Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

The ONE diet found to be the easiest to stick to and lose weight

If you’re locked in a constant struggle with weight, you know what to eat is the daily question, and often a confusing one. There is so much diet advice out there! You’ll be happy to know that, based on research, a group of scientists is backing one particular diet as the best candidate for sustained weight loss…

Carolyn Gretton

2 key biological elements of aging in humans reversed in scientific first

Until someone finds a “fountain of youth,” aging will continue to take a toll on all of us. There are ways to slow the aging process through diet and exercise, but no way to reverse it — until now. For the first time, and in humans — not mice, researchers were able to reverse two key biological elements of aging…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Risky medications that increase post-surgical delirium (and worse)

With age may come wisdom, but it can also bring a number of health problems, including some that require surgery. But surgery in our senior years is especially risky, and new findings show some common medications can make it much worse. Here’s what you need to know…

Jedha Dening

Triple your disease protection with carotenoids

Carotenoids make fruits and vegetables colorful. But more than that, carotenoids are powerful antioxidants with a serious capacity to scavenge free radicals and protect your body’s cells and tissues from oxidative damage and these three major health threats…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

A big clue you’ve won the genetic lottery

Thanks to the fact that the over 60s age group is growing faster than any other, research is focused on how those living longer into old age can do so without succumbing to years of frailty and disability. And they may have found at least one of the secrets to living better longer…

Joyce Hollman

What the optometrist can ‘see’ about your stroke risk

Americans are not fans of eye exams. The American Academy of Ophthalmologists reports most of us won’t see an eye doctor even when problems develop. That’s a mistake: an exam could find signs you’re headed for stroke or heart attack even before your doctor can…

Joyce Hollman

The mineral behind Parkinson’s brain-robbing proteins

Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are both brain disorders. And while Parkinson’s symptoms are more physical, they share symptoms, including dementia and disease progression. New research shows they also may share a common enemy that worsens brain destroying proteins.

Carolyn Gretton

Can an avocado a day really help you lose weight?

There’s no doubt avocados are high in fat and calories. But can eating them actually help you lose weight? Smaller studies have suggested that’s the case. What did the largest and longest study to date on the health impacts of avocados find?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Vitamin deficiency tied to diabetic foot ulcers

Foot ulcers are a major complication of unmanaged blood sugar. And they should be taken seriously. Severe ulcers can lead to amputation. That’s why to avoid them, doctors recommend proper management of blood sugar and weight loss. Add an important vitamin to that list…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diabetes threat to cancer survival

Certain types of cancer have been found to increase a survivor’s risk for diabetes. And survivors who develop diabetes don’t fair as well as those who don’t. Could maintaining healthy blood sugar levels be the key to better odds and longer survival after cancer?

Joyce Hollman

How the medical community is making human guinea pigs of women

Some of the biggest medical studies to date, responsible for medication and procedures, have been conducted without a single female subject. But is that holding the medical community back from using protocols designed for men on women? Not at all and not without consequence…

Carolyn Gretton

Exercise or die? What if you’ve already had a heart attack

No one likes to exercise. But every day 2,200 Americans die from a heart attack. But you know what? There are about 335,000 recurrent heart attacks each year, too. That means a lot of people survive. But is exercise a good idea after the fact, can it keep you from another, and what kind’s best?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The oil that turns fat storage cells into fat burning cells

For the longest, I was stuck with an extra 10 or 15 pounds that I felt I needed to lose. I can’t count how many times I’ve wished for a magic pill that would turn me into a fat burning machine. Well, thanks to researchers in Kyoto, Japan, we may have gotten a little closer to that magic pill.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The Alzheimer’s trifecta more risky than genetics

If a close family member had Alzheimer’s, you know that fear of one day developing the disease yourself. On the other hand, no family history could give you a false sense of security. That’s because a trifecta of three common health conditions has been found to carry a much higher risk than genetics…

Joyce Hollman

7 aging myths to stop believing

Aging is still a difficult subject to talk about. Maybe that’s why the aging process is surrounded by myths that many people believe. Here are seven of them we’d like you to stop falling for. You’ll improve your health, live longer and enjoy life more!

