Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

Best for blood sugar control: cardio or weights?

Which is better, aerobic exercise or strength training? While the ideal answer is “both,” one is clearly better at improving one aspect of health that, unchecked, is a kick-off point for metabolic disaster…

Joyce Hollman

Weight loss without hunger? Try Hara Hachi Bu

Japanese culture offers a wealth of wisdom on how to nourish the body, including hara hachi bu, one simple principle for shedding weight, getting healthier and feeling satisfied when you leave the table…

Carolyn Gretton

What happens when you stop supplementing omega-3s

Omega-3s are healthy fats your body can’t make on its own. They help lower triglycerides and reduce risk of stroke. Here’s what you should know about getting them from food or supplements and the impact your metabolism could have on your levels…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Processed food fats may not be so bad on our hearts

By now, you’re sure to have heard about the heart health dangers of processed foods. Relax, there’s good news: Some processed food fats may not be nearly as bad for our health as we were led to believe — within reason…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Metformin cancels out the diabetic benefits of exercise

Yes, you read that right. The most popular drug for treating type 2 diabetes may cancel out the biggest benefits expected from exercise when part of a treatment strategy. Beyond diabetes, that may be a setup for long-term health risks…

Carolyn Gretton

The scientific reason it really is better to give than receive

Everyone loves giving and getting gifts. But it seems we enjoy gift-giving a bit more. Turns out the old adage “it’s better to give than to receive” is actually true in terms of the response it elicits from your brain…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Key player in kidney disease identified (and a supplement that helps)

37 million Americans live with chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes or hypertension, you’re at high risk of joining them. Luckily, a new treatment, and better yet, preventative, is on the horizon. Even better, it’s available right now without prescription…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The serious threats that stick around after the virus is long gone

Fever, cough, chills, congestion and body aches… a viral infection can be rough. When the symptoms are gone, it feels like the worst is over. But a surprising symptom sticks around: elevated risks for stroke and heart attack.

Easy Health Options Staff

Read before hanging out under the mistletoe

A kiss under the mistletoe is a longstanding holiday tradition, steeped in ancient lore. Depending on the health of your kissing partner, when you indulge in a 10-second kiss, you exchange much more than good tidings…

Joyce Hollman

Half a dozen ways to avoid weight gain over the holidays

The holiday season isn’t kind to people who are trying to lose weight or maintain a holding pattern. But don’t give up hope. I’ve got some strategies to avoiding tipping the scales to share with you…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The best way to beat down inflammation

Inflammation seems like such a benign and common symptom. But as the saying goes, “give it an inch and it’ll take a mile.” Once it takes hold — which is easy because it’s fueled by stress, sleep loss, sugar, pollution and countless other modern-day threats — it can completely wreck your health.

Carolyn Gretton

A sweeter way to boost hair growth

Living with androgenic alopecia, a common cause of hormonal hair loss in men and women, is challenging, especially when the suggested treatment isn’t all that effective. That may be changing…

Craig Cooper

10 ways to lower your PSA levels

An elevated PSA can be an early indication of prostatitis, an enlarged prostate or other health concerns. Research suggests that lifestyle changes, targeted nutrients, and inflammation reduction may help support healthy PSA levels.

Joyce Hollman

The diet that could keep gum disease away

The Mediterranean Diet is always at the top of any “best diet” list. It just has so much going for it, promoting healthy aging, better blood pressure and protecting against cognitive decline. The lastest? Gum disease…

Joyce Hollman

How to have the memory of a 50-year-old at 80

Diet, exercise and sleep are important for keeping your brain sharp with age. But what if you can’t do it all, like exercise? SuperAgers do more of one thing that’s not on this list, and it works for them…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The hidden arterial dangers of being ‘skinny-fat’

You can easily zip your jeans and your doctor’s happy with the number on the scale. That means you’re fit and healthy, right? Not necessarily. Being skinny-fat may mask artery damage setting you up for stroke or heart attack…

Carolyn Gretton

What your neck size can reveal about your heart

BMI was considered the gold standard for estimating a person’s body fat, until we learned it overlooked a critical detail that’s a much stronger indication for heart trouble, one your neck size could reveal…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

9 signs of poor circulation you shouldn’t ignore

Good circulation is one of the most critical factors for good health. Your heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and everything in between receive life-giving oxygen via a complex network of blood vessels throughout the body. Do you know the signs if yours is failing?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Sugar ruins your gut surprisingly fast — but there’s an antidote

Thanks to all the sweet treats that go hand-in-hand with social gatherings, I have no doubt that I eat more sugar during the holidays than in the previous six months combined. But eating a high-sugar diet for even a short amount of time can result in shockingly fast health problems…

Jenny Smiechowski

Avoid hidden heavy metals this holiday season

Decorative tableware is never more popular than during the holidays. But those festive platters can serve up toxic metals that shorten lifespans and endanger your heart on par with cholesterol. Before you serve guests, how dangerous is your holiday setting?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Simple hack stops ‘viral vitamin’ from plummeting during winter

