Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Sleeping five hours or less? Meet your long-term health risks

Sleep is essential for good health. And most experts agree, between 7 and 9 hours a night helps the body operate at peak efficiency. But is there a threshold at which insufficient sleep causes the most harm, as in increasing the risk of multiple disease and death? Without a doubt….

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The French maritime extract that calms restless legs

Do you settle down in the evening only to discover your legs have other plans? That annoying twitching sensation can make it almost impossible to relax. Your doctor may have thrown his hands up but a way to treat the condition has been found in an old-time remedy…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why low thyroid is so often misdiagnosed as depression or menopause

From heart trouble to sleep apnea and Parkinson’s, doctors all too often fail to see the signs or flat-out misdiagnose women’s health. And they’re still doing it when it comes to thyroid problems, telling women the symptoms are in their heads or just one more problem of menopause. Here’s why…

Joyce Hollman

The minimum amount of steps to lower dementia risk

10,000 steps a day seems like an impossible goal. And luckily, we’re finding you don’t have to really walk that much to get real-world benefits. Want to make a singificant dent in your dementia risk? You’ll be glad to know you can take that number way down…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising effects of antioxidants on insulin resistance and metformin

The best way to combat damage from oxidative stress is with antioxidants. These powerful nutrients strike a balance against the perils of aging and inflammation that can destroy health. Now we’ve learned they can defend against a mechanism of metabolic disease that leads to insulin resistance…

Jedha Dening

Why this disease sign makes your teeth fall out

Tooth loss is considered a serious health problem that sits right up there beside arthritis and cancer. It’s also been associated with a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and even death. So, the reasons to be extra vigilant about what’s behind your dental health go far beyond that pretty smile.

Joyce Hollman

10 signs your immune system is sending an S.O.S.

The human body is amazing. But a lot of little things can go wrong. Some are annoying, like rashes, while others, like fatigue, can wreak havoc with our daily lives. Many of these mishaps are set off by a poorly functioning immune system. Here’s how to know if yours is in trouble…

Joyce Hollman

‘Menopause diet’ significantly reduces hot flashes and weight

The ‘M’ in menopause stands for miserable. Hot flashes at the most inopportune times during the day and relentless sleep robbers at night. If HRT isn’t for you, discover the diet that works as well and helped women drop an average of eight pounds…

Miguel Leyva

Risky drugs: From bladder trouble to vision damage

For consumers who suffer lifelong side effects after prescription drug use, the question that often arises first is: How could medication approved by the FDA cause them serious harm? A drug used to treat a painful bladder condition is just one example of what happens when the system goes terribly wrong…

Easy Health Options Staff

They used this vitamin to block tumor growth – and it worked

Colon cancer can be especially difficult to eradicate. But help for patients fighting this battle may come from a simple vitamin.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘controversial’ aluminum-Alzheimer’s connection

Everyday items we come in contact with can impact our health. One of those is aluminum, long associated with breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. As a theory, it’s controversial, but researchers find it wrapped up in brain tau tangles. Do you know all the ways you’re exposed to it?

Craig Cooper

Beta-sitosterol: Natural support for the prostate, heart and more

Plant sterols are natural substances produced by plants. Beta-Sitosterol is one type that’s well known for supporting prostate health. But the list doesn’t stop there. Here’s how to use this popular plant substance for your best male health and more…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

There’s more than meets the eye about how our arteries harden

Hardening of the arteries seems to be one of those things we just expect with age. It can destroy heart function, lead to heart attack, even death. But we’ve learned more about the process that causes arteries to harden, and that’s valuable information if you want to try to avoid this killer…

Joyce Hollman

How to keep night shift from dragging your health down

Night shift workers are prone to health risks based on the fact that their work hours are in direct contradiction to their circadian rhythm. From higher BMI to depression, these conditions can drag health down fast. Is the solution as easy as when to eat?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

