Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Diabetes: Why a broken biological clock affects treatment

Mitochondria communicate with time-keeping molecules in our cells, and this communication is disrupted in people with type 2 diabetes. That’s a problem because some of the most common diabetes treatments affect mitochondria, meaning they may work differently depending on the time of day they are taken…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The ‘silent hormone’ that doubles women’s Alzheimer’s risk

Doctors have long known that if you’re a woman, your brain is in danger. Numerous studies show women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s. And as you may have guessed, hormones are believed to be the culprit following menopause. But not the ones you’re thinking of…

Joyce Hollman

The trick to using optimism to live longer and better

Research says being an optimist can absolutely add years to your healthspan, the number of years you get to live a healthy, disease-free, productive life. But it depends on when you’re optimistic in response to the stressors in your life — before they happen or after…

Carolyn Gretton

A single cell may be the start and end of Alzheimer’s

The brain needs a lot of oxygen. Without a hardy supply, brain cells begin to malfunction and die off. That’s why the brain has a mechanism in place to make sure its energy demands are met: a single cell that may be all that’s between you and a cascade that could lead to Alzheimer’s or stop it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why cutting calories could cut your colon cancer risk

While we used to think of colon cancer as a concern for those middle-aged and older, more people are being diagnosed under the age of 50. And while plenty of research speculates as to why that is, the best is finding ways to keep it from happening to you…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Poor liver health could be destroying your bones

If your liver goes down, so do you. It’s a fact that’s as true for your bones as it is for any part of your body. So, if you’re experiencing bone loss, problems with bone density or are worried about suffering from weak bones and fractures, your liver health, or lack of it, could be to blame.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Live cold, die old: How temperature affects lifespan

We’ve all heard the saying, “Live fast, die young.” It’s one that’s stood the test of time since living a fast and risky life is often cut short. Now, there’s one more adage that will likely stand up to that time test, and may have you cranking up your AC: Live cold, die old…

Carolyn Gretton

The harmful brain legacy of leaded gasoline

You may think the only way to get exposed to lead is through drinking water or paint chips in older houses. But if you were born in the U.S. before 1996, you were very likely absorbing lead with every breath you took. And researchers say that could be affecting how your brain is aging today…

Joyce Hollman

What dentists get but doctors don’t about pH balance

Every time you eat or drink anything other than water, the pH level in your mouth drops (becomes more acidic). This causes minerals in your tooth enamel to seep out as your body tries to re-establish a balanced pH. Any guesses what happens in the rest of your body?

Carolyn Gretton

Protein: How to eat it to avoid high blood pressure

Nearly half of the American population has high blood pressure. But what’s really odd is that for most adults, there’s no identifiable cause of their hypertension. Lifestyle factors, like salt intake, get a lot of blame. But if you’re not eating your protein right, you’ll be surprised at what may happen…

Margaret Cantwell

The Alzheimer’s drug on the horizon that’s really a vitamin

Could an existing FDA-approved drug be that magic Alzheimer’s pill we’ve been waiting for? It reduced those signature brain plaques and improved memory deficits in mice. Better yet? The “drug” is a simple vitamin that’s already shown that people with the lowest intake are 80 percent more likely to develop the disease…

Jenny Smiechowski

Perfect pill melts fat, fights disease and keeps your body young

There’s an all-natural “pill” shown to help you lose weight. Sure, diet and exercise can help. But why not give yourself a break and take this pill every day? You’ll drop pounds and end up not only with a healthier body weight but a better gut, bones, skin and more!

Craig Cooper

6 reasons you shouldn’t get testosterone therapy

The biggest complaints men have that can often lead to considering testosterone therapy are weight gain, lack of energy, low libido, depression and lack of muscle tone. They’re often convinced that testosterone therapy will solve everything. But there’s another side to that coin…

Joyce Hollman

Our organs age at different rates and what it means

When you read about slowing aging or promoting a longer lifespan, it’s a safe bet you assumed your biological age applied to your whole body. Turns out, while our organs are busy doing different jobs, they’re also aging at different rates. What’s that mean for us?

