Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising habit that weakens your pelvic floor (and we all do it!)

Sucking in our stomachs can seem normal, especially for women. But it turns out it’s not exactly healthy for us to be holding in our stomachs all the time. Read on to discover the dark side of “stomach gripping” and why it might have you running to the nearest restroom faster…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The FODMAP diet: Reducing symptoms and disease-causing bacteria

The FODMAP diet has been found to reduce the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But it wasn’t clearly understood how. Well, now we know. We also know that many people with IBS have a very unique microbial signature that’s downright dangerous…

Carolyn Gretton

15 chemicals linked to early menopause

It’s long been known that following menopause, women face an elevated risk of numerous health problems. But for women who experience early menopause (before the age of 50), the risks carry an extra wallop. And unfortunately, outside factors are contributing to this phenomenon…

Carolyn Gretton

‘Altered metabolites’ could be causing your migraines

Researchers have identified a connection between a genetic link and altered metabolites that appears to increase susceptibility to migraine. Good news is, to correct these metabolites and hopefully cut down on the painful condition, they’re looking at diet and a particular supplement that’s already shown major promise…

Joyce Hollman

The confusing way iron levels factor into Alzheimer’s

Iron is an essential nutrient. Iron deficiency anemia is all too common, especially in women and people over 65. But iron overload can also lead to serious health concerns. This conundrum is plaguing research over the past five years that has discovered a complicated relationship between iron levels and Alzheimer’s…

Joyce Hollman

The chemicals causing high cholesterol

We’ve known about the harmful effects of phthalates for some time now. They disrupt our hormones. They also cause thousands of deaths from heart disease each year. A new study has shown exactly how a specific chemical works in our bodies to raise cholesterol and cause heart disease.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Does your blood type increase your risk for certain diseases?

A Japanese concept called ketsueki-gata suggests that blood type shapes personality. The Blood Type Diet suggests certain foods may be healthier based on blood type. And while research on the validity of these concepts may be lacking, science is learning that blood type may influence disease risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The link between vitamin D, inflammation and COVID-19

Researchers are all still learning what can be done to stack the odds against COVID-19. Quite a bit of research has been stacking up — including recommendations about vitamin D. The latest? It may help shut down dangerous inflammation in patients with severe infection…

Easy Health Options Staff

Flurona: What is it and what to watch for

Months and months ago we warned that the fall and winter months were expected to be a little rocky thanks to the combination of COVID-19 and a potentially nasty flu season. There was concern the viruses could muddy diagnoses and delay effective treatment. But things have gotten more confusing…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 scary facts about flu and your heart

You might have heard the news that a bad flu season might be just around the corner. But while getting the flu might leave you worried that you’ll suffer from a complication like pneumonia, bronchitis or a bacterial infection of the lungs, most of us don’t think about what it’s doing to our heart.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Two hot drinks that could lower your risk of stroke and dementia

Do you prefer coffee or tea? Either way, if you’re drinking the optimum amount you’re doing yourself some big favors, especially when it comes to risk of stroke and dementia. You may love either drink, but they love your brain more…

Carolyn Gretton

To lower blood pressure, use your whole spice rack

If you have high blood pressure, you’ve probably been told to cut back on salt. But just because you’re using less salt doesn’t mean you have to skimp on flavor. There are plenty of herbs and spices that will not only add flavor to your meals, but will also lower you blood pressure, so says science…

Carolyn Gretton

The strong connection between bad sleep, bad attitude and bad aging

Getting older has its advantages, but losing sleep isn’t one of them. Not only does age-related sleep loss hurt your physical and cognitive health, researchers are finding it can make you distressed about aging. And that negative outlook could have further consequences for your physical and mental well-being…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Heart disease in a paper bag: The worst and least chemical-laden fast foods

There’s probably not one of us who believes eating fast food is healthy. But what’s the harm in the occasional indulgence? Well, you might be surprised to learn there’s far more lurking inside that greasy bag you get in the drive-thru than just anti-nutrients that pack on the pounds…

Easy Health Options Staff

COVID-19 Update: What we know about the Omicron Variant

Just in time for the holidays, we’ve gotten the news that yet another SARS-CoV-2 variant has made its presence known. Good news right now though is there’s no evidence yet that Omicron causes more severe disease. Here’s more you should know…

Carolyn Gretton

Can estrogen help stave off Alzheimer’s in women?

