Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diabetes drug that blocks prostate cancer progression

Prostate cancer is ofen considered manageable and slow growing. But that’s not always the case. When it metastasizes, a deadly battle can ensue. But a common denominator between cancer growth and glucose metabolism means a common drug may stop it…

Joyce Hollman

In the dark: The scary truth about drug approvals

When a major university looked into the FDA’s challenge of balancing speed and safety for drug approvals, they discovered the scary truth about how little your doctor or you may ever know about the safety and efficacy of the medicine you take.

Carolyn Gretton

The link between your mouth, strep and coronary artery disease

No one likes the idea of gum disease. Unfortunately, half the world suffers from this affliction and it poses a serious threat to heart health. Unraveling this mysterious connection may have a lot to do with specific bacteria strains in the mouth…

Carolyn Gretton

How vitamin D powers up a cancer-fighting gene

Does vitamin D supplementation help protect against or fight cancer? So far, the connection has been promising enough that scientists continue to explore and strive to understand it. The latest? Its effect on a gene that can keep cells from becoming malignant…

Joyce Hollman

The weird way weight affects women’s longevity after 60

Are you a woman in her 60s? Want to live to be 90, 100, or more? It’s more under your control than you think. Here’s a hint: Throw out all you’ve been told about weight loss. You’ll be surprised to hear what research says…

Joyce Hollman

Long-term use of popular fake sugar increases belly fat

Do you know someone who diets, thinks they’re doing all the right things, but just can’t get rid of the belly fat? Most of us have been there. But what’s maddening is one of the strategies you may have used is the very reason that spare tire won’t go away…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3+ signs you’re headed for an early heart attack

You wouldn’t knowingly store up health problems that will come back to bite you later in life, right? But that’s what we do when, just because we “feel” well, we ignore a handful of signs that could mean heart attack or stroke at an earlier age than others.

Jenny Smiechowski

4 common drugs that help bad bacteria thrive in your gut

Do you know what your medications are doing to your body? You may know the reason you take it, but you probably don’t know that plenty of drugs, including these commonly used medications, increase the amount of dangerous bacteria in your gut…

Carolyn Gretton

The pros and cons of water fasting

With reported benefits like weight loss and better blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, a water fast is something to think about. But is it all hype? See what these researchers found when they reviewed eight studies on water fasting and spelled out the pros and cons…

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

What you should know about parasitic infections

A parasite is an organism that gets nourishment at the expense of the host. When a person begins to wonder about their declining health or energy, they’re often misdiagnosed. That’s what happened before an Australian woman had one removed from her brain…

Carolyn Gretton

4 red flags that signal colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is a growing threat that’s hitting younger. Because doctors don’t pursue symptoms in people under 55 diligently, identifying these 4 red flags may be all that stands between you and a late stage diagnosis.

Joyce Hollman

The surprising condition causing premature muscle loss in men

Who would have thought a handshake could send a clear signal that something is wrong with your health? But research has found for men, it’s a clear sign your muscles aren’t getting enough oxygen, and muscle loss and premature aging are setting in…

Jenny Smiechowski

The best feel-good foods by age group

Have you ever woken up feeling irritable or down for no apparent reason? Scientists are learning that some foods can set you up for a happy, positive mood, while others leave you feeling depressed, anxious and irritable. And these foods and feelings change with age…

Joyce Hollman

Genetic cancer testing: The reason anyone should do it

If you’re male and ovarian cancer runs in your family, you wouldn’t feel you were a target. The same might go for a woman whose father had prostate cancer and brother had colon cancer. But hereditary cancer isn’t that predictable, and testing is cheap…

Carolyn Gretton

A single molecule may drive cognitive decline and aging

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that there’s no one magic bullet when it comes to health. But there are a few things that come close. One of those is a Nobel Prize-winning molecule we produce less of with age. Scientists believe that’s a big problem for our brains…

Joyce Hollman

How the right foods protect against lung infection

Broccoli is good for a lot of things. For one it supports your gut’s lining, keeping bacteria from escaping and causing harm. Turns out, your lungs have a similar barrier, designed to let oxygen in and keep viruses out. Eat the right foods and you’re all set!

