Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘Barbie drug’ for tanning, weight loss and cancer

It’s a lab-made chemical originally used to help treat certain skin conditions. It’s similar to a hormone produced naturally by our bodies that increases production of skin-darkening pignments. But it’s a killer tan that you want to avoid at all costs…

Carolyn Gretton

For lowering stroke risk, diet isn’t the answer (this is)

You’ve heard it time and again: eat healthy to protect your cardiovascular health. Yet stroke is the one cardiovascular condition that doesn’t seem to be influenced by diet. So, what can you do? The answer is another lifestyle factor (not exercise) that affects us all at one time or another…

Joyce Hollman

The dangerous connection between surgery and obesity

There are many good reasons to maintain a healthy weight. And most of them are on a long list of dangerous conditions. But it’s actually a health issue no one’s sounded an alarm about yet that may put anyone dealing with obesity in the danger zone…

Carolyn Gretton

It’s official: Aspartame could cause cancer

Much research has connected artificial sweeteners to not-so-sweet health issues, while health agencies continued to maintain their safety. It’s no wonder we’re confused. Now a recent declaration by a leading global health body has only made things murkier about this possible carcinogen…

Carolyn Gretton

How deep sleep tonight improves blood sugar tomorrow

Sleep is essential to our well-being. But we’re still learning how it helps prevent disease. One surprising finding? Deep-sleep brain waves reboot the body’s sensitivity to insulin, resulting in a more effective control of blood sugar the next day…

Dr. Geo Espinosa

Never buy foods with these 7 ingredients

Are you destroying your wellness with the food you buy at the supermarket? Learn about the seven deadly ingredient sins you may be unknowingly committing when you fill up your cart at the grocery. By purchasing health-promoting foods, instead, you can help your heart and lower your risk of cancer. Here’s how to make those crucial supermarket aisle decisions.

Carolyn Gretton

The troubling truth about arsenic and diabetes

There’s no question arsenic can be poisonous in large amounts. But are the small amounts we’re exposed to over time in rice and drinking water really that bad for us? Research points to yes. In fact, a recent study has underscored the connection between arsenic exposure, insulin production and sensitivity and type 2 diabetes…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

A three-way attack on erectile dysfunction

Remember that super sexy foodie scene from the steamiest movie to come out of the late 80s — 9 1/2 Weeks? In “that” scene, the two romantic leads share some sensuous snacks, including grapes and strawberries, while sitting in front of an opened refrigerator. But do you know what was missing?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Beat menopause with a 10,000-year-old Chinese secret

Menopause can be a nightmare of hot flashes, depression and fatigue. Luckily, there is an answer in a 10,000-year-old traditional Chinese practice that has helped many women overcome these challenges and reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms…

Carolyn Gretton

Can napping save you from brain shrinkage?

Brain shrinkage is linked with aging and cognitive decline. So the more we know about pumping up the volume, the better. Despite research linking the habit to health problems, going down for a nap may be the easiest way to keep your brain volume up…

Joyce Hollman

The factor inflating H. pylori’s gastric cancer risk by 45%

For most, the common bacteria H. pylori has no symptoms. But for some it leads to all sorts of gastric problems, like heartburn, indigestion, gastritis and gastric cancer. Now, research has found a troubling factor that can ramp that cancer risk way up…

Carolyn Gretton

Largest trial to date finds vitamin D reduces heart attacks

More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, which is why doctors pay such close attention to warning signs like blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But it looks like there’s another important level they should be paying a lot more attention to…

Carolyn Gretton

A lager a day keeps your gut flora robust

Numerous studies indicate that alcohol and a disease-free life just don’t mix. But is something about beer different? It’s been tied to fewer infections and blood clots and less inflammation. And now we may know the secret behind its health-promoting benefits…

Joyce Hollman

Exercise relieves depression better than medication

Besides a long list of side effects, antidepressants don’t always work, have been linked to dementia and cause weight gain. But according to a comprehensive review, there’s a free solution that works better than medication and the only ‘side effects’ are health and happiness…

Joyce Hollman

The Alzheimer’s symptom that signals an antioxidant intervention

Once diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, there’s little that can be done. That’s why prevention and slowing progression has been the main focus of research. But one early symptom already has a well-researched solution that could be the intervention we’ve been looking for…

Margaret Cantwell

CoQ10: Your personal fountain of youth

St. Augustine, Florida, is said to be where Ponce de Leon discovered the legendary fountain of youth. If you’re looking for a lovely vacation, St. Augustine is a great choice. But if you’re looking for your own fountain of youth, how about an option heavier on science than myth…

Joyce Hollman

The one habit crucial for stroke recovery

No one wants to think they’ll have a stroke. The fact is, in the U.S., one occurs every 40 seconds, and someone dies of a stroke about every three minutes. But multiple studies show one habit can help you not only survive stroke but increase your odds of a full, unimpaired recovery.

