Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How your microbiome helps or hurts weight loss

When you think about losing weight, chances are you think about your gut, the one that’s central in the battle of the bulge. But you might be focusing on the wrong gut. Research has found a surprising reason there that explains when you and your friend follow the same diet, only one of you loses weight.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Exercise: A powerful drug-free remedy for chronic anxiety

It’s no secret that exercise can help you feel better about yourself and your life. In fact, studies have shown regular physical activity to combat depression and put a smile on your face. But is a drug-free solution to chronic anxiety that easy?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 sneaky signs of a vitamin deficiency

Even in first world countries, like the U.S., vitamin deficiencies may be more common than you would ever guess. How do you know if you’re getting enough of the nutrients considered essential? Besides having your blood tested, pay attention to these six often sneaky signs of a deficiency…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What omega-3s do to a middle-aged brain

Most of the research into brain health has focused on slowing or reversing the mind-stealing conditions you see in the elderly. But what, if anything, can omega-3s do for a middle-aged brain, especially one with a genetic predisposition for those very problems?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Cut carbs now to cut 3 major health threats

Approximately 37 million Americans have diabetes and another 96 million are pre-diabetic. If you’re one of those 96 million, you may not even know you’re on the verge of developing diabetes, much less at increased risk for heart attack or stroke. One change could turn that around…

Carolyn Gretton

What you should know about shingles and stroke

Shingles may seem like more of an annoyance than a serious threat to your health. But that’s not exactly true. Shingles can actually affect your eyes, cause nerve pain and attack your internal organs. It can also raise your risk of potentially life-threatening cardiovascular complications…

Joyce Hollman

The two consistent warnings women get before heart attack

Many people still think that a heart attack strikes suddenly, or with very little warning. A Harvard Health survey tells us that, for women, the warning signs can come as much as a month in advance. And they’re anything but the classic signs most people look for…

Jenny Smiechowski

Is winter really heart attack season?

As the cold weather approaches, you know you have to protect yourself from ailments like cold and flu. But what about more serious events, like heart attack? Surprsingly, as the temperatures go down our risk for heart attack goes up. Here’s why (an odd effect on blood vessels, for one) and what to do…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Best for a sharp brain: Crossword puzzles vs. high-tech games

Certain activities help stimulate the brain to keep it running like a high-performance race car. That’s why there are plenty of sophisticated web-based cognitive games specifically designed to improve those skills we need to keep our independence. And then there are crossword puzzles…

Craig Cooper

Osteoporosis: Not just a woman’s disease

Even though men in their 50s don’t have the same rapid bone loss women do, that changes around 65. Then, men lose bone mass at the same rate, and recovery from fracture is riskier for men. Most surprising? The risk of an osteoporotic fracture in men is higher than the risk of prostate cancer.

Carolyn Gretton

The link between CoQ10 and age-related frailty

Frailty can strike anyone over the age of 65, and the subtle changes can sneak up if you’re not careful. The factor that makes it more likely is the loss of a certain nutrient that circulates in your blood less and less with each passing birthday, increasing vulnerability to this scourge of aging…

Carolyn Gretton

Sit a lot? Activity ‘snacks’ counter the harm and maintain muscle

The research is in: A sedentary lifestyle can lead to diabetes, heart disease and obesity, and weaken our bones and muscles, making us more susceptible to frailty as we age. But adding this “snack” to our daily menu could go a long way toward reversing that damage to live longer and healthier…

Jenny Smiechowski

Fight colds and cancer with camu camu

Need an edge this cold and flu season? It’s time you discovered the berry with up to 60 times more vitamin C than an orange, and enough potassium, calcium, protein, beta-carotene, amino acids and antioxidants to support your heart, liver, eyes and more.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Lose weight and keep it off: Tips from 6,000 people who have

Only about one in five people who lose weight will actually succeed in keeping it off long-term. So does that mean you’re doomed to failure? Definitely not. Just take the right advice to heart, from those who’ve been there, done that and, most importantly, succeeded…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

5 cardiologist-approved tips for heart-healthy holidays

There may have been fewer trick-or-treaters at your door this year, but Halloween still marks the first holiday of a season that can make it extra challenging to stick to your heart-healthy eating plan. With cardiologist-approved tips, you can make it.