Joyce Hollman

How to slash genetic risk for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in American men, and the most heritable cancer. If your father had it, there’s a high chance you will, too. If you are at increased genetic risk, recent research spells out exactly what you can do to dramatically decrease the odds it will take your life.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

2 steps to beating hypertension even if you’re overweight and over 55

There are a number of things that can cause your blood pressure to go up. But two of the most common contributors are age and weight. A new study has found a two-step system can significantly lower blood pressure even if you’re over the age of 55, overweight or obese…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The nutrient deficiency that leads to loneliness (and heart dangers)

Scientists discovered that loneliness can actually be ‘seen’ in our blood. While it sounds crazy, they saw that people who live with loneliness have very specific compounds in their blood, plus a nutrient deficiency that helps explains their condition and specific heart dangers…

Joyce Hollman

Only 1 in 5 of us has a healthy heart: Is it you?

While a higher risk of heart disease can be inherited, lifestyle can outweigh even these genetic tendencies. In a first ever study measuring specific factors that affect heart health, the news is grim for most of us, based on that simple fact, unless…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 ways to naturally relieve COPD symptoms

Many people don’t realize that COPD is actually an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and sometimes asthma. Nor do they realize how widespread and dangerous it is — especially if you’re a woman…

Easy Health Options Staff

The ONE question to always ask a thyroid doctor

Need a good reason to take extra care of your thyroid? Here’s a good one: If something goes wrong — surgery is risky. But if you absolutely must have it removed, there is one very important thing you must ask your surgeon…

Joyce Hollman

From weight loss to lower cholesterol: How to get the most from apples

Study after study has shown the health benefits of apples give credence to the saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, there are many ways to enjoy apples, and they’re not all created equal when it comes to reaping their nutritional value…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Viral trigger to blame for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis has had doctors and scientists stumped ever since it was first identified. While they could put up theories of what might cause the crippling autoimmune disease, the proof was elusive, until a solid connection was linked to a common virus…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Stomach cancer: Risks and symptoms you should know

While stomach cancer is only the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide, it’s the third most common cause of cancer death. Because it’s so dangerous, it’s important to know the signs, risks and best prevention…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Over 51? You may have monkeypox protection

No one is sounding loud alarms about monkeypox yet, but cases have started to rise. An interesting thing is that most of them are in people under 50. Unlike the last virus that made older adults a target, if you’re 51 or over, you may have little to be concerned about…

Carolyn Gretton

Is E. coli and a bad diet a recipe for colon cancer?

A Western-style diet is linked with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. And separate studies have indicated colorectal cancer could be influenced by a certain type of bacteria. Now, scientists are looking closely at the connection between these two colorectal cancer risk factors…

Joyce Hollman

The best way to avoid knee pain says science

The pain of knee osteoarthritis can be excruciating, and the stiffness can really slow you down. For many people, the solution is a total knee replacement. But science is stacking up for a simple way to slow damage and reduce your pain risk by 40 percent…

Carolyn Gretton

The menopause change that increases stroke and Alzheimer’s risk

Many changes come with menopause. And most of them we’re very familiar with. But one symptom has left experts wondering if it’s the result of out-of-whack hormones or if actual physical changes occur in the brain. Researchers recently explored this and what they discovered is concerning…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The microbe shortage spreading disease

The microorganisms that dwell in your gut impact vitals such as blood pressure, immune system development and your risks for more than two dozen other diseases, that they know of at this point. But most of us are running around with an “impoverished microbiome.”

Joyce Hollman

LISS: The low-intensity workout with big cardio benefits

Remember when high-intensity interval training became popular? I wondered how anyone but a seasoned athlete could stand up to those intense bursts of exercise. If you’re looking for cardio you can keep up with, that elevates your heart rate with less risk of injury, welcome to low-intensity steady state workouts…

Joyce Hollman

Can we avoid the cancer-causing forever chemicals in our water?

