Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A novel way to make your cake a superfood

Cake might not be the healthiest choice for those of us looking to slim our waistlines or battle back diabetes and blood pressure problems. But what if there was a way to bake a cake with superfood benefits?

Joyce Hollman

Another major study confirms: Multivitamins slow cognitive decline

Clinical trials have already shown multivitamins can help reduce cognitive decline. Now findings not only confirm they can improve memory performance by years, but why people with heart problems should be especially excited about this research…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Sweet, salty and boozy: A recipe for holiday heart syndrome

The holidays are about celebrations. They’re also about alcohol, sweets and salty savory treats and big meals that can leave you with a permanent heart condition. Here’s how to avoid holiday heart syndrome and the signs to watch for…

Carolyn Gretton

Snacks that come with a license to cheat

You might think that if you eat healthy otherwise, splurging on a few snacks a day balances out. It depends. Choose wisely and you’ll carry less fat compared not only to those who snack on the wrong stuff, but also compared to those who don’t snack at all…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 ways an unhealthy gut worsens arthritis and joint pain

More and more health problems are being linked to an unhealthy gut, from Parkinson’s to Alzheimer’s and heart disease. But osteoarthritis and worsening joint pain? You’ll be a believer when they detail how fixing your gut may be the truest way to find lasting relief.

Jenny Smiechowski

6 ways to reignite your youthful energy

You used to run mini-marathons in the morning, work a full-time job, catch a late show with friends and still have energy to spare. But now you need to take a nap after grocery shopping and doing a load of laundry. What happened?

Carolyn Gretton

The 50-step-a-day activity that slashes heart disease risk

Having trouble getting in 10,000 steps a day? I have good news: Many studies show that much may be overkill. The magic number for better heart health may be much, much lower — as long as you’re getting them this way…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 factors that dramatically increase women’s blood clot risk

There are blood clot risks that both men and women face that can change everything in an instant. But every woman should be aware of the intersection of three factors that, for them, can ramp that danger anywhere from double to eight times the risk.

Jenny Smiechowski

Does the sea hold the solution to your food allergies?

In this day and age, it seems like nearly everyone has some type of food allergy — gluten, dairy, soy, wheat, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts. Chances are you’re avoiding one (if not more) of these allergens.

Joyce Hollman

Joint supplement ingredient fights MS better than approved therapy

Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. As more people are diagnosed, the current therapy isn’t cutting it. But research into a common supplement ingredient shows it may be possible to restore function in some patients…

Carolyn Gretton

Yoga: Heart protective enough even for heart failure

Yoga has many proven benefits. But what if your heart is failing? Research has shown a short course of yoga to be helpful in receiving some heart failure symptoms. But what you really want to know is whether it can help your heart function over the long term…

Carolyn Gretton

7 things happy people do that reduce depression by 57%

The factors influencing depression are very complex. But researchers keep digging into why some experience it more than others and they’ve discovered seven things that, if you follow, could take depression down, even if genetics is a factor…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Blood pressure management: Why winter can derail it

If you’ve managed to keep your blood pressure under control despite all the factors working against you, I’ll bet you never imagined the weather could throw a big kink into your readings…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Study finds exercise has ‘mind-blowing’ effect on genetic cancer risk

Study after study has already proven exercise to be one of the most valuable weapons in the battle against cancer. But what about people who are genetically predisposed and carry much greater odds? To quote one researcher, it was mind-blowing…

Joyce Hollman

Why late nights lead to blood sugar trouble

Can avoiding diabetes really be as simple as switching from a night owl to a morning person? The science says the difference can be substantial. But if your circadian rhythm or job makes that hard, you’re not doomed…

Jedha Dening

5 reasons you need more folate over 50

The health problems certainly seem to stack-up on us as we age… And one reason is because of changes in the body that affect nutrient absorption. In mature adults, more commonly known deficiencies include vitamin D and B12. But folate is one nutrient that’s equally important and often forgotten. Here are 5 ways it can help you age better…

Joyce Hollman

How a fat-burning hormone could keep Alzheimer’s away

Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease for which there still isn’t an effective treatment. Experts say the newest drugs carry risks far higher than any noticeable benefit. Wouldn’t it be nice to have another way to slow Alzheimer’s, one much less likely to cause a brain bleed that may already be supporting your health?