Easy Health Options Staff

10 things to know about blood clots

A blood clot is a collection of blood in the body that has changed from liquid to a semi-solid mass. The body does this to stop bleeding when injured, but sometimes a clot forms inside a blood vessel and does not dissolve on its own. Here are 10 things to know about them…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Wine vs beer: One of these carries a higher stroke risk

Although it’s long been known that heavy drinking can significantly raise the risk of stroke, little research has looked at the effects of moderate to low consumption to determine if there really is any safe level. That’s all changed thanks to a worldwide study that gives us new insight…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is your stove leaking cancer-causing chemicals?

If you’re health conscious, you don’t smoke. And you probably don’t allow others to smoke in your home. But if you have a gas stove, you could be exposing you and your family to a dangerous chemical in your very own kitchen comparable to second-hand smoke.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 BIG benefits of apple cider vinegar

With so much info on apple cider vinegar out there, you may still be on the line about giving it a try. Well, we’re going to look at five big reasons you should be taking ACV regularly, why it’s vital to your health and how to take it to get the most health benefits possible…

Joyce Hollman

More research says vitamin D deficiency can cut life short

The take-home message is simple: vitamin D plays a vital role in human health. Without sufficient levels, you’re selling yourself and your life short. New findings bring home the urgency about preventing early death and a new disease connection…

Carolyn Gretton

The mood switch in our brains activated by daylight

There’s no denying the seasons influence our state of mind. It’s easier to be in a good mood when the days are long and warm, but much harder during the short, dark days of winter, when some of us face seasonal affective disorder. Why does the light affect our moods and can we overcome it?

Carolyn Gretton

Why avoiding alcohol entirely may be bad for the brain

With dementia on the rise, experts are looking closer at known risk factors that lead to the devastating illness. One, alcohol use, has been hotly debated. Some studies say it harms, while others were not so clear. International research including almost 25,000 participants may finally have the answer…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Almonds: The little snack that fixes big gut problems

There are tons of good reasons to eat almonds regularly. Maybe you want to improve your waistline, or like almost 4 million Americans, you want to ‘go’ regularly and enjoy the benefits of a healthy gut this tiny nut provides.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What meat does to your ventricles, arteries and heart function

For years we’ve been warned that red meat is bad for heart health. Some controversial studies of late have started to lean the other way. But when researchers looked at three important measures of heart health, what they saw was indisputable.

Joyce Hollman

9 natural plant remedies for stomach problems

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Indian Ayurvedic Medicine share the longest and most sophisticated histories of healing with plants, herbs and spices. Have you heard of these nine powerful plants that can spell relief of stomach problems and keep your gut healthy?

Joyce Hollman

The truth about expiration dates on medication

Knowing what I know now about expiration dates on foods, I cringe thinking about how much food (and money!) is unnecessarily thrown away. But I recently came across something that piqued my curiosity about those same dates on medications. Considering the high cost of meds, this is even more cringeworthy…

Joyce Hollman

6 unusual fall picks that pack big taste and nutrition

Autumn is harvest time. That means a variety of veggies and fruits are available now and bursting not only flavor, but health-boosting nutrients. It’s time to get adventurous and “wow” your taste buds. Here are six you might not have tried before…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why Daylight Savings Time can destroy your health

If you’re like me, Daylight Savings Time throws you for a loop. Don’t brush it aside… It can have a profound impact on everything from genes that alter your sleep patterns to your brain, heart, energy levels, ability to remain alert, and more. That’s why doctors are calling for an end to it…

Carolyn Gretton

Real or forced, smiling makes you feel better, says science

Evidence is mounting that a smile can both lift your mood and make you healthier. And it’s true whether the smile is genuine or faked. So, if you’re feeling down, force a smile. It may soon become real when you see just how many benefits science shows it can get you…

Carolyn Gretton

How intermittent fasting could help take cancer down

It’s become increasingly clear that certain types of food can raise cancer risk, while other foods help protect against the disease. But just as important as what we eat is in the cancer battle, so is how we eat. And one style of diet checks off quite a few of the reasons cancer happens…

Joyce Hollman

The vitamin connection to colitis and cancer therapy

Checkpoint inhibitors are the latest powerful cancer drug. They show promise but come with a price tag… they can cause colitis, a form of irritable bowel disease that can itself lead to colorectal cancer. That’s why researchers are looking to an easily available supplement to not only help prevent cancer, but to also help their therapies work better.