Once you’re exposed to perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAs, they end up in your bloodstream forever. In fact, PFAs can be seen in the bloodwork of 99 percent of Americans. PFAs are carcinogenic. They’re linked to thyroid, liver and kidney disease. Here’s how to cut down on exposure and detox what’s there already…

Jenny Smiechowski

The ‘fat overspill’ mechanism behind type 2 diabetes and how to reverse it

Fat is normally stored under our skin, but when there’s too much, we run out of room. The amount of fat that you can store under your skin varies from person to person. But what happens once you run out of room? Scientists discovered it gets caught up in an overspill mechanism that can be reversed…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The dairy choice that slows aging by almost five years

Some people say we should avoid milk completely. Others will tell you to only go with whole milk because the fats in it are good for your brain. How do you know what’s right? Well, a new study is shedding more light on the subject, at least when it comes to how fast you age…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why a cancer warning could get slapped on this popular painkiller

Phenacetin was a popular painkiller until 1983 when the FDA banned it because of its connection to cancer. Good riddance, right? Not so fast… it’s connected to a very popular OTC pain killer on our drugstore shelves right now that may increase the risk of several cancers, including kidney, bladder and blood cancer…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

When natural isn’t healthy and reduced sodium is a hoax

From “natural” to “non-GMO,” food labels can make almost any item in the grocery store appear good for you. But we know that most processed foods are far from healthy. If you’re confused in the grocery store aisles, here’s Dr. Klodas’ guide to exactly what all the labels mean…

Joyce Hollman

5 secret side effects of exercise that have nothing to do with fitness

It’s no secret that a sedentary lifestyle, where the most exercise you get is standing up from your chair, can be deadly. Just doing any sort of exercise regularly can protect your best years. Because staying active does much more than control blood pressure and prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How many eggs can you eat daily and stay heart healthy?

If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not eggs are not only healthy but safe when it comes to your heart, you’re not alone. After all, it’s been a head-spinning debate for the last two decades. Finally, the controversy about whether eggs are good or bad for your heart health looks to be solved…

Joyce Hollman

CBD could end opioid addiction and antibiotic resistance

How is the FDA doing at “protecting the public” from the opioid crisis? And how quickly are they making headway against the growing threat of antibiotic resistance? One could argue that they need to focus on the real problems here, and not worry about a substance that could actually be the answer to it all.

Jenny Smiechowski

How muscle mass helps you fight off disease and sickness

Your body needs muscle for more reasons than just movement. It needs muscle to regulate hormones, perform metabolic functions and maintain organ function. So, losing muscle quickly creates a dangerous domino effect that makes your body unable to perform critical tasks for survival.

Joyce Hollman

3 ways belly fat starts disease and slows your brain

The interconnectedness of your brain, your gut, and your immune system is a well-known fact, but maybe one that’s not completely familiar to you. The more you know about it, the more you can do to hold onto your health and keep your independence as you age. And it starts at your belly…

Jenny Smiechowski

Are ‘swiss cheese bones’ behind your low back pain?

About 80 percent of people deal with low back pain, and most of the time, it’s not caused by a strain or injury. A new study from researchers at John Hopkins Medicine may have finally figured out what’s behind our aching backs…

Joyce Hollman

8 common habits that could shorten your life

You have a stressful job. You get home from work, exhausted. You watch TV until you fall asleep, forgetting to brush your teeth. These are just a few of the common habits most of us are guilty of. What’s the harm? These are just a few of 8 behaviors that shave years off your lifespan…

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

The sugar that’s driving a liver disease epidemic

It’s an industrial food product and a far cry from the ‘natural’ label claimed for it. In fact, it’s prepared by a secret formula — that the food industry will not reveal (even to government agencies or health workers). And it’s part of an explosion of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Here’s what you should know…

Jenny Smiechowski

The food that fortifies your gut against food poisoning pathogens

Even if you always avoid the potato salad at summer picnics, one day you’ll find yourself crouched next to a toilet cursing the suspicious food that made you so uncomfortable. Luckily, food poisoning doesn’t strike that often. It’s even possible to stack the deck against food-borne pathogens to lower your odds more…

Joyce Hollman

Why are Americans getting clean with a cancer-causing chemical Canada has banned?

Have you taken a good look at the ingredient list on your shampoo lately? How about your toothpaste? I’m willing to bet there’s an ingredient they all have in common. The problem? It’s a harsh chemical the Environmental Protection Agency considers a “probable human carcinogen.”

Jenny Smiechowski

Can you catch cancer, heart disease, and lung disease?