Carolyn Gretton

The supplement that may soon fight tooth decay

Dental caries, or tooth decay, is one of the oldest and most common diseases known to man. Yes, it’s a disease and its damage goes far beyond your mouth. So we brush and floss and try to avoid the sugar that kicks it off. But a powerful phytonutrient just may make caring for our teeth easier…

Carolyn Gretton

How fitness influences Afib and stroke risk

The most dangerous outcome of atrial fibrillation is stroke. People with this heart rhythm disorder have five times the stroke risk of their peers. How can you avoid being one of the 40 million worldwide with Afib? Research says a low level of fitness should do the trick…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Fast-working over-the-counter ED gel gets FDA approval

The famous little blue pill helped men with ED discover they no longer had to suffer in shame or silence. In just 30 minutes you could get your sexy back. But thanks to a newly approved gel, spontaneous romance is back, and coming to a pharmacy near you.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The little-known drug danger people with obesity face

Over the years, we’ve learned that obesity carries higher levels of health risks. But a shocking and little-known obesity-related danger comes from a surprising source: medication that’s rendered ineffective or unsafe by increased body fat…

Joyce Hollman

6 ways to bake heart-healthy holiday sweets

Holiday baking is going into full swing. That means lots of butter and sugar, right? If you’ve been reading here for a while, you know that it isn’t the butter that will kill you. It’s the sugar. Here are seven ways to enjoy holiday sweets without heart attack danger…

Easy Health Options Staff

Halloween horror diet scares away calories

Sitting through a horror movie can make you scream and sweat. Even better, it activates metabolic activity that can burn calories from dipping into the bowl of candy you got for the trick-or-treaters! Here are the top 10 calorie-burning horror movies…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The weird connection between constipation and blood pressure

Having constipation can be uncomfortable. But its effects on the body don’t just impact the gut. Constipatiion and hypertension are two conditions where the conditions and their treatments can team up to make matters much worse…

Carolyn Gretton

Ignoring these bathroom symptoms can cut your life short

If you’re a man in your 50s or older, you may have experienced frequent urination and problems emptying your bladder. You may think it’s just a part of aging you have to put up with. But research shows the consequences of ignoring lower urinary tract symptoms can be dire…

Jenny Smiechowski

Tis the season for high risk heart trouble on Christmas Eve

You’re just about to tackle the last of the of unwrapped presents when you feel tightness in your chest. A heart attack? On Christmas Eve? It’s more common than you think. So if you experience pent-up emotions this time of year, or plain old stress, time to manage them…

Joyce Hollman

Mistletoe: From Christmas tradition to cancer treatment

Hanging mistletoe is a popular holiday tradition. But mistletoe extract has gotten the attention of researchers as a potent anticancer agent. It’s already shown promise in treatment resistance cancer, so what’s next?

Carolyn Gretton

Blood pressure: The one thing you should take lying down

You may think your high blood pressure is managed well. Better yet, your readings may indicate you’re in the clear. But did you try measuring your blood pressure lying down? It’s taken 25 years to get the data, but this is going to change the way we monitor our blood pressure, for good reason.

Joyce Hollman

What giving up fats and carbs does to your life expectancy

Which is more important: a perfect body or a long and healthy life? That’s the kind of question that can make you go hmmm, because we think they’re one and the same. Healthy weight, healthy body, healthy life, right? Not if you’re going to extremes to get there.

Joyce Hollman

Why glaucoma may be the sneakiest sight stealer

You probably get a yearly checkup. But when was the last time you had your eyes examined? As we age, several conditions can degrade our eyesight. Glaucoma is one of them. And new research has found you could be suffering that damage right now — without any obvious telltale signs.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Keto: The diet with potential to starve cancer cells

Nobel Prize-winning physiologist and biochemist Otto Warburg hypothesized over 90 years ago that cancer cells use sugars for energy. If you take a cancer cell’s preferred energy source, what happens then? On the keto diet, the body turns to burning fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, but cancer might starve…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 immediate benefits of exercise says science

Sometimes staying motivated to exercise can weigh heavy on your fitness goals, no matter what they are. We’ve been conditioned that achieving them depends on the long haul. Not so for these five benefits that science says you can experience immediately. Hint: some of these may be the motivation you need!

Joyce Hollman

What ‘diabetes remission’ really looks like

Is it really possible to send type 2 diabetes into remission? That’s the word scientists used when they reviewed almost 100 papers about the effects of various diets on the disease. Their final assessment? It certainly is, as long as these two key strategies are part of the plan….

