Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Low sex drive? It may be your thyroid

There are a lot of symptoms of low thyroid function. You may experience cold hands and feet, fatigue, headache, stiff or painful joints and depression, among other effects. But there’s another thyroid symptom affecting men and women we don’t talk about…

Carolyn Gretton

The sneaky substances raising women’s blood pressure

Modern living is synonymous with chemicals. And unfortunately, some of them may be inescapable. They’re called “forever chemicals” and there’s no doubt they impact our health. If you’re a woman puzzled about what’s behind your blood pressure, this may be the first place to look…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

That low-fat dairy advice? It’s way wrong for your heart

Many of us believe the only way we can enjoy dairy is to only choose low-fat options.That’s meant watery milk and giving up rich, delicious full-fat yogurt, not to mention real butter and cheese. Time to stop. You’ve been cheating your tastebuds and your heart for too long…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

8 great supplements for calming rheumatoid arthritis

Living with RA can get a little easier when you use supplements to naturally reduce inflammation and swelling, relieve pain, improve your overall health and combat the side effects of those prescription drugs. Here are the great eight…

Joyce Hollman

How obesity can lead straight to heart failure

A lot’s been said about obesity as a contributor to diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. And some of it’s been contradicted. But cardiac scans don’t lie about the physical changes obesity wreaks on the heart that lead straight to heart failure…

Jenny Smiechowski

What your itchy skin indicates about your gut

You’ve heard of the gut-brain axis. Well, research shows there’s a gut-skin axis too. That means your gut is constantly communicating with your gut, and your gut is constantly communicating with your skin. In fact, a new study shows exactly why people with skin problems are more likely to have gut problems and vice versa…

Margaret Cantwell

The vaccine that lowers Alzheimer’s risk 40 percent

For years researchers have teased us about the potential for an Alzheimer’s vaccine. So far we’ve been left high and dry, or have we? Turns out a vaccine that’s been around for decades may activate the immune system in a way that protects against the disease…

Carolyn Gretton

Your brain and cholesterol on cranberries

Like most berries, cranberries are bursting with health-boosting micronutrients which give berries their red, blue, or purple color. But it’s their potential impact on the brain and vascular health that has experts giving the tiny berry a closer look…

Carolyn Gretton

How a mistaken Alzheimer’s diagnosis proved deadly

Lyme disease is growing across the country. Testing for it is often inaccurate. And if not caught it in time, it could prove debilitating or deadly. That’s what one family discovered when their father was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s before the truth came out…

Carolyn Gretton

Low thyroid? Keep these 9 foods on your radar

If you’re suffering from unexplained weight gain, fatigue, thinning hair, stiff or painful joints, memory issues and increased sensitivity to cold, you may want to get your thyroid checked. Chances are, you’re suffering from low thyroid. Then take a good look at what you’re eating…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why are tomatoes being genetically modified with vitamin D?

In this day and age, it’s hard to believe a vitamin deficiency could be at the root of many of the significant health problems we face. But more and more research says it is, from heart problems, to autoimmune disease and even Alzeimer’s. But is the answer in tomatoes?

Carolyn Gretton

How your eyes can influence your longevity

So many of the body’s systems are interconnected and influence each other. For instance, the gut has been found to influence mood, immunity and dementia risk. Knowing this, researchers were still surprised by the connection they found between lifespan and our eyes…

Joyce Hollman

Cognitive decline and aphasia: How singing can help

Cognitive flexibility is a key component of executive functioning, and group singing provides an opportunity to “exercise” the portions of the brain that control this crucial function. In fact, singing may be an enjoyable and effective way to boost your brain function…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Rosemary: Old-fashioned herb for modern-day ailments

Who doesn’t love rosemary? Its aroma is both fresh and invigorating — but it’s also a culinary herb that works well in just about any dish. It’s not short on health benefits either. From memory support to metabolic conditions, its polyphenolic compounds are proving powerful allies…

Carolyn Gretton

Your immune system is aging faster and here’s why

The body’s immune system tends to grow weaker as people age. But as the aging population grows, something stands out. In some people, this aging seems accelerated. Why? A not-so-surprising difference that makes it hard for your immune system to do its job…

Carolyn Gretton

More proof a vitamin D deficiency spells dementia

As the world’s population ages, dementia is on the rise. Researchers, feverishly hunting for anything that can stop this cognitive destroyer in its tracks, have found new evidence further indicating that preventing dementia could be as simple as correcting one key deficiency…

Joyce Hollman

More than 100 health conditions increase with height

There are many instances where being tall may be considered an asset. Reaching the top shelf at the supermarket is just one. But you should know, being on the taller side is considered a non-modifiable risk factor for several health conditions you should watch for…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The surprising way an entire family got lead poisoning