It’s no secret why cold and flu season go hand-in-hand with the dark days of fall and winter. Luckily, scientists have discovered an easy way to bio-hack the ‘viral vitamin’ we need most this time of year…

Margaret Cantwell

More proof of skin cancer prevention in a vitamin

A few years ago, a small study from Australia, the skin cancer capital of the world, suggested a simple vitamin could help prevent the most common skin cancers. A much larger study just put those findings to the test, and they were right…

Carolyn Gretton

The real cholesterol culprit cracked: It’s not eggs

If you have elevated cholesterol, you’ve probably been avoiding eggs. Turns out, that advice may be as dated as bell-bottom pants. In fact, it’s this Western breakfast staple that may be the real villain in the cholesterol war…

Carolyn Gretton

The unusual link between HRT and women’s immune health

Hormone replacement therapy has largely shed its bad reputation, given the heart, bone and brain health benefits revealed in recent years. New evidence shows it could shore up another system critical to keeping women well…

Joyce Hollman

The perfect pair to beat disease-causing inflammation

There are lots of supplements that support gut health and fight disease-causing inflammation. But a perfect pair that produces a crucial short-chain fatty acid essential to healthy aging may be the most potent anti-inflammatory to do the job…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

10 sneaky conditions that lead to weight gain

When you do everything right and still gain weight, it can be frustrating. It’s probably not even your fault. Many health conditions, some you’d never suspect, can make it hard to maintain healthy weight or even cause sudden weight gain…

Joyce Hollman

The diabetes-cancer connection and how to take both down

If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes, you know the importance of controlling it. But there’s another significant reason to manage it, better yet, help it go into remission: Cancer. Luckily, there’s one thing that can take both dangerous conditions down…

Amanda Wilks

6 Anti-aging superfoods that will make you feel younger

Take into account just how important a factor food can be when it comes to aging. Stuffing yourself full of foods with added sugars and bad fats can be almost as destructive as hours sedentary on the couch. If you want good health to feel and look better, try these…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

16 medical tests to expect in your 60s and beyond

Some preventative medical tests are a piece of cake, while we dread others. And it seems new ones gets tacked on with each passing birthday. Here’s what to expect at 60 and beyond, including when you can start saying ‘no’ to some of the poking and prodding…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What is ‘Ghost Poop’ and what it signals about your health

‘Ghost poop’ is making the rounds on social media. Who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters. We’ve got all the answers about what this spooky-sounding term means, who experiences ghost poop, and what it signals…

Joyce Hollman

Ultra-processed foods: A metabolic and hormonal disaster for men

Research keeps proving the dangers of ultra-processed foods. One such study shows ultra-processed foods cause weight gain, no matter how much of them you eat. But most disturbing is the impact on men’s health…

Carolyn Gretton

The little gland that’s key to a lifetime of good health

You probably know more about your thyroid and adrenals than an odd little gland nestled in the chest called the thymus. Considering research believes it could be key to a lifetime of good health, here’s a much-needed introduction to what it does and why it needs your attention…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

New use for that little blue pill: Breathing easier

When we think of Viagra, erectile dysfunction comes to mind. But research has found it may be helpful for myriad conditions, most recently, two specific lung conditions. All because it helps improve blood flow (to places other than the penis)…

Joyce Hollman

Why diet drinks can prematurely age your brain

A large study has shown that artificial sweeteners, in drinks or food, may help you cut calories, but not without a price. What good is losing weight if your working memory and thinking abilities are destroyed in the process?

Joyce Hollman

What an avocado a day does for your nights

Avocados are rich in nutrients and healthy fats that support heart health and, in moderation, aid in weight loss. Eat one a day, and it’s a healthy habit you won’t regret. Especially when you climb into the sheets every night…

Carolyn Gretton

The missing link for lowering blood pressure with beet juice

It’s no secret that beet juice is great for your heart health, especially your blood pressure. But there’s an interesting wrinkle to this effect — one that has to do with a completely different body part…

Margaret Cantwell

The vitamin that fights a common contributor of unhealthy aging

Longer lifespans have researchers scrambling to keep an aging population healthier. One vitamin has emerged that experts agree may be helpful for several chronic conditions featuring a common denominator afflicting aging Americans…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Over-the-counter drugs that supercharge antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is still a problem, though you probably aren’t hearing much in the mainstream about it. The lastest? A popular OTC medication you might take for joint pain or a headache helps resistant bacteria thrive…

Jenny Smiechowski

The food that may give you an antibiotic-resistant UTI

Eating lean protein is a great way to maintain weight and fuel skeletal muscle growth by stimulating muscle protein synthesis and providing essential amino acids. But there’s one lean protein source that can contribute to resistant and recurrent urinary tract infections…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How viruses prematurely age your blood vessels

No one wants to deal with a viral infection. Like flu, COVID-19 can still pack a wallop and knock you out of commission for several days. But even a mild infection may leave its mark on your blood vessels…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 reasons to eat a pickle a day

While the humble pickle isn’t typically considered a superfood, these six reasons for eating a pickle a day could be one of the easiest and tastiest “self-health” hacks around…

Joyce Hollman

The surprisingly common syndrome linked to Parkinson’s

It’s estimated one-third of Americans face an elevated risk of stroke, kidney disease and dementia, all because of one common sydnrome. Now it’s been linked to Parkinson’s. How can you avoid it?