‘Stepping away’ from chronic disease varies by condition

It’s no secret that more time spent sitting than moving shortens lives. That’s why experts encourage us to count our steps. They even nailed down how many daily steps you need to prevent a multitude of chronic diseases, ranging from obesity to depression, heart disease to GERD and more…

Carolyn Gretton

The diabetes side effect no one talks about

Sex. It’s a topic that’s all over TV, film and social media. Unfortunately, it’s one that many of us are uncomfortable discussing personally. And if you have diabetes, you may not even be aware that your blood sugar problems not only mess with your health but are also behind problems in the bedroom…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Sex after 60: if you’re not doing it, you should be

Who says sex after 60 stops? If you think you’re supposed to leave all that behind after a certain birthday, you’d be mistaken. Researchers say an active sex life can offer benefits that can make your life more satisfying with age, and they have some tips to help you get it on…

Easy Health Options Staff

COPD: What to know about your prematurely aged immune system

COPD is an umbrella term for a group of incurable inflammatory lung disorders. It carries higher risk for other serious conditions such as heart disease, memory loss, stroke or diabetes. But less has been known about its connection to vitamin deficiency and an aged immune system…

Joyce Hollman

Two mistakes to avoid (like your life depends on it) when you retire

If you’re newly retired, or will be soon, some planning probably went into how you’ll spend this chapter of your life. Your finances may have been at the top of your list. But before you check anything off, be sure you don’t make the two mistakes that don’t leave room for second chances…

Jedha Dening

Cholesterol drugs: Prescription for disease?

When a physician suggests a medication, you trust them. You’d never expect them to prescribe a drug that may not actually work — much less one with links to other diseases. But that’s just what has happened…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The easiest way to drop your stroke risk by almost 50%

Some of us feel powerless about improving our odds of living long lives without the physical limitations that can make us dependent on others. A stroke is a perfect example of the kind of event that can change everything in an instant. But you can do something incredibly simple to lower that risk…

Carolyn Gretton

The after-stroke danger to be aware of: ‘Sticky’ blood vessels

It’s well-known that stroke can cause damage to the brain. But once the stroke is treated, it seems logical that the damage would stop there. Unfortunately, researchers have discovered a process deep within your body that can lead to more destruction. But it may be possible to dial it back…

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…

Jenny Smiechowski

How to get the blood sugar benefits of the keto diet without giving up carbs

Research shows that people with diabetes who follow keto have lower blood sugar and need less insulin. The keto diet also reduces the risk of diabetes for people who don’t already have it. Is that enough to make you throw away your bread and pasta? Maybe. Maybe not. If you love your carbs, I have good news…

Joyce Hollman

Nature’s answer to disease-causing air pollution found on the produce aisle

Exposure to air pollution can cause heart disease, stroke, cancer, kidney disease, even diabetes. It can infect your brain and dramatically increase your chances of Alzheimer’s. So run, don’t walk, to the nearest produce aisle and start eating the tiny veggie that can help eliminate these deadly toxins from your body.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why sex can delay menopause

Having sex regularly comes with a long list of health benefits. For starters, sex can help lower your risk of heart attack and boost your immune system. But women may find this the best benefit of all…

Jenny Smiechowski

The simple habit that makes more space in your brain

Do you ever feel like you need more space in your brain? The fact is… all of us put far too much pressure on our brains. That can lead to burnout, exhaustion, depression and even break downs. But researchers uncovered a way to take some pressure off your brain, so it works better…

Joyce Hollman

This ‘sure thing’ adds more years to your life

Behavior and lifestyle choices can increase the odds you’ll live a long and healthy life. But, according to research, there’s one behavior a woman can engage in that will grant her more years, and more health to enjoy them…

Joyce Hollman

Why snow shoveling can spell a heart attack even if you’re healthy

Snow shoveling can be a great muscle stretcher and calorie burner. But you may not know that it places great demands on your cardiovascular system, as high, in fact, as a cardiac stress test on a treadmill or bicycle. That’s just one way it increases heart attack and even stroke risk if you’re not careful…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The artificial sweetener pitfall that packs on pounds and leads to disease

Isn’t it funny how when big corporations start selling something that’s supposedly good for your health, it so often turns out to be far worse for you than your original problem? Well, that’s exactly the case when it comes to artificial sweeteners.