What if I told you that you could be unknowingly serving up a dangerous substance in your home every day that could poison your body, cause behavior and learning problems in your children and skyrocket your risk for heart disease? This is how it happens…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘new and improved’ treatment that slows AMD

Age-related macular degeneration is a disease that progressively steals vision. There’s no cure, but the main treatment slows progression to avoid severe vision loss. And as effective as it was, researchers have kicked it up several notches with two new sight-saving ingredients…

Carolyn Gretton

The sweet news about sugar in your coffee

There’s no doubt that coffee’s health benefits are backed by plenty of research. But the caveat has been to avoid the cream and sugar to reap them. Of course, you want the benefits — but you want to enjoy your coffee too. Here’s some good news on that front…

Joyce Hollman

Pernicious anemia and other dangers of a B12 deficiency

It’s no exaggeration to say that Vitamin B12 is crucial to life. B12 helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. It also creates and regulates DNA. B12 is essential for proper nerve function. So a deficiency can leave you wide open for serious problems. Here’s how to avoid them…

Amanda Polden

Move over Manuka: New ‘medicinal’ honey discovered

Before the widespread use of modern-day antibiotics in the 1960s, honey was used around the world as a wound dressing. It’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties made it the perfect substance for treating wounds and skin infections.

Joyce Hollman

A glass of wine could help keep that sore throat away

As winter comes on, there’s good news for those of us who enjoy the occasional glass of wine, or even a nightly drink before dinner. Apparently, wine contains powerful antibacterial agents that could keep you clear of a sore throat and maybe even improve the results of your next dental visit…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to burn double the fat and control blood sugar

We all know that if we want to lose weight, slim down, and tone up, we have to do two things – watch what we eat and exercise. Yet too often, even when we stick to those two principles, it can be difficult to truly see much difference in a short amount of time.

Jenny Smiechowski

Is too much screen time making you age faster?

Electronics are so ingrained in our day-to-day, it’s hard to imagine life without them. But people who remember a pre-digital world, often wonder if being so plugged-in is harmful. A new study shows that the blue light from electronics may damage brain cells. But that’s not all… it could make you age faster too…

Amanda Polden

The complicated connection between dairy and prostate cancer

Dairy marketing has long convinced many of us that drinking a lot of milk is the express lane to strong bones. We’ve told that “milk does a body good.” Turns out, that may not only be false, but a downright dangerous statement that’s luring thousands of men to their early deaths.

Craig Cooper

12 health benefits of coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat, a fat long considered to be unhealthy. Yet coconut oil has been credited with a wide range of health benefits. What’s wrong with that picture? Here are 12 ways the research shows coconut oil can impact your health and wellness….

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The glitch in the French paradox

Since the early research on the French paradox, a lot of naysayers have come out of the woodwork to cast doubt on its validity. And they’re partly right: There was a glitch in the research concerning the correlations with red wine. But dismissing the French paradox completely would be a big mistake…

Easy Health Options Staff

Fighting Stigmas: Common disorders and why we should talk about them

Millions of Americans are so affected by health disorders that are so stigmatizing, they’re too afraid to get help. Many feel alone in their experience, so they don’t seek the treatments they need. Here are a few of the most commonly stigmatized health issues and tips on how to get help…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

At-home test measures risk of dying from heart disease or cancer

There are two things they say are 100 percent certain in life… death and taxes. And according to the CDC, in the U.S. you’re most likely to die from either heart disease or cancer. I can’t help you with your taxes, but there’s a way to measure your heart disease and cancer risk at home and do something about it…

Joyce Hollman

Why you may want a billing advocate on your side after a hospital stay

Being sick or in the hospital is hard enough, without having to figure out the bills that soon follow. Are you being overcharged? Did the doctor or hospital submit the charge to your insurance company? Is the insurance company paying what it should? Having someone in your corner makes a big difference.

Jenny Smiechowski

What the sugar you ate decades ago could be doing to you today

Ahhh… childhood… Cartoons. Games. Candy. Sugary cereals. It was a blast, wasn’t it? Well, that was then, and this is now: All of that stuff is still weighing down your (and my) health today. In fact, our childhood diets play a bigger role in our major health issues as adults than most of us ever realized…

Joyce Hollman

Heavy purse syndrome: How your favorite accessory is hurting you

Using your purse as a back-up plan, a place to throw things “just in case” they’re needed during the day, is a recipe for muscle and nerve damage. You’ve probably not thought about what that sort of load is doing to your body. Here are 8+ pains that it causes and how to avoid them…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Slow medicine and how it can improve your level of healthcare

Fast medicine is impersonal and cold. Patients are now just bits of standardized data. But the biggest casualty of fast medicine is the forgotten concept that if we remove the obstacles, the body can heal itself. That’s called slow medicine. Together, both ways of healing could optimize your health…

