Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

Women live longer: Two antioxidants help them live better

Women tend to live longer than men, but usually spend their later years living with conditions that make life miserable. What if just two nutrients could lower those risks of age-related decline and make those golden years, well, golden?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The blood sugar problems that start after a COVID infection

If there’s anything you can say about Covid-19, it’s that it’s turned out to be a strange disease with far-reaching effects on the human body that experts are still discovering. If you’ve been infected, or suspect it, and never had blood sugar problems before, that could all change…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A setup for stroke: Sitting in front of a TV or the computer?

Sedentary behavior gets a bad rap. For a few years now we’ve heard the ills of sitting too much and its dangerous effects. But it seems to always center around the TV. But what about your computer? Can it double your stroke risk, too? And if so, what can you do about it?

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…

Joyce Hollman

10 healthy comfort foods to keep the winter blues away

It’s hard to imagine anyone getting a case of the winter blues with all the holiday hustling and bustling happening, but seasonal affective disorder is estimated to affect as many as 10 million Americans. If the cold grey days get to you, try these comfort foods with nutrients that can combat the winter blues in a very real way.

Jenny Smiechowski

Can the keto diet help you fend off the flu?

Fall and winter are seasons of serious indulgence, starting with the holidays… They’re also seasons of serious cold and flu viruses that run rampant this time of year. I hate to break it to you, but what you eat affects your immunity a lot more than you think. In fact, this diet might keep you flu-free…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

$100 million dollar study shows there’s a better way than surgeries and stents

Every cardiologist in America (including me) had an eye on Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago, and it wasn’t for the Eagles-Patriots game. The results of a major study on the effectiveness of stents and bypass surgery were announced at the annual conference of the American Heart Association — and surgeons are stunned…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why melanoma may have more to do with your hair than skin

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that’s caused when UV rays damage pigment cells in the skin called melanocytes. When melanocytes are damaged, they mutate and start growing rapidly. But the root of skin cancer may be hiding somewhere other than your skin cells — in your hair follicles.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Omega-3 relief: You don’t have to choose between heart health and prostate cancer

Essential fatty acids found in fish oil have had their ups and downs in health news. First, they were praised for heart health, then dashed for prostate cancer potential, then dashed again on heart disease. But finally, it looks like more studies are coming out that vindicate omega-3s all around…

Joyce Hollman

How bad sleep habits age your bones

The evidence is clear: the amount of sleep you get each night is a predictor of your health and of your lifespan. Seven to eight hours is the number you should be shooting for. In fact, numerous studies have enlightened us about the dangers of too little (and too much) sleep. The latest threat? Old bones…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What your walking pace says about your brain, body and how fast you age

Step into any store, park, mall, or gym and you’ll see immediately that some people walk more slowly while others speed past. And, while you may think that how fast you walk is simply a matter of preference, a new 40 year study by researchers at Duke University says that you should think again.

Joyce Hollman

Why BMI may be the worst way to measure your health

A Belgian astronomer and mathematician developed this easy-to-calculate ratio between a person’s height and their weight. It’s become an accepted measuring stick for a person’s chances of living a long, healthy life, or of dying young. But BMI, or body mass index, is coming under a lot of fire…

Jenny Smiechowski

The surprising connection between chelation, kidney disease and heart disease

It may surprise you to learn that heart disease is the leading cause of death for people with kidney disease. See, when your kidneys stop working, calcium builds up in your arteries. But a new study shows EDTA chelation could help clear calcium out and prevent many of these deaths…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Eye-invading parasites may be on the rise in the U.S.

There’s a wriggly uprising your probably haven’t heard about that at the very least will give you the heebie jeebies and at the worst could make you very ill. That’s because just two years after the first case of eye-invading parasites from cattle were found in humans, they’re back!

Joyce Hollman

Insomnia can endanger more than your sleep

Almost everyone has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, from time to time. Medications we take, stress from the day and a racing mind that just won’t shut down, pain, or irregular sleep habits can be the cause.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The pet food trend helping to spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The widespread and too often inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to an average of two million antibiotic-resistant infections in the U.S. each year — a number that’s predicted to continue to rise. And, according to a new study, some of the dangers could be lurking in your pet food dish. Here’s why…

Amanda Luft

How muscle loss shrinks your brain and the vitamin that protects both

There’s a nutrient that’s absolutely essential to keeping muscles strong and healthy. If you’re not getting enough of this, you could be headed down a dark road to chronic illness and a loss of independence. And I’m not just talking about your body, but your brain too. When muscles shrink, so does your brain…

Jenny Smiechowski

The hard-to-swallow truth about hardcore HIIT workouts

You know what I like most about high-intensity interval training? It packs a serious punch in a short period of time. You can do a 20 to 30 minute session and feel like you got a good workout in for the day. But is the pain worth the gain? Will pushing yourself to the max pay off more in the end?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The screening women over 49 shouldn’t skip, but too many do

You might remember the first Pap smear you ever went through. It’s one of the most important things you can do for your health, though none of us look forward to it. Thing is… the Pap test can identify cervical cancer in the early stages — when it’s not too late to save your life. So don’t let age hold you back!