Carolyn Gretton

What colitis, IBD and leaky gut have in common with vegetable oil

Since the heart-diet hypothesis introduced in the 1950s scared most of us off of animal fats, the FDA and AHA have assured us vegetable oil is a beneficial alternative. But there’s a dark side to a major component of vegetable oil, and you probably didn’t even know you were eating it…

Joyce Hollman

Symptoms and risks for the ‘over-50’ cancer all women should know

It’s the most common cancer of the female reproductive system, yet there’s no screening test to detect uterine cancer. That’s why knowing these symptoms and risk factors is so important, especially if you’re over 50 when your risk is highest.

Jedha Dening

4 drugs that can give you dementia

If it’s not shocking enough that dementia kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, how about this… you may be taking a common medication right now that increases your risk of developing dementia by as much as 50 percent!

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Huge study shows fitness is Alzheimer’s kryptonite

If you still cringe at headlines about fitness and health, you may think the benefits only apply to elite athletes. You’d be wrong. A 9-year study on almost 650,000 average Joe’s has proven you can pick the level you can commit to and make a dent in your dementia risk…

Carolyn Gretton

Experts blame 3 heavy metals for increasing heart disease risk

At least 9 million deaths worldwide each year are caused by pollution. And more than 60 percent of those deaths are linked to cardiovascular diseases. With numbers like these, researchers are working to identify the worse offenders and they’ve come up with three to watch out for…

Carolyn Gretton

The food additive triggering inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases affect millions of people, and though the exact causes are not fully understood, here’s a clue that’s hard to ignore: the most commonly used artificial coloring in American grocery items has already been banned in most of Europe for reasons you should know.

Joyce Hollman

Toilet seat or pillowcase: Which holds more infectious germs?

What do you think is the dirtiest place in your house? The bathroom or the bedroom? Both have their issues, but if you guessed bathroom, you’ll be shocked to learn a germ-filled slumber can expose you to an exponentially higher risk of dangerous bacteria…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Down this ‘shot’ before meals for lower blood sugar

While lifestyle changes can help defeat blood sugar problems, they’re not easy to stick to. But, if you’re still able to manage your condition without resorting to medication, you’d probably like to keep it that way. Here’s a tip researchers say will help…

Joyce Hollman

Why your hips hurt and the supplements that help

Healthy and pain-free hips are important to maintain mobility and independence with age. Osteoarthritis is only one condition that can compromise your hip function. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to support your hips so they can keep supporting you!

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to lower your soaring summer stress hormone

There’s this myth about the lazy days of summer being so relaxing. But it looks like stress hormone levels may be far higher in summer than in winter, and that means so is your risk for depression, memory problems and even a heart event…

Carolyn Gretton

Pneumonia: The surprising threat to denture wearers

Properly cleaning dentures is important, and not just for a fresh mouth. Like teeth, they collect bacterial plaque and may cause fungal infections. Worse, they build up a sticky biofilm that acts like a magnet for some very dangerous bacteria, in and out of your mouth, that you can breath into your lungs…

Joyce Hollman

Proof dietary supplementation is a must

For years, the medical establishment has pushed the idea that supplementing is a waste of money. Will they change their minds after findings that prove food alone can’t compete with multivitamins when it comes to keeping important levels where they need to be…

Joyce Hollman

Aspartame: The artificial sweetener linked to anxiety

Did you know that aspartame is responsible for generating 75 percent of consumer reports on adverse reactions to artificial sweeteners? It’s been linked to heart attack, stroke and kidney damage for starters. The latest? Multi-generational anxiety…

Margaret Cantwell

Are statins the answer to beating cancer?

Research is suggesting that statins may provide an edge over cancer. But are statins wonder drugs? 40 million Americans take them every day, but heart disease is still winning. 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year. Not to mention the other associated disease risks. Will conquering cancer make this drug shine?