Joyce Hollman

Sitting too much strongly linked to cancer

A lot of us are working from home now. If you are, or even if you’re still going into a workplace where you sit for much of the day, you’ll want to develop some new habits now, before your health deteriorates. That’s because yet another study indicates not moving can increase your risk of death by cancer up to 82 percent….

Jenny Smiechowski

How peptides help your gut lower cholesterol and plaque

Depending on what microbes you have in your gut, you’re going to end up with different metabolites… and potentially, different diseases. If you want to change these metabolites to support a healthy heart with less cholesterol and arterial plaque, a new study shows exactly what you need to do…

Joyce Hollman

Research shows you can have your beef and be healthy, too

For a long time, red meat has been Public Enemy #1, making us more likely to have high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. But there’s some good news for meat lovers: New research on red meat consumption calls much of this into question.

Jenny Smiechowski

4 food habits Harvard says will lower heart disease risk

Diet is one of the most effective weapons you have in the fight against heart disease. But can you narrow down all the diet advice to what does your heart the most good? Recent research from Harvard did and found these four approaches can lower your heart disease risk by as much as 21 percent…

Joyce Hollman

Why standard thyroid tests miss the mark

The symptoms of low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, can mimic symptoms of many other conditions. But given the right testing, a case of hypothyroidism is hard to miss. The problem is that the “standard” test for thyroid malfunction can actually hide the problem. Here’s what you should know if you suspect hypothyroidism is behind your symptoms.

Jenny Smiechowski

For better blood pressure and a healthy gut, optimize your salt intake

If you get diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor will advise you to reduce your salt intake. At one point, several large-scale studies conclusively linked high-salt diets to high blood pressure, but we’ve learned that the connection between salt and blood pressure isn’t so cut and dry… and it includes your gut.

Jenny Smiechowski

5 probiotic strains that restore balance to your vaginal microbiome

Your microbiome goes way beyond your gut. It extends across your whole body, including your most sensitive area. When the bacterial balance gets out of whack down there, you’re left with a nasty infection known as bacterial vaginosis. Luckily, a few specific strains of probiotics can quickly get your vaginal microbiome back on track…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Love your liver for a healthier heart

Have you ever heard about the heart-health liver link? Scientists have known for a while that poor liver health can lead to a diseased heart but weren’t sure exactly why. Now they know… and if you want to keep your heart pumping strong, you’ve got to love your liver…

Joyce Hollman

4 ways late-night meals ruin your health

Making a habit of eating close to bedtime can really pack on the pounds. That’s no secret. But beyond weight gain, eating against your circadian rhythm can set you up for one of the most preventable diseases, and that’s just for starters…

Jenny Smiechowski

‘Happiness’ hormone protects against disease-causing bacteria, so boost it

Decades of scientific evidence supports the mind-body connection. Still, it’s easy to forget just how closely your mental and emotional state impacts your health. Here’s a good reminder: a new study shows feelings of well-being and happiness could protect you from dangerous intestinal pathogens that cause infection. Here’s how to boost yours…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

See your dentist to avoid the gastroenterologist

If you’ve been putting off your trip to the dentist, you may be risking more than just a cavity. In fact, you could be setting yourself up for inflammation of your gut lining. Here’s the connection you’ve probably never heard of between the bacteria in your mouth and your chances of developing inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Confirmed: For cancer prevention vitamin D levels matter

If you’re not already taking vitamin D, it’s time to rethink that strategy. Not only can it help you maintain healthy bones and a strong immune system as you age, an exhaustive review of scientific research has found the sunshine vitamin can protect against cancer and even improve prognosis. But it all comes down to your vitamin D status…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why people who eat leafy greens live longer

There’s a good reason everyone always tells you to eat your greens. They’re chock-full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that keep you happy and healthy — including one specific vitamin that’s essential to your body’s ability to clot blood, create bone, maintain healthy blood pressure and, now, a new study shows it could help you live longer.