While there are a lot of myths surrounding menopause, one thing remains true — this midlife change brings estrogen production to a crashing halt. And that loss of estrogen can lead to health issues well beyond hot flashes and night sweats. The connection between estrogen and Alzheimer’s is one that may surprise you…

Joyce Hollman

Eat more fish to lower risk of vascular brain disease, stroke and dementia

Vascular brain disease involves damage to blood vessels in the brain and is a risk factor for vascular dementia and stroke. Sounds quite scary and it is. But if you’re eating the right stuff — specifically the best brain food — you can greatly lower your risk for the disease and the dangers that come with it.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The chemical-fat combo driving prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is only surpassed by melanoma as the most common cancer among men in the United States. In fact, almost 250,000 men will receive the diagnosis this year alone — a rate that’s predicted to skyrocket! What’s driving the numbers up? “Forever chemicals” and a dietary component that seems to accelerate tumor growth.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Your body on carbs: Metabolic distress and accelerated aging

A good deal of research has shown long-term overconsumption of carbs has a negative impact on metabolism, weight and overall health. But very little was known about how the body processes large amounts of carbohydrates eaten in a single meal. Hold onto your hats: it’s not just your metabolism that’s at risk…

Joyce Hollman

Why older adults are at high risk from this ‘open door’ to disease

When you hear the term “leaky gut,” some awful pictures may spring to mind. But the truth is that a leaky gut is like an “open door” through which harmful microbes (even COVID-19) and toxins enter your bloodstream, causing all manner of illness. If you’re an older adult, your risk is higher. That’s why researchers looked into ways to help you close that door for good…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising hormone that helps burn belly fat

Most people consider ghrelin, the hormone that produces those hunger pangs, an enemy of their weight-loss efforts. But that’s not really the case. In fact, researchers are discovering that ghrelin may be our biggest ally in losing a particularly stubborn form of fat. Here’s how to boost its fat-burning potential…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

7 ways to reduce your risk of cataracts

Currently, the only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial one. This makes focusing on cataract prevention vital to maintaining healthy eyesight. Watch for these signs and follow these tips on how you can prevent cataract development — naturally…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

COVID-19, hearing loss and the nutrient that may help

We’ve learned that a COVID-19 infection can lead to some strange symptoms like loss of smell, taste and even COVID toes. And the surprises keep coming. If you’ve had COVID-19 and have begun experiencing hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus, you should know of this strange connection…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A salty diet can starve your brain of oxygen

Remember those old commercials that warned us of what drugs could do to our brains by frying an egg in a skillet? Turns out that same demonstration is fitting when it comes to salt’s effects on the brain… including tissue damage from hypoxia.

Carolyn Gretton

How spinach can help prevent colon cancer

Popeye was right — spinach really is a superfood. It’s loaded with fiber and nutrients like vitamins A, C, K and B2, folate, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron — not to mention powerful carotenoids that support eye health. But science has pinpointed several ways this leafy green goes after colon cancer…

Joyce Hollman

Food vs. anti-aging wonder drugs: Which works best

Food is powerful medicine. Yet, there hasn’t been much detailed research comparing the efficacy of diet vs. “wonder drugs” for slowing aging processes, until now. Recently, three with the most credibilty were put to the test against food. See where metformin, rapamycin and resveratrol landed…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Want a good night’s sleep? Get naked

Sleeping well impacts your overall health. Yet, for many of us, getting those elusive eight hours isn’t just a struggle, it can seem impossible. But there’s good news. Sleep researchers have not only discovered why so many of us have sleep issues, they’ve also narrowed in on ways you can rest better — including stripping down before you hit the sheets.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The common chemical that’s shrinking penises

One of the top factors men have to worry about is the chemicals they’re exposed to, even in their aftershave. Now, a leading scientist has a new warning that’s more worrisome than what phthalates are doing to your testosterone levels and your bedroom performance. They’re also causing penises to shrink.