Jonathan Sharp

Is your mattress leaking fiberglass? Here’s how to know

If you’ve ever shopped for a mattress, you know that there’s a lot to consider, including size, price, and of course, comfort. Oftentimes, we get so preoccupied with finding the perfect mattress that will last a decade, that we totally overlook potential hazards. But how dangerous could a mattress be? Quite dangerous, actually, especially if it’s leaking fiberglass…

Carolyn Gretton

Walking significantly raises survival odds after a stroke

Walking is probably one of our favorite forms of exercise. But many hardcore fitness freaks might cast doubt on the benefits of waking a few hours a week. If they are ever unfortunate enough to experience stroke, they may change their minds. Reducing risk of death up to 80 percent is nothing to scoff at…

Joyce Hollman

Why napping won’t make up for your sleepless nights

Is napping your favorite pastime? Of late, it’s been mine. I’m not sure if the heat is to blame or just age. But I’ve been catnapping more often. That may sound nice, but I’ve noticed I don’t wake refreshed or any better able to focus. Turns out there’s a good reason for that. It’s called slow-wave sleep…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The age when metabolism really slows (it’s later than you think)

Maybe you remember a time that you could eat anything you wanted and not gain a pound. Yet now, if you even look at a cheeseburger, you can feel your hips and thighs expanding. If so, you’ve probably placed the blame on a slow metabolism due to age. But new research says your metabolism stays strong longer than you might think…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Meditation: Better concentration now and less degeneration later

Although millions of people around the world seek mental clarity through meditation, most of us in the U.S. ignore this powerful tool. True, most of us have little time to set aside for ourselves. But considering how much science shows the simple practice can improve concentration now and lessen the risk for degeneration, even Alzheimer’s, later, we can’t afford not to make time…

Carolyn Gretton

Osteoporosis: The forgotten mineral that lowers the risk

It takes more than calcium and vitamin D to maintain bone health. These popular nutrients tend to take the spotlight, though strong healthy bones depend just as much on important micro- and macronutrients. In fact, a single trace element — and don’t let that word diminish its big benefits — is instrumental in boosting your bone density…

Carolyn Gretton

Considering hormone replacement therapy? Check your ‘vascular age’

For years, doctors have used a menopausal woman’s chronological age and years since onset of menopause to determine whether hormone therapy is too risky for her cardiovascular health. Now, researchers are suggesting physicians look at a completely different kind of age for a more accurate measure…

Carolyn Gretton

Combining metabolic syndrome with kidney disease can be deadly

Metabolic syndrome is bad enough on its own since it raises your risk of problems like heart attack, stroke and diabetes, not to mention premature death. But when combined with chronic kidney disease, the cluster of conditions that make up metabolic syndrome can send those risks into the stratosphere. Here’s how to avoid them…

Joyce Hollman

10 factors that increase bone fracture risk

Research has identified 10 factors that, if they apply to you, add up to a 30 percent higher chance you’ll suffer a fracture in the next two decades. Some of them are beyond your control. But there are a few you can address now to prevent broken bones later on.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Insulin resistance: What you need to know

Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, insulin resistance. They’re all manifestations of the same metabolic dysfunction, just to a different degree. And all individuals who develop type 2 diabetes are initially pre-diabetic. And all pre-diabetics are initially insulin resistant. The key may be stopping this hidden dysfunction…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Harnessing the simplest of supplements against autoimmune disease

Some things simply go hand-in-hand, like salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, a needle and thread. And according to scientists, another pair where you can’t have one without the other is vitamin C and strong, stable immune cells. In fact, this special combination could be the key to defeating autoimmune conditions for good…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Losing height? Why mid-life shrinkage is a stroke risk warning

If you’re nearing 50 and find that you’re simply not as tall as you used to be, you’re not alone. That’s because height loss due to the shrinking of your spinal discs, compression fractures and poor posture often start adding up by your 5th decade. It may be a blow to your ego but an ever bigger one to your health. Good news: you can slow it.