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

The cool (and beneficial) concept of chrononutrition and what it can do for you

The human body has a complex network of thousands or millions of clocks all over the body, all doing their own thing and all of which have to talk to each other and synchronize with each other. When that happens, health is good. A way to make all this work for you is called chrononutrition… and it’s easier than you’d think…

Jenny Smiechowski

The invisible factor that ages your memory an extra 10 years

You may have already hatched a plan to protect your memory as much as you can in these critical years. Mediterranean diet? Check. Daily power walks? Check. Sudoku book on your nightstand? Check. But there’s another factor influencing your memory, one you probably don’t realize you need to protect yourself against…

Joyce Hollman

What we’ve learned about coffee in the last 20 years

There’s a lot of research claiming to prove the health benefits of coffee. Some of those health claims have a good deal of solid research behind them, while others warrant further investigation. But after more than 20 years of research into coffee, there is one thing we know for sure that can keep you drinking, worry-free…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

8 cancers that underscore the importance of healthy BMI before midlife

We all know that being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of developing numerous diseases. But did you know your weight and your risk of cancer are inextricably linked? Not only that, but over 40 you’re at higher risk for certain cancers. The secret’s in your BMI. Here’s how to check your risk and lower it…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why these 3 herbs battle high blood pressure

Plants make potent medicine. Our ancient ancestors knew it. And modern scientists know it (why do you think most medications have their roots in plants?). Still, many folk remedies get written off as hogwash. That’s why it’s especially exciting when research can pinpoint the mechanism behind a plant’s medicinal power…

Joyce Hollman

When your bladder works overtime

Despite what many people think, an overactive bladder is not a natural or inevitable part of aging. It is a diagnosable condition that, while more likely with age, can occur at any age. If an overactive bladder is affecting your quality of life, check out your options — from botox to bladder training and more…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Metformin: Prescription against age and disease?

Metformin is a drug for treating diabetes. Like rapamycin that I wrote about last week, metformin has humble beginnings. It is derived from a kind of French lilac, reputedly used to treat diabetes-like conditions in medieval Europe.

Craig Cooper

Foods that help prevent Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease has no cure at this point. Does that mean you should sit back and only hope it doesn’t happen to you? That’s a big fat NO. There’s enough research on how to avoid the mind robber, starting with foods you should eat, those you shouldn’t and other helpful tips to live dementia-free…

Jenny Smiechowski

High doses of certain vitamins may put you at risk for hip fractures

A hip fracture is especially serious as you get older. It can mean a loss of mobility and even loss of life. People over 50 who fracture a hip have a much higher risk of death within ten years of their injury. Unfortunately, one certain B supplement can be problematic, especially for women…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The number of teeth in your mouth may be measure of disease in your heart

You’ve probably heard the warnings before: take care of your oral health or you could end up with heart problems. New research shows the harm to your heart may actually be measured by the number of teeth you have. Even if you only lose a few, your odds for heart trouble increase…

Joyce Hollman

How important is the expiration date on your vitamins?

Do you have a cabinet full of multi-vitamins and other supplements in your kitchen? If you’re like many of us, the answer is YES. And, if you’re like many people, you haven’t paid too much attention to the expiration dates on those bottles. Here’s why you should — and why you shouldn’t keep them in the kitchen…

Jenny Smiechowski

The secret to multitasking like a 30-something well into your 70s

You expect a lot from your brain… afterall you’re constantly connected, so it’s easy — and hard — to do everything at once. As we age, it doesn’t get any easier. In fact, you may eventually find it difficult to keep up with it all. But there is a way to master multitasking well into your 70s and 80s…

Jenny Smiechowski

Avoid the sugar that leads to fatty liver disease, cancer and heart disease

Eating too much sugar causes weight gain and increases risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But before I get all worked up about sugar, it’s worth noting that not all sugar is created equal. One type of sugar sets you up for dangerous health conditions… and another type helps protect you…

Joyce Hollman

Going gluten free? Necessity for some, risky for others

Have you jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon yet? It seems everywhere you turn these days, people, including some big-name celebrities, are going gluten-free, claiming it’s helped them with weight loss, energy and their health in general. But there are a few things you should be aware of before jumping on board.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The common food preservative linked to diabetes development

More than 400 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and the rate at which people are developing this disease is accelerating. The surging rates of diabetes and obesity in the last 50 years strongly link environmental and dietary factors. But one of the culprits may be a common food additive…

Jenny Smiechowski

How to send type 2 diabetes into remission

It’s been shown type 2 diabetes can be reversed on extreme low-calorie diets. But slashing your daily intake to 700 calories when most of us eat more than that in one meal seems impossible. That’s why I have some exciting news… You don’t have to go super low-cal to send your type 2 diabetes into remission…

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