Joyce Hollman

Natural compound in basil kills Alzheimer’s ‘zombie cells’

As much as we’ve learned about the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s, a cure has still proven elusive. But there’s been a pattern of research results pointing to the food we eat as a probable source of what we need to beat this disease. Out of 144,000 compounds, this one holds the most promise…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Science says loneliness kicks off a dangerous disease trigger

As you get older, it becomes easier to feel isolated. Children move away and friends or loved ones may pass away, Your once strong network of social support can shrink dramatically. Sadly, this isolation can lead to depression, but it can also kick off a dangerous disease trigger. Now we know why and how to break the link…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why a CPAP machine could save your brain

Sleep apnea sufferers hate CPAP machines. And for good reason… CPAP machines are loud, uncomfortable and can cause dry eyes and skin problems. But if you have sleep apnea, you better learn to love it, because sleep apnea may cause tau proteins to accumulate in your brain…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Can we prevent osteoporosis after menopause?

It’s long been recognized that post-menopausal women are also at higher risk of osteoporosis. And although doctors have thought that the loss of estrogen during menopause might be the cause of this osteoporosis link, they really didn’t know why until a recent study.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A secret for ‘controlling’ how young you can feel

Recent research is proving that the secret to feeling young is something most of us wouldn’t expect… It turns out that while how much stress they’re under and how healthy they are plays a significant role in how old younger adults feel, for the over 60 crowd, one big factor that took center stage…

Joyce Hollman

The medical device ‘coverup’ that could threaten your life

Medical devices are everywhere, from tongue depressors to knee replacements to pacemakers. We’re talking about any non-drug product used in medical treatment. While it’s mandatory that companies report deaths associated with their devices, reporting any other negative outcomes is strictly voluntary.

Jenny Smiechowski

How to know if fibromyalgia is behind your fatigue and pain

Fibromyalgia has been one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose. Doctors could only guess based on symptoms and by ruling out other possible causes. But that may soon be coming to an end. Luckily, researchers just uncovered a simple way to diagnose fibromyalgia with more certainty…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

5 reasons almonds are the world’s most nutritious (and helpful) food

The key to losing weight and keeping it off, for good, is to make small sustainable changes, like incorporating more foods that promote health (and fewer foods that promote disease) into your day. One food that can promote both health and weight loss, happens to have recently been named the world’s most nutritious food.

Joyce Hollman

8 rules for preventing a first heart attack

The American College of Cardiology, along with the American Heart Association, issued a new set of guidelines for preventing a first heart attack or stroke. Much of the advice will not be at all surprising to you. But there has been a definite shift, you should know about…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why ‘fast food’ oil increases your risk for metastatic breast cancer

There’s probably not a woman out there that doesn’t fear a breast cancer diagnosis. And, those that survive the disease live with the constant worry of recurrence since the majority of survivors have dormant tumor cells circulating in their blood, like a time bomb, waiting to go off.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

One weird reason antidepressants may not work

Anyone who has ever dealt with depression knows how alone it can make you feel. Not only is it like living under a cloud, but it’s hard to really talk about how you feel, especially when the doctors keep insisting their pills will make you feel better. Well, now we know why they’re wrong.

Joyce Hollman

Is aluminum worth it for sweet-smelling armpits?

Have you ever thought about what’s in your deodorant that’s keeping you dry and sweet-smelling all day? Sure, you’re not eating any of the unpronounceable chemicals in there… but your skin may as well be. And research says that makes cancer a threat to you…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Middle-aged? What you need to know about your stroke risk

Most of us were shocked recently when well-known actor Luke Perry passed away shortly after suffering a stroke at the age of 52. But this may shock you even more… Middle-aged Americans are the fastest rising age group for stroke risk.

Jenny Smiechowski

Gaining muscle helps gain blood sugar control and reduces diabetes risk

If you’ve noticed your blood sugar creeping up at your last few doctor’s appointments, diabetes is probably at the top of your mind. Maybe you’ve started eating better and exercising more to shed pounds and keep your blood sugar down. But you’ll need to muscle up if you really want results…

Joyce Hollman

7 unusual signs of lung cancer

There are unusual symptoms of lung cancer that can make themselves known early on. You wouldn’t normally connect these symptoms in other parts of the body with lung cancer. Unless, of course, you know what to look for…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why moisturizing your skin could help prevent chronic disease

If you want to slow the signs of aging, you slather on moisturizer daily to keep your skin looking soft, supple and young. But what if the benefits of moisturizer went more than skin deep? What if moisturizer could fight body-wide inflammation that leads to disease? That sounds outlandish, but research says…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

A midday snooze could help you lose high blood pressure better than meds

Have you heard the phrase, “if you snooze, you lose?” Usually it refers to missing out on something because you weren’t paying attention and let an opportunity pass you by. But here’s one opportunity you can totally snooze on, and still reap some impressive benefits…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The sweetener that’s like ‘miracle grow’ for colon cancer tumors

You’ve heard that sugar fuels cancer. But there’s an even scarier sweetener in most of the sweet stuff we drink. In fact, when you drink it, so do tumors. And they’re able to use it to their benefit to grow at a supercharged rate. Is this behind the climbing colorectal cancer rates?