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Brain rejuvenation secret discovered circulating in our blood

Researchers had one goal: Discover exactly why three interventions have been found to turn back the clock on an aging brain. They didn’t expect to find a common denominator. And they certainly didn’t expect to find it already circulating in our blood…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The case against Ozempic and Wegovy

Ozempic and Wegovy are presented as miracle injectable drugs, both made from the same ingredient: semaglutide. The difference? The blurred lines between health and weight loss. If you’re on the line, see what the doctor has to say…

Joyce Hollman

Forever chemicals and testicular cancer: A direct link

Forever chemicals are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and known carcinogens. But some people still need “proof.” They’ve found it, sadly, in a group of men who’ve been diagnosed with testicular cancer at much higher rates than others…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Eating all the time? Put on a sweater

Do you slim down for the summer, only to find yourself pulling out the stretchy pants as the cold winter days drag on? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us routinely gain weight as temperatures drop, and there’s a simple scientific reason…

Carolyn Gretton

The post-heart attack symptom you should never ignore

Chest pain is one of the classic symptoms of heart attack. But that pain usually passes after the heart attack has been treated. Or does it? If you find yourself still experiencing any pain months or years after your heart attack, here’s why you should never ignore it…

Joyce Hollman

The pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s sign that starts in your gut

Slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s is all we have right now. But once cognitive decline is apparent, is it too late? Instead, the earliest sign may come from the gut. And the more we find out, the closer we are to heading off the mind-stealing disease…

Joyce Hollman

10 NEAT ways to burn calories without trying

What makes the difference between putting weight on and keeping it off? It’s already part of your daily routine, so why not put it to work? Here’s why it works, how to add more to your life, and the internal Apple Watch that tries to keep you moving and losing…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This 6-ingredient drink squashes joint pain

You don’t have to take prescription arthritis medications with a laundry list of side effects, like stomach problems and the risk of heart attacks, strokes and infections to get the pain relief you’ve been looking for.

Joyce Hollman

Citrus for lower cholesterol and stroke risk

Want to manage your cholesterol, lower stroke risk and keep a healthy heart? Take a stroll down the produce aisle. A growing number of experts have been examining the connection between citrus fruit and cholesterol, and the evidence is pretty juicy…

Joyce Hollman

Closing in on a key driver of aging and disease

Does aging have to come with a host of age-related diseases? If we work hard at keeping our health all our lives, is there an expiration date that takes it all south? No, but it does have a key driver we may soon put a hard brake on…

Joyce Hollman

10 natural ways to make ‘onion breath’ go away

Onions are right up there with green tea and red grapes for their polyphenol content. That makes them more powerful than a lot of highly-rated superfoods. So eat to your heart’s content and follow these tips to reap the benefits without the onion breath!

Jenny Smiechowski

The anti-diabetes antioxidant that reverses insulin resistance

When your cells become resistant to insulin, diabetes is at your heels. Research shows as the CoQ10 levels in cell tissues get lower, insulin resistance gets higher. In other words, the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 helps reverse insulin resistance.

Joyce Hollman

4 teas that naturally balance cholesterol

Diet and exercise can help keep your doctor happy about your cholesterol numbers. But you’ll definitely want to try some herbal teas. There are at least four different refreshing varieties that can help keep your cholesterol in check, thanks to powerful health-promoting plant compounds…

Carolyn Gretton

The consequences of removing the thymus (and why doctors routinely do)

Experts have long believed the thymus gland, which produces all the immune-boosting T cells the body needs during childhood, was of little use once we got older. Turns out they weren’t just wrong, they were dead wrong — as in “double the risk of death” wrong.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

12-year study finds 8 foods to beat cognitive decline

More evidence is stacking up that, when it comes to keeping your brain at its best, what you eat counts. According to research that spanned 12 years, there are eight foods you’ll want to make a part of your regular diet if you want to ward off cognitive impairment and dementia as you age — and one to avoid like the plague…

Joyce Hollman

Got 10 hours? Use it to turn metabolic syndrome around

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms affecting one-third of American adults that increases risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke. If you have excess belly fat, high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, you may be one of them. If you’ve got 10 hours, you can turn it around before it’s too late.