Joyce Hollman

How to release proteins in your body that attack cancer

There’s one habit that’s good for your heart, your lungs, your weight and your brainpower. Research has also shown it’s the best way to avoid cancer, especially hormone-driven cancers like breast cancer. Now, it’s been shown to not only lower the risk but also slow the growth of the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the US.

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising truth about soy and hot flashes

There’s been a lot of confusion about whether soy is good or bad for our well-being. What researchers are discovering is that whole soy foods can actually support brain and heart health. More good news? They may also relieve a particularly irritating symptom of menopause that’s proven especially difficult to manage…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why blue light contributes to weight gain

You may know about the negative effects of blue light on your health. The light that is emitted from screens like your television, tablet or smartphone has been proven to steal sleep, increase cancer risk and even accelerate aging. Now researchers have found if you seem to be gaining weight or are having a hard time losing it, you can blame blue light from these devices as well…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What the smell of your sweat means

Have you noticed how some people can sweat buckets and smell like rain… but others? Let’s just say you wouldn’t want to sit next to them in a crowded room for long. Despite playground taunts, some of us aren’t born stinkier. It comes down to what’s causing you to sweat…

Joyce Hollman

Overactive bladder: Causes, risk factors and fixes

Overactive bladder (OAB) is just what it sounds like: A condition that causes the sudden and frequent urge to urinate. OAB isn’t uncommon, affecting 16 percent of men and 33 percent of women. The risk for OAB increases with age, but you shouldn’t consider it to be just an inevitable consequence of aging. If you’re experiencing problems, consider these common causes…

Carolyn Gretton

The evidence stacks up: Omega-3s promote heart health

Omega-3 fatty acids — do they really help your heart? Or do they have no impact — or worse, a negative effect — on heart health? These are questions researchers have been trying to answer for the past few years. What did the latest meta-analysis involving almost 150,000 participants find? The evidence just keeps stacking up…

Joyce Hollman

The over-50 food for better blood sugar, blood pressure and a slim waist

When it comes to keeping all your bodily systems healthy, the fact that refined grains are “out” and whole grains are “in” is no longer new news. But it turns out, there are very specific benefits for older adults on five major risk factors for heart disease, including waist size…

Carolyn Gretton

CBD may be better than opioids for fibromyalgia pain

With more and more people developing chronic pain conditions, efforts are being made to find better pain management tools. This is especially important in managing fibromyalgia pain since many existing pain medications offer little relief. Luckily, this natural supplement is proving quite effective in treating the pain associated with fibromyalgia…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Get sharper vision with less than a teaspoon of cocoa a day

While many of us start out with perfect visual acuity — that 20/20 vision score based on how far down you can read letters on the eye chart — it starts going in the opposite direction (up to where the letters get bigger and bigger) typically with age. But we may have found the best way to impress your optometrist at your next visit…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why red meat causes carcinogenic compounds in the colon

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the US. And lifestyle factors play a major role. We’ve long known that red meat and colon cancer can go hand-in-hand, but there have been many questions as to why. Answers have now been found in the DNA of colon cancer cells.

Carolyn Gretton

What your inflammation clock reveals about your immune health and aging

Aging is due in part to varying rates of immune system decline that trigger chronic inflammation. People with healthy immune systems are able to fight off this inflammation to some extent, but those whose aren’t as strong will age faster and be more prone to frailty and disease. Since inflammation is treatable, all we’ve needed was a way to measure it.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Fats, carbs, fiber and lowering your cholesterol

Diet has the greatest potential for the biggest improvement in cholesterol. But that doesn’t mean low-fat or low-carb diets are the answer. Dr. Klodas explains what fats help lower cholesterol, the carbohydrate connection, as well as how the natural cholesterol circulation system you have in your body works…

Joyce Hollman

Drugs that make antibiotics less effective when you might need them most

Antibiotic resistance is leaving us more and more vulnerable to serious disease. But overuse of antibiotics isn’t the only thing that’s causing this health crisis. Other common medications you may be using could make antibiotics less effective when you might need them most.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to eat sushi and avoid the big mercury danger

Sushi has become increasingly popular and it’s easy to see why. The combination of fresh fish, rice, seaweed and yummy sauces and add-ons like wasabi make eating healthy fun. Or does it? Depending on your sushi choices you could face serious heavy metal contamination. Here’s advice from experts on safer sushi choices and how to avoid the big mercury danger.

