Hollman

Gum disease and lung infections: A new connection

Did you know the immune cells that are generated to fight gum disease often turn up in heart valves and heart muscle? And that’s not the only crazy connection to your dental hygiene. Most recently, it’s been found that your lungs are another target for mouth bacteria…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The new fountain of youth: Fecal transplants

One of the most promising fields of anti-aging research is fecal transplants. Sounds gross, but amazing things happened when old mice were transplanted with poop from young mice. How far would you go to turn back the clock? Luckily, you don’t have to go quite this far, but it’s where you should start…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Water fasting: Its impact on type 2 diabetes and more

Dramatic improvement for type 2 diabetes is just the tip of the iceberg for what may be possible to achieve with water fasting. But it shouldn’t be approached lightly. If you’ve considered it, here’s what you should know…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Esophageal cancer doubles in adults under 65

We hear a lot about breast, liver and even lung cancer. But no so much about esophageal cancer. It causes minimal symptoms, so it’s often not suspected before it becomes advanced. And its rates have almost doubled. While experts figure out why — it’s important to know your risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The coffee brew method that raises cholesterol most for men

Coffee. Few of us can or want to start the day without it. And why not? The health benefits keep coming, or do they? That all depends on the brew method and your sex, especially if you’re watching your cholesterol…

Carolyn Gretton

The berry that decreases dementia risk even in middle age

It helps reduce the inflammation that can lead to heart disease and metabolic dysfunction. It can even help support stronger bones and muscles. Now researchers have found further evidence of this little powerhouse’s brain benefits — even in middle age…

Joyce Hollman

Monkeypox: What you need to know

As if COVID-19 wasn’t enough of a jolt for us to deal with, now there’s monkeypox. It may feel like we’re under attack from new viruses, but monkeypox has been around. It’s a cousin to smallpox, but don’t get worried, get in the know…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Recurrent UTIs start in your gut — not your bladder

It can seem that there’s nothing more painful than a urinary tract infection. So you head off to your doctor who prescribes an antibiotic. But you should know, the way doctors have been treating UTIs only perpetuates the dreaded recurrent UTI cycle. Here’s why…

Carolyn Gretton

The cellular ‘switch’ that triggers arteries to thicken

When arteries get thick and stiff, it opens up a world of trouble starting with heart and circulatory problems. It makes it easier for plaque to build up. But there may be more to it and researchers hope that leads them to strategies other than surgery…

Joyce Hollman

4 ways your body warns you it’s aging too fast

As we age, changes start to occur in our bodies. Not all of them are pleasant. And some can be warning signs that you’re actually aging faster than you probably want to. The good news is that you can do something about quite a few of them…

Joyce Hollman

If you thought melatonin was just for sleep, think again

It turns out that a hormone we naturally produce, and a supplement many of us take in order to improve sleep, is also a surprising immune system booster. Discover all the ways melatonin can help now and always…

Joyce Hollman

Breast cancer: Why Black and Hispanic women need more vitamin D

Vitamin D has shown positive effects on autoimmune disease, diabetes, heart disease and even COVID-19. Now research shows that Black and Hispanic women, who are normally more susceptible to breast cancer, are safer from the disease if they have adequate levels of vitamin D in their blood.

Joyce Hollman

Genetic cancer risk? Your metabolic risk may weigh heavier

For a long time, cancer research has emphasized the genetic aspect of the disease, that is, the risk we inherit from our parents. Now, though, science is becoming more aware of the environmental and metabolic factors behind cancer that are under our control…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why is heart attack mortality higher in the U.S.?

From imaging equipment to procedures like bypass or angioplasty to open a blocked artery as a heart attack happens, it would seem U.S. hospitals have all they need to provide the best care available to prevent the worst from happening. The truth may surprise you…

Jenny Smiechowski

The best nutrient to stress-proof against leaky gut

Your gut goes through some big changes when you’re under stress. In fact, stress impacts the bacteria in your microbiome, and it may even cause a serious gut issue called leaky gut syndrome. But don’t worry too much (it’ll only make your gut worse!). There’s a way to shield your gut from stress…

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