Did you know that 70 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by just three lifestyle diseases — heart disease, cancer and lung disease? But what if lifestyle wasn’t the whole story behind so-called “lifestyle” diseases? What if there was something else causing these diseases… something contagious?

Joyce Hollman

Say goodbye to this food group to say goodnight to insomnia

It’s also no secret that refined carbs like white bread, soda, white rice, and pastries with their added sugar, have a high glycemic index. Eating them raises blood sugar much too rapidly, setting us up for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. But that’s not all they do…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How much you have to walk each week to lose weight

Hands-down, one of the easiest exercises to fit into your life is walking. In fact, when you choose to walk your way to weight loss, you don’t need special equipment, a gym membership, or expensive new clothes. You just get going. But how far do you actually need to walk to lose weight?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

There’s something in your bottled water slowing every heartbeat

You stop to grab a quick drink and see all those colorful soda cans and bottles behind those frosty refrigerated glass doors. You’re tempted, but you stick to bottled water for your health’s sake. But you might have just picked a heart attack waiting to happen…

Joyce Hollman

Two things that will help ease your back pain and sleep problems

This may seem obvious, but chronic back pain can wreak havoc on your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Many people turn to both pain medication and sleeping pills. But taking sleep and pain medications together can be a recipe for disaster. Boston Medical Center found two things that work…

Joyce Hollman

Your risk of 7 different cancers is just a walk away

METs stands for metabolic equivalents. Using METs is a way of comparing the energy expenditure of different activities. One MET is defined as the energy you use when you’re resting or sitting still. When I climb the stairs, I could be expending as much as 4 METs. When they add up, you send cancer walking.

Jenny Smiechowski

10 nutrients you’re probably not eating enough of

Researchers have identified 10 vitamins, minerals and nutrients most of us aren’t getting enough of in our diets. In some cases, you may want to take a supplement to get your levels of these nutrients up to snuff. In other cases, you may not. Either way, make sure you don’t ignore these critical nutrients…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Proven protection for your brain’s gray matter

Certain areas of your brain may be more at risk and play a bigger role in cognitive decline as they lose volume with each passing year, especially your brain’s grey matter. As it shrinks, so can your ability to remain independent. But you can pump it up…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 health problems your feet warn you about

Having a little foot pain here and there is not generally something you need to worry about. However, If you live with certain types of foot pain, day in and day out, there could be something more going on. That’s because certain health problems cause foot symptoms that you should never ignore, like these…

Joyce Hollman

Seeking volunteers to control chronic pain

Chronic pain can bring depression and a feeling of hopelessness. It can even cause changes in your brain that can lead to cognitive decline. So the connection between pain and your brain go hand in hand. What if those pain centers of the brain could be deactivated? Would you volunteer to see how it works?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The weight loss trap that tanks testosterone

Living with low T can lead to far more than feeling older and more out of shape than you would like. In fact, low testosterone in men is linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease and other causes. One of the easiest ways to boost it is through weight loss, unless you make this very common diet mistake…

Jenny Smiechowski

Can you run your way to younger blood vessels?

Vascular age is the “age” of your arteries based on the condition they’re in. You could be sixty with the arteries of an eighty-year-old, or vice versa. As you can imagine, vascular age is pretty important, because it impacts your risk of cardiovascular disease. So, let’s talk about turning the clock back on them…

Jenny Smiechowski

The common and serious lung disease tied to sleep habits

A network of body clocks regulates pretty much every bodily function. They create circadian rhythms (bodily changes that run on a daily cycle, triggered by light and darkness) and make sure everything’s on time. One clock, in particular, takes care of your lungs, where your sleep habits could wreak havoc…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

These foods do to your brain what drugs do to an addict

73 percent of Americans are carrying around an unhealthy amount of weight. That’s a shocking statistic because it directly connects to ever-rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and more. It’s not all our faults though. We are being addicted to disease-causing foods…

Joyce Hollman

The heart attack common denominator that’s bigger than cholesterol

While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease is the real threat, killing one out of every three of us. We associate fatal coronary heart disease with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and blocked arteries. But there’s another factor we’ve known about for years that’s taken a back seat…

«SPONSORED»