Jenny Smiechowski

Reversing age-related brain shrinkage is easier than you think

As you get older, the size of a certain vital organ becomes more and more important — your brain. That’s because, typically, the older you get, the smaller your brain volume gets. And if this shrinkage gets too out of hand, you end up with a serious cognitive impairment like dementia.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why cool temps could slow down autoimmune diseases like MS

By definition an autoimmune disorder is one in which your own immune system goes haywire, attacking the healthy tissue in your body, causing the disease. MS is one such disease. New research shows its symptoms may be improved and progress prossibly slowed with a change of temperature. Here’s why…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

New way walnuts improve cholesterol discovered

From controlling type 2 diabetes to stopping cancer in its tracks, if you want to stay in tip-top shape, nuts could be your ticket to a longer, healthier life. And it looks like the benefits of walnuts just keep stacking up, especially where heart health is concerned…

Joyce Hollman

How to tell if it’s age-related memory problems or Alzheimer’s

Memory problems can be unnerving, especially when we get older. It’s easy to begin second-guessing everything and wondering whether you’re simply forgetful or if something worse is happening — like Alzheimer’s. How can you tell the difference? Here are a few things to take note of…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising connection between MS and the sun

Sun exposure may be rough on the skin, but it has a lot of upsides for our sleep, mood and vitamin D levels. And now researchers are discovering that the benefits of sunlight may go even further by protecting us from certain autoimmune diseases…

Carolyn Gretton

Catching AMD before you start losing vision

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of sight loss in the Western world. And most people don’t know they have it until they’re already losing their sight. Researchers have been looking for ways to catch AMD before that point, and they may have identified some new early warning signs that can help them do it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

10 steps to simplify living heart healthy

To lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, we’re told to eat a heart-healthy diet. What exactly is heart-healthy? Is it only eating certain types of foods and eliminating others? Or is there a way to get to that elusive heart-healthy status without feeling deprived? Yes, according to these new rules…

Joyce Hollman

11 exotic superfruits with supersized nutrition

Instead of dreaming of tropical islands this winter, why not try some exotic fruits that hail from warmer climates? Here are 11 exotic “superfruits” that are fun to try, and packed with enough nutritional power to dispel the winter doldrums and most anything else that ails you…

Carolyn Gretton

Why more men are getting thyroid cancer

It’s been known for some time that people who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting certain cancers, including thyroid cancer. But it’s been unclear exactly how many cases of thyroid cancer are connected with weight — until now — and the findings should be a wake up call, especially for men…

Joyce Hollman

Study finds inflammatory foods feed Alzheimer’s and dementia

Research shows inflammation is a driving force behind obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Now research is stacking up that connects it with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The good news? Foods feed that inflammation in a dose-dependent manner and a change of diet could make a big difference.

Joyce Hollman

Weird causes and signs of low blood pressure

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, comes with its own set of troublesome symptoms. And, just like high blood pressure, it may also be a signal of other things going wrong in the body — surprisingly enough, even with your thyroid…

Carolyn Gretton

How grains can dash diabetes by more than 30 percent

The average American eats less than one daily serving of whole grains, and some studies show that over 40 percent of Americans never eat whole grains at all. When you know what whole grains can do for blood sugar, it’s no wonder so many Americans are in trouble…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The unexpected truth behind AFib triggers

AFib skyrockets your stroke risk. By throwing your heart out of rhythm, the condition can result in blood clots being released, blocking blood flow to your brain. If that wasn’t bad enough, strokes caused by AFib tend to be more severe than strokes from other causes. That’s why getting to the truth about AFib triggers is vitally important…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Best reason to exercise: rebuilding your body to live healthy longer

Aging means slowing down, doing less and retiring, right? Wrong! According to research from Harvard, if you’re taking it easier as the years pass, you’re missing out on processes in the body that can actually build your body back stronger and fight disease to help you live healthier and longer…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

An unexpected perk of housework: Healthy aging

Need a reason to stop procrastinating when it comes to household chores and get that sweeping, vacuuming and dusting done? A study looked at housework specifically for its ability to increase the amount of physical activity people get, and found quite a few unexpected perks that promote healthy aging…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising habit that weakens your pelvic floor (and we all do it!)