William Davis

Vitamin K2: 3 reasons it helps you live your best life

Since its discovery, scientists have uncovered five different compounds that make up the vitamin K family. And one of the most compelling is vitamin K2. Discover three reasons this one nutrient can help you live your best life.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How sugar drains our mitochondria and sets the stage for disease

It’s no secret that most of us eat way too much sugar. It’s also no secret it can lead to diabetes. But that’s not all. It has a very sinister effect on our mitochondria, our cellular power plants, that can set the stage for a metabolic disaster. What can you do? Cut down on sugar and feed your mitochondria what that sugar’s been stealing from them…

Carolyn Gretton

The overlooked nutrient deficiency that can sneak up on diabetics

If you have diabetes, you know it’s imperative to manage your intake of sugar and carbs. But while many diabetics are busy making sure they are eating right for blood sugar management, many are falling behind on an important nutrient that can leave them with mobility issues…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The exercise combo that slays 6 types of cancer risks

There’s no question that physical activity has a huge impact on our health. From keeping our hearts healthy and cholesterol in check to controlling blood sugar, staying active makes it more likely we’ll live better, healthier and longer. Best of all, exercise has been shown to have powerful cancer-fighting properties.

Joyce Hollman

Does your body have enough beige fat to ward off dementia?

When all the experts are telling you to cut down on fat it can be confusing. But the body contains one fat that you certainly need more of, especially if you want to avoid cognitive decline. In fact, this fat has been deemed “indispensable” in protecting the brain from dementia. Here’s how to turn your fat to the good side and benefit…

Carolyn Gretton

Why you should never throw these fruit and vegetable skins away

If you’re a foodie you may already be on board with leaving the skins on many fruits and vegetables for that rustic look and taste. But there’s another reason: super nutrition! But can you eat all the skins? That’s up to you, but here’s a list of fruit and vegetable skins you should never throw out…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Essential oils really work with the help of a ‘brain vitamin’

Essential oils have long been used to boost physical and emotional health. Some may speed wound healing, lower blood pressure and even attack the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. But the scientific community has claimed it was a “placebo effect.” Well, that’s all over now that the mechansim by which they boost health and mood has been uncovered…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 simple ingredients to fade age spots and the ones to avoid

They’re often referred to as age spots, sun spots or liver spots. But their cause is the same: UV ray exposure that speeds up the production of the natural pigment melanin. Avoiding age spots is a good idea — because the same culprit is behind skin cancer. But if you want to fade them, there are some dangers there to watch out for as well…

Carolyn Gretton

The significant impact healthy choices have on genetic cancer risk

Cancer can strike at anyone, but some people have inherited genes that put them at higher risk. Does that mean you’re doomed? Far from it. Researchers are discovering this genetic predisposition is far from a death sentence, thanks to the significant impact of a few healthy choices…

Carolyn Gretton

Making sense of starches in your diet: The good and the deadly

Starchy foods have a mixed reputation. Some are actually good for you, while others can spike your blood sugar and contribute to metabolic diseases. And recent research has come down that certain starchy foods present a clear and present danger to your heart health. Here’s the good and the bad on those starches on your plate…

Jenny Hart

How diabetes increases risk factors for 4 common diseases

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects how the body takes in and uses glucose or sugar. Both genetic and environmental factors can play a part in the development of diabetes. And because diabetes affects many systems in the body it can increase the risk for other serious diseases as well. Here’s what you need to know about those risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The vitamin deficiency found to fuel addiction

Some blame Big Pharma for pushing the drugs in the first place. Others lay the problem at the feet of doctors who continue to prescribe the medications, despite alternatives. But there’s something the experts may be missing about the opioid crisis: a vitamin deficiency that makes the body more sensitive to the drug’s effects…

Joyce Hollman

Why dancing is the best exercise if you’re past menopause

Post menopause, it can be more difficult for women to keep the weight and health problems at bay. There’s also a higher risk at this time to enter a spiral that can negatively affect a woman’s ability to maintain an independent and healthy, high-quality lifestyle throughout her lifespan. Beat it by putting on your dancing shoes…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The daily activities that could delay Alzheimer’s by five years

Did you know that for every year you live past 65, the number of people in your age group living with dementia doubles? Before you get too worried, you should know researchers have proven it’s possible to keep your brain healthy longer. In fact, certain activities can help you delay Alzheimer’s and dementia for an additional five years.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This surprising culprit increases sleep apnea risk 78 percent

If you snore so loudly you wake up your sleep partner, and even yourself, sleep apnea could be to blame. But sleep apnea is a much bigger worry than just snoring. While that may not surprise you, a sneaky culprit behind sleep apnea just might, as well as the fact that it could leave you vulnerable to high blood pressure and the dangers that come with it.

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