Carolyn Gretton

Do seed oils really deserve their bad reputation?

Seed oils are linked to poor health, starting with the heart. But part of that is an unholy alliance with processed foods. Newer research is begging the question: What if everything we’ve been told about seed oils is wrong?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Feel like your body fell apart after 40? Here’s why

If you’ve ever felt like your body is breaking down all at once, you’re not wrong. Researchers have found the aging process isn’t that gradual. We’re hit particularly hard during two specific times in our lives. Here’s when and a tip on avoiding the worst of it…

Joyce Hollman

12 reasons and conditions that make you cold all the time

Winter doesn’t agree with me anymore. When I’m indoors and warm, it’s OK. But you can’t stay inside all winter. For some people, though, feeling cold seems to be a year-round thing, no matter where they live. Here are some of the conditions that might be making you cold all of the time…

Joyce Hollman

The ‘gym supplement’ for healthy aging and everyday wellness

Boost your energy, your brain and your lean muscle mass with a supplement popular among gym goers for fast muscle gains. It’s simply a nutrient for anyone who wants to support everyday wellness and healthy aging. Read on…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

What you need to know about French fries and diabetes

Boiled, baked, mashed or fried, oh my! Americans have a love affair with potatoes. But is there a way to enjoy them and still maintain healthy blood sugar? Here’s what scientists discovered about French fries and diabetes…

Joyce Hollman

The cholesterol fix that sweeps forever chemicals away

Experts warn that every person in the U.S. is walking around with a body full of disease-causing forever chemicals. Seems a formidable challenge to overcome, until someone stumbled upon this cholesterol connection…

Joyce Hollman

Vitamin D’s ties to autoimmune and age-related fatigue

You might feel fatigued after a long day of activities or a long night of poor sleep. But if daily fatigue is your constant companion, the cause may be a condition that’s zapping your energy or a vitamin deficiency — or both.

Joyce Hollman

Reverse memory loss

Mitochondria are the powerhouses that produce energy within every cell of the body. According to a groundbreaking study, they are also both the causal link to memory loss and the key to reversing it…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Menopause and the big lie: You’ve got choices

There are many misconceptions about menopause. The biggest is that women have no influence over our overall well-being or even how to achieve it. I’m busting that myth and laying out the many choices you have to live your best life…

Joyce Hollman

Weird toothpaste ingredient regenerates tooth enamel

Fluoride can slow enamel loss and prevent tooth decay, but it can’t stop it. That’s why a discovery about a weird ingredient is so exciting: It can restore tooth enamel to save your smile for years to come…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The startling deficiency behind Alzheimer’s in women

Why more women than men are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has been a hot topic of debate. Research points to the role played by female hormones during menopause. But a new study revealed a deficiency that should have nothing to do with hormones…

Carolyn Gretton

The diet that slowed aging and reduced dementia risk

Diet is the foundation of heart and metabolic health. But for dementia, the focus has been on how specific nutrients affect the brain. Now, decades of research tells us slowing the body’s pace of aging should be part of the strategy, and the diet that does it…

Carolyn Gretton

The supplement that could prevent age-related macular degeneration

For years, scientists have been trying to stop age-related macular degeneration. And while there still is no drug cure, supplements like the AREDS formulations can slow progression — but they can’t prevent the onset. That’s where melatonin comes in…

Carolyn Gretton

4 factors to improve by 60 to avoid a nursing home

Healthy aging is something you might not focus on until you feel, well, older. But research shows how you take care of yourself, and the habits you form won’t only impact your health but also your risk of ending up in a nursing home. Pay attention to these four before you near 60…

Carolyn Gretton

The drug that could heal stroke — and a lot more

For those lucky enough to survive a stroke, an almost insurmountable challenge lies ahead. That’s why news about a drug that could prevent or possibly reverse the physical and cognitive damage of stroke is great news…

Joyce Hollman

The vitamin that could turn prediabetes around

Prediabetes is a silent sign diabetes isn’t far behind. Watching weight, blood sugar and cholesterol could help you avoid it. But if you find yourself in prediabetes limbo, like 10 million other adults, researchers say a common vitamin could be a big help…

Joyce Hollman

High triglycerides linked to abdominal aortic aneurysm

High triglyceride levels have long been a marker of vascular disease and stroke. But alarms are sounding over findings that they are a direct cause of another condition that can be deadly within minutes…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

‘Ozempic teeth’: Another weight loss wonder drug side effect

GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy, promise easy weight loss. But the outlandish side effects are stacking up. The latest? Bad breath, dry mouth, inflammation and tooth decay. Here’s why, and how users can lessen the threat to their oral health…

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