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Hormone therapy and breast cancer link worse than thought

When you go for your yearly checkup, one of the boxes you’ll have to check on their forms is about whether you’re taking hormone therapy drugs. While it does come with some benefits, it’s been discovered that the risk it carries has been dramatically underrepresented…

Joyce Hollman

How statins can triple your risk of diabetes

Doctors prescribe statins to control cholesterol levels and protect the heart. Ironically, these very same statins could make it more likely that diabetes could develop, which weakens blood vessels, which can make you a target for heart disease. And round and round it goes…

Jenny Smiechowski

The first new Alzheimer’s drug in 17 years goes for the gut

If any disease desperately needs new treatment options, it’s Alzheimer’s. It’s been 17 years since a new drug was approved. And right now, the treatments available only offer minor symptoms relief. In the fight against this devastating and stubborn disease, hope is a very good thing, and it starts in your gut…

Joyce Hollman

8 ways to survive holiday meals so you won’t have to diet after the New Year

Here come the holidays… and the potential for weight gain. But if you go into the season with a game plan, you can still indulge without feeling deprived or being desperate to lose weight after the new year…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why you should run for your life — literally

So many people love running. And there are a lot of solid reasons to. Runners get that release of feel-good brain chemicals known as a runner’s high. They can load up on carbs because they’re burning crazy amounts of calories. But there’s one more thing you may be missing out on if you’re not running…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Chelation: Getting the lead out

Remember that there is no safe blood level of lead. It’s been tied to illnesses ranging from mystery military ailments to heart disease. Fortunately, it’s treatable. Chelation is a method of binding up metal molecules so it can be eliminated via the urine. There are also antioxidants that help get your health back…

Craig Cooper

6 alternative sleep therapies

It takes a lot of experimentation to get the right sleep program that puts you out at night — and most importantly, keeps you out! So, here are some alternative sleep therapies you may want to try.

Joyce Hollman

Feeling older ages your body and your brain faster

Subjective age is the term used for that number you give when someone asks, “How old do you feel?” How do you answer? It matters because it’s that sort of thinking that can not only prevent physical disabilities and ailments but can even protect against future dementia and Alzheimer’s…

Joyce Hollman

Steps to take now to keep your aging brain in shape

Research has shown that exercise helps keep dementia at bay. There’s a pretty logical connection here: Poor sleep is a known dementia risk factor. Physical activity promotes better and deeper sleep, for one thing. Of all the “exercise” you can partake in, some of the best for your brain involve no sweating at all…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why you should be taking vitamin K

More than 75 percent of Americans take vitamins. In the over 35 group, that number goes up to an impressive 81 percent. Yet, with all of the vitamins we’re taking, there’s one that many people don’t know about in spite of multiple clinical studies that have proven the necessity of the vitamin for fighting off age-related concerns.

Joyce Hollman

The exercise found to beat the obesity gene

For those of us who put the pounds on easily and can’t seem to get them off again, here’s some news: It appears some of us actually have an “obesity gene.” This may sound like very bad news, when in fact, it’s not as bad as it sounds. That’s because research found an exercise more powerful than your genes.

Jenny Smiechowski

8 warning signs you’ve taken healthy eating too far

When you first start eating a healthy diet, you feel fantastic. You have more energy. Maybe you even resolve long-standing health issues. But despite the amazing benefits (or perhaps because of them), healthy eating can easily become an obsession. This obsession even has a name — and it’s considered an eating disorder.

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

What statins did to my patient

Jim was a patient of mine years back. He had come to me for holistic advice on heart health. His doctors were recommending statins to control his cholesterol. When Jim came to see me later in the year, I was struck by his decline. That’s when we discussed easing him off drugs and starting a recovery program…

Joyce Hollman

What you should know about vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s. Its causes and risk factors are different from AD, its symptoms show up differently, and it’s much more under our control. Symptoms of vascular dementia can vary. Here’s what to watch for and how to identify your risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The green fruit that overcomes obesity and diabetes

Because obesity is a factor in so many health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer, it’s estimated that the extra weight Americans carry is responsible for one in five deaths. But a compound found in a certain green fruit could help not only kick obesity to the curb but diabetes with it!

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