Jenny Smiechowski

The convenient way food labels may make it easier to say ‘no’

Calorie counting isn’t just about weight loss. Overdoing calories for a long time can increase risks for diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Something easier to count? How about how much you’d have to exercise to work off your food?

Joyce Hollman

Is aspirin the simple answer to migraine?

The Migraine Research Foundation tells us that 12 percent of the U.S. population suffers from migraines. And stroke risk is doubled for at least a quarter of them. Now, a review of research shows an inexpensive and easily available remedy could be the key to treatment and prevention…

Jenny Smiechowski

Is the secret to stroke recovery in your gut?

Nothing can prepare you for a stroke. It’s sudden. And it’s scary. And there are no promises when it comes to recovery. But what if there was a way to make sure that, if you had a stroke, the repercussions would be less severe, and you would recover quicker?

Joyce Hollman

Essential oils for cuts, scrapes and wounds

Long before Big Pharma was around, essential oils were used to control pain, ease stress and stimulate the immune system to fight colds and flu. Research continues into the ways that essential oils can make us healthier, including their power to control inflammation and help wounds heal quickly and safely.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 Supplements to ward off all that winter throws at you

When winter rolls around, in addition to stocking up our medicine cabinet, I stock up our vitamin cabinet with supplements that get us through the season happier and healthier — and hopefully unscathed. Here are our five ‘can’t be without’ supplements for winter…

Jenny Smiechowski

What’s behind diabetes’ strong connection to heart failure?

There’s a connection between diabetes and heart health… no doubt about it… People with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease. They’re more likely to have a heart attack. They’re more likely to go into heart failure. Why?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

They failed their weight loss study and still lost 16 pounds

A whopping 54 percent of the resolutions made on January 1st involve weight loss goals. Unfortunately, only about 8 percent hold up. But, don’t give up… A little-known study found you don’t have to stick to a certain diet or give up as much as you think to lose considerable weight…

Jenny Smiechowski

The strange type of stomach cancer striking people under 60

If you look at stomach cancer statistics, you’ll see that less people are getting this terrible disease than ever before. That’s good news. But it’s also misleading… Even though stomach cancer is getting diagnosed less overall, it’s on the rise in one surprising group — people under 60.

Joyce Hollman

10 ways to reduce the BPA exposure that’s 50 times higher than the FDA told us

This endocrine-disrupting chemical increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and infertility, as well as cancer. And guess what? The FDA and other regulatory agencies have underestimated our exposure to BPA by as much as 44 times the average levels! Time to start protecting yourself…

Joyce Hollman

Could SIBO be causing all your stomach problems?

You’ve probably heard of irritable bowel syndrome. And most people have heard of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. But there’s a lesser-known condition that, on its own, can totally disrupt your gut health in addition to contributing to others. Is it behind your pain?

Jenny Smiechowski

3 diets that halt age-related hearing loss

It’s funny how common certain beliefs about aging are. Everybody will need glasses. Everybody’s memory will slip. Everybody will lose hearing. Well, hold on… A 20 year study says what you eat can help you avoid hearing loss. It’s the best diet you’ve never “heard” of…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to reduce your breast cancer risk after 50

By your 50s, your risk of breast cancer is 1 in 43 and by 60, a scary 1 in 29. But according to a new study from investigators at the American Cancer Society and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, even if you’re over 50, it’s not too late to lower your breast cancer risk significantly…

Jenny Smiechowski

Trouble with A-fib? Giving up this drink is good medicine

Researchers say that giving up a certain type of drink offered the same A-fib benefits as the drugs they prescribe to treat the condition. But that wasn’t the only heart-healthy perk…

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