Jenny Smiechowski

The snack habit that lowers cholesterol and heart disease risk

When you’re craving a snack, you have two choices. You can reach for something salty, crunchy and processed (like potato chips) that won’t do your heart health any favors. Or you can reach for something that’s just as satisfying that significantly improves your cholesterol, blood vessel health and cardiovascular disease risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Just 10 minutes of exercise alters 9,815 molecules in your body

Exercise helps keep your heart, blood sugar and metabolism in check. But it doesn’t make it any easier to commit to exercise, especially if you rely on outward signs to show it’s actually doing anything for you. But new science reveals thousands of changes that occur in your body in as little as 10 minutes of exercise…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How negative thoughts lead to Alzheimer’s plaque

Depression and anxiety are well-known risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Recent research has shown that simply falling into a pattern of repetitive negative thoughts could raise that risk even higher — leaving physical marks on the brain directly linked to Alzheimer’s…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why a hard time sleeping hardens your arteries

Are you one of the lucky few that can fall fast asleep and stay asleep for hours? A great many of us can’t. Besides feeling unrested, there’s a bigger problem: Fragmented sleep and hardening of the arteries go hand in hand. Lucky for us, research discovered what’s at the root of that connection…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How quitting smoking the wrong way could increase your cancer risk

We all know smoking is risky. Coronary heart disease, COPD, lung cancer… plus about nine other specific cancers and various diseases are tied to smoking. If you’re ready to quit, consider your cessation method carefully, however. One could send cancer cells straight to your brain…

Joyce Hollman

Chocolate: The sweet way to suppress a cough

Researchers have persisted in looking for natural remedies to act as cough suppressants when honey and lemon just aren’t enough — and narcotics like codeine are way too much. That’s where the chemical in cocoa that knocks out coughs comes in…

Jenny Smiechowski

Shocking: How rocket-fuel-tainted tap water wrecks your thyroid

There’s a good reason health-conscious folks refuse to drink from the tap. Tap water is full of contaminants that pose a threat to your health. In fact, millions of people’s tap water is tainted with perchlorate, a chemical from rocket fuel that keeps your thyroid from getting the iodine it needs to stay healthy…

Jenny Smiechowski

Combating stress could give color back to your gray hair

Gray hair is something most of us learn to accept as we get older. But it turns out, those grays aren’t always permanent. If stress caused your gray hair, there could be a shot at getting your hair color back again…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Gut reveals why lack of sleep can be deadly and how to reverse it

Research has linked too little sleep to diseases like diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Now, a new study has found a link between sleep deprivation, gut changes and the risk of premature death, as well as a simple way to fight it.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 science-backed ways to boost insulin sensitivity for better blood sugar

Insulin sensitivity plays a big role in determining whether your blood sugar levels stay in the healthy zone or spiral out of control and lead to full-blown diabetes. That’s why it’s important to know how to increase your sensitivity to reduce insulin resistance and better control your blood sugar.

Jenny Smiechowski

Use yoga to cut your migraine frequency in half

Migraines are incredibly common. These debilitating headaches affect somewhere between 38 to 50 million Americans… possibly even more. And only half of sufferers experience any relief from migraine medications. Luckily, there may be a safe, natural way to ease the pain of serious migraines…

Margaret Cantwell

4 evidence-based benefits of eating alkaline foods

It’s not a reach to assume that most Americans are walking around in a state of metabolic acidosis. No wonder heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and many other chronic metabolic diseases are rampant. Can an alkaline diet really help? Here are four ways the research says it can…

Joyce Hollman

COVID-19: For summer safety think time, space, people, place

Can we actually have fun during this summer of COVID-19? Infectious disease experts say yes… as long as we are smart about it. If we choose low-risk activities with people we know and trust, the summer of 2020 can be safe and fun. Here’s how…

Jenny Smiechowski

How fasting and low-carb diets fight infection and aging

A lot of people try intermittent fasting and low-carb diets like the keto diet to lose weight. But that’s far from the biggest benefit of going low-carb or fasting. Research shows both practices change how your metabolism works in a way that fights infection and aging simultaneously.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Soak away up to 28 percent of your heart disease risk

The number one cause of death for men and women in the U.S. is heart disease. That’s why there’s no shortage of advice on how to lower risk. But I think most of us would never have guessed this relaxing habit could take such a sizable chunk out of your risk level…

Joyce Hollman

Coffee has more digestive perks than you can shake a stir stick at

The ways that coffee can keep you healthy are really underrated. So, if you love your cup of joe, take heart! Among all the great benefits research is revealing about coffee, you’ll be glad to know drinking it is one of the best things you can do for your digestive health!

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