Sucking in our stomachs can seem normal, especially for women. But it turns out it’s not exactly healthy for us to be holding in our stomachs all the time. Read on to discover the dark side of “stomach gripping” and why it might have you running to the nearest restroom faster…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The FODMAP diet: Reducing symptoms and disease-causing bacteria

The FODMAP diet has been found to reduce the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But it wasn’t clearly understood how. Well, now we know. We also know that many people with IBS have a very unique microbial signature that’s downright dangerous…

Carolyn Gretton

15 chemicals linked to early menopause

It’s long been known that following menopause, women face an elevated risk of numerous health problems. But for women who experience early menopause (before the age of 50), the risks carry an extra wallop. And unfortunately, outside factors are contributing to this phenomenon…

Carolyn Gretton

‘Altered metabolites’ could be causing your migraines

Researchers have identified a connection between a genetic link and altered metabolites that appears to increase susceptibility to migraine. Good news is, to correct these metabolites and hopefully cut down on the painful condition, they’re looking at diet and a particular supplement that’s already shown major promise…

Joyce Hollman

The confusing way iron levels factor into Alzheimer’s

Iron is an essential nutrient. Iron deficiency anemia is all too common, especially in women and people over 65. But iron overload can also lead to serious health concerns. This conundrum is plaguing research over the past five years that has discovered a complicated relationship between iron levels and Alzheimer’s…

Joyce Hollman

The chemicals causing high cholesterol

We’ve known about the harmful effects of phthalates for some time now. They disrupt our hormones. They also cause thousands of deaths from heart disease each year. A new study has shown exactly how a specific chemical works in our bodies to raise cholesterol and cause heart disease.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Does your blood type increase your risk for certain diseases?

A Japanese concept called ketsueki-gata suggests that blood type shapes personality. The Blood Type Diet suggests certain foods may be healthier based on blood type. And while research on the validity of these concepts may be lacking, science is learning that blood type may influence disease risks…

Easy Health Options Staff

Flurona: What is it and what to watch for

Months and months ago we warned that the fall and winter months were expected to be a little rocky thanks to the combination of COVID-19 and a potentially nasty flu season. There was concern the viruses could muddy diagnoses and delay effective treatment. But things have gotten more confusing…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 scary facts about flu and your heart

You might have heard the news that a bad flu season might be just around the corner. But while getting the flu might leave you worried that you’ll suffer from a complication like pneumonia, bronchitis or a bacterial infection of the lungs, most of us don’t think about what it’s doing to our heart.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Two hot drinks that could lower your risk of stroke and dementia

Do you prefer coffee or tea? Either way, if you’re drinking the optimum amount you’re doing yourself some big favors, especially when it comes to risk of stroke and dementia. You may love either drink, but they love your brain more…

Carolyn Gretton

To lower blood pressure, use your whole spice rack

If you have high blood pressure, you’ve probably been told to cut back on salt. But just because you’re using less salt doesn’t mean you have to skimp on flavor. There are plenty of herbs and spices that will not only add flavor to your meals, but will also lower you blood pressure, so says science…

Carolyn Gretton

The strong connection between bad sleep, bad attitude and bad aging

Getting older has its advantages, but losing sleep isn’t one of them. Not only does age-related sleep loss hurt your physical and cognitive health, researchers are finding it can make you distressed about aging. And that negative outlook could have further consequences for your physical and mental well-being…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Heart disease in a paper bag: The worst and least chemical-laden fast foods

There’s probably not one of us who believes eating fast food is healthy. But what’s the harm in the occasional indulgence? Well, you might be surprised to learn there’s far more lurking inside that greasy bag you get in the drive-thru than just anti-nutrients that pack on the pounds…

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