Carolyn Gretton

When diabetes leads to the worst heart trouble

People with diabetes who have no other risk factors for heart disease are five times more likely to die of heart disease than those without. Researchers now know a critical factor that if caught early enough can help dial the heart health risks down…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What prunes can do for your heart

After menopause a woman’s risk for serious heart trouble only increases. But keeping your heart healthy post menopause could be as simple as eating prunes. Yes, prunes! Just a few a day improved several markers that matter. And there’s no reason men can’t benefit, too…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How vegetable oil could trigger your migraine pain

Migraine is one of the most common causes of chronic pain. If you live with these extreme headaches, you know there’s no easy answer to finding relief. If you’ve tried the medications and they don’t work for you, take a close look at the oils in your diet. One type has been found to trigger them, and another may help reduce them…

Joyce Hollman

The real reason fibromyalgia increases pain sensitivity

Imagine being in pain all over your body, feeling crushingly tired and weak, and being so foggy-brained that you can hardly accomplish simple, everyday tasks. Now imagine years of being misdiagnosed or told “it’s all in your head.” That’s been life for people with fibromyalgia, until now…

Carolyn Gretton

NEAT: How capsaicin can help you burn fat

You may think your body only burns energy when you’re doing vigorous, aerobic exercise. But that’s not entirely true. NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) refers to burning energy through simple daily movement. And you can boost NEAT to improve how your body converts energy to burn stored fat and improve endurance with just a little heat…

Joyce Hollman

Why you can’t depend on your doctor to know if prescriptions are safe

You trust your doctor to keep you safe. They’d never prescribe a drug that could cause you harm, right? Not so fast. Special alerts were set up to help doctors stop prescribing a group of common brain-stealing medications. But did they heed the warnings to give their patients safer alternatives?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What should you eat to avoid heart disease?

In the past, dietary advice for a healthy heart has been all about what not to eat. But broad research says there is no indication that any food is poison in terms of cardiovascular risk. It’s a matter of quantity and frequency of consumption. Here’s a simpler way to eat best for your heart…

Joyce Hollman

Low omega-3 levels? You might as well be smoking

Omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart. Smoking is bad for your heart. Those are two well-known truths, right? Well, here’s a new and shocking one: Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that low levels of omega-3s are just as powerful in predicting early death as smoking.

Carolyn Gretton

When eating milk chocolate can help curb your appetite

Most of the health benefits of chocolate are attributed to dark chocolate. But because milk chocolate is so much more popular, a team of researchers decided to see just how much of an impact it had on weight and blood sugar. The findings were pleasantly surprising — depending on what time of day it’s eaten…

Easy Health Options Staff

The best diets for cancer patients and cancer survivors

Lifestyle changes often follow a cancer diagnosis, both during treatment and after. Eating well is often the first step. And there is good reason for it, say the experts. But of the five most popular diets that cancer patients or those wishing to avoid cancer often turn to, two really stand out…

Joyce Hollman

What are your chances of becoming a supercentenarian?

The oldest living person, Jeanne Calment of France, was 122 when she died in 1997. Seems unbelievable, but new research says living to 125 or even 130 years by the end of this century is well within the realm of possibility. That’s because extreme longevity is on the rise…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Cut heart failure risk in half just by sitting less

Staying active is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. But according to the American Heart Association, simply getting your recommended levels of exercise might not be enough. In fact, if you’re a woman over 50, you might be doing everything right and still doubling your risk of heart failure…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why you should take sleep as seriously as nutrition and exercise

So much research has come out on the impact of sleep on our health that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has declared sleep “essential to health” in a statement that has now been endorsed by 25 organizations. Statements like these aren’t made lightly. Here’s why they hope you’ll heed this wake-up call…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A chiropractor’s tips to avoid back and neck pain when working from home

Working from home has its perks: no more rush hour commute and who doesn’t love taking Zoom meetings in pajama bottoms? But it also comes with some downsides — like back and neck pain if your home office setup isn’t supporting you properly. From your neck down, here are seven tips straight from your resident chiropractor.

Carolyn Gretton

Antibiotics may be driving colon cancer among those under 50

For years, public health experts have advised doctors and patients to curb unneeded antibiotic use, mainly because of the rise in infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But there may be an even more urgent health reason for people to avoid antibiotics whenever possible — particularly if you’re under 50…

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