Jenny Smiechowski

3 factors that fuel age-related brain shrinkage the fastest

As alarming as it is to find a wiry gray hair sprouting from your head or a cavernous wrinkle resting in a formerly smooth section of your face, I think the most alarming part about getting older is what happens to your brain…Now, you’ve probably heard about the alarming effects of brain aging before. But if you haven’t, brace yourself…

Joyce Hollman

6 ways this forgotten health nut can improve your health

There are several health conditions you can improve by chomping on a few nuts. But are you limited to just almonds, walnuts or pistachios? Not at all! In fact you should eat a handful of this forgotten health nut every day. Now, here’s how they can help…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The low-carb link to heart problems

The low-carb diet I love could be dangerous for my heart. It’s important to weigh the risks and benefits of going low-carb. It’s not an easy decision, and each low-carb dieter has to decide what’s best for them.

Jenny Smiechowski

Tired of antibiotics in your food? Oranges are next

In case you haven’t heard, citrus trees in Florida have been struggling with a bacterial disease called citrus greening. That means the citrus industry has been struggling too. Citrus farmers are desperate. And you know the saying: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Well, that includes widespread use of antibiotics in your oranges.

Jenny Smiechowski

The surprising impact distant relatives with Alzheimer’s have on your risk

It’s common knowledge that if someone in your immediate family (like your mom, dad or siblings) has Alzheimer’s, you have a higher risk of the disease. But things get a little murkier when it comes to aunts, grandparents and so on. These numbers will get you serious about avoiding the disease.

Jenny Smiechowski

Treating this common eye condition might cure your migraines

Now, the exact cause of migraines is still a mystery. But all these eye-related symptoms make you wonder… Is the answer to migraines in the eye? It could be. In fact, a new study shows that migraines are closely connected to one eye condition in particular…

Joyce Hollman

Let this oil flow once a week for better blood flow

Heart disease is still the number one cause of death among adults in the United States. But there’s some advice that could keep you from being one of them. It turns out that for good blood flow, you need to let the oil flow. What kind? The one shown to reduce heart attack risk by 30 percent…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to use bedtime snacking to grow more muscle

No matter how much I worked out, or how many weights I lifted, that muscle tone I’m so envious of remained elusive. But, it’s an easy fix. It turns out I was eating wrong — or more accurately — not eating at a particular time of the day that can spur muscle growth for bigger gains.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What Yo-Yo dieting does to your heart

New Research shows that yo-yo dieting may make it harder for women to control a variety of heart disease risk factors, leaving them in danger. And, considering that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women across the world, this is a serious issue you should know about…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Cinnamon: The super antioxidant-rich disease-fighting spice

Did you know that more herbs are among the foods with highest antioxidant value? And one of my favorites is right up there near the top… cinnamon. You might be pleasantly surprised to see what science has to say about cinnamon and Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and blood sugar…

Joyce Hollman

How mouthwash raises your blood pressure

Have you heard the expression, “throwing the baby out with the bath water”? It means getting rid of what’s good, along with what’s bad. This happens a lot when it comes to things we do and use that are supposed to make us healthier… like gargling with mouthwash.

Jenny Smiechowski

The vegetables that slash colorectal cancer risk 79 percent

No one should ever let the fear of bad breath keep them away from garlic too often. That’s because allium vegetables could have a valuable service to offer: cancer protection. And the more you eat, the better. You could cut your colorectal cancer risk a whopping 79 percent!

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The inactive ingredients in pills that trigger allergies

Do you have a food allergy or sensitivity? If so, you know some can be quite uncomfortable and others, quite dangerous. So if you had a problem with gluten, lactose or peanuts, you’d never expect to find anything like that in your medication, right? Think again…

Joyce Hollman

Is ‘meat glue’ causing your digestive problems?

Have you heard of “meat glue?” Yes, you read that right… It’s an additive that showing up in everything from meat to dairy, and even baked goods. Its purpose is also to bind proteins together, giving products a better texture and longer shelf life. Here’s how it can make you sick…

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