Carl Lowe

Survive the heat with a single supplement

Summer heat is a real hazzard. But you can help your body shrug off the dog days of summer with a simple vitamin. Sound crazy? Not when you understand how it keeps your blood moving, which cools your skin and reduces your risk for stroke…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Migraine may signal one of these four endocrine disorders

When is a migraine more than just a pain condition? When it’s a symptom. Having an endocrine-related condition is likely to increase your risk of migraine headaches. That means there could be a potentially serious condition behind those terrible headaches…

Easy Health Options Staff

Aphasia: The disorder that steals your ability to communicate

You may know that well-known actor Bruce Willis is stepping away from his 50+ year career for health reasons. His family made the announcement for him, which may indicate the progression of his illness: Aphasia. Here’s what you should know about the difficult disorder affecting millions few have heard of…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 household nasties that make asthma worse

Some experts say asthma has become an epidemic in our country. And once you’ve got it, its symptoms hit you again and again. Luckily, researchers have identified the three bigest asthma culprits lurking in your home that if you can tame, could help you get better control of your symptoms.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why exercise is vital for Long COVID recovery

Long COVID can affect up to 80 percent of those who’ve been infected, resulting in a constellation of symptoms including diabetes and depression. While there’s currently no recognized treatment, experts recognize dousing inflammation is key to defeating its effects, and exercise can help…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Low T and ED? Blame a high protein diet

Eating a high protein diet is a great way to keep your muscles strong so that you don’t lose them with age. But there are some downsides. For men, eating a diet with too much protein can lead to low levels of testosterone, low sperm count and ED. Here’s how to find balance…

Joyce Hollman

Flavorful flavonoids that help your brain flourish

Eating foods that benefit your health in a major way isn’t all about just eating the green stuff or more fiber. In fact some of the most colorful foods can have the most amazing effects, especially on your brain…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What height has to do with colon cancer risk

Doctors have long noticed that taller people tend to develop colorectal cancer more frequently. Sounds odd, but the theory is height correlates to more real estate in organs too. Here are life-saving tips that can help bring those odds down….

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Coffee and heart health: The suggested daily limit

Research has proven time and again that your morning cup of joe doesn’t just give you the jolt you need to wake up. It packs proven benefits. Yet, too much of even a good thing can quickly turn bad. So, how much is too much coffee for your heart?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Common medications that make fighting any virus harder

Just because millions may take a specific type of medication daily, it doesn’t mean it’s risk-free. And what we’re learning in the aftermath of the pandemic has put some very common medications in the spotlight. It’s important information no matter what virus you may have to fight…

Carolyn Gretton

GERD: A surprising cause of chronic headache

If you suffer from chronic headaches, you’ve probably gone down every avenue trying to uncover the cause and find relief. But for millions, the answers remain elusive. But you may have been looking for relief from the wrong body part, now that researchers have found a trigger within the gastrointestinal system…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Are you just tired, or is it Alzheimer’s?

Most of us wouldn’t think twice about napping a little during the day. After all, as we age, our nighttime sleep can become more disrupted, so why wouldn’t we catch up on it during the daytime hours? Surprisingly, it could be a sign of brain changes that need attention.

Joyce Hollman

How many steps to live longer? Which side of 60 are you on?

You’ve probably heard that 10,000 is the optimal number of steps per day to add years to your life. Truth is, there’s nothing to back that up. But a look at 15 studies has plenty of data to back up the amount that can give you real benefits. And it depends on what side of 60 you’re on.

Carolyn Gretton

The reason exercise gets harder the less you do

Even with the best of intentions, it’s easy to let exercise fall by the wayside. And it can be really tough to start up again. But it’s not just about willpower. There may be a biological reaction that makes it physically difficult to get back in the exercise groove again…

William Davis

Vitamin D: The secrets behind the lost cure

Numerous studies have confirmed head-to-toe benefits of vitamin D that go far beyond strong bones. But the disease connection to low levels of the vitamin is just the tip of the iceberg of what you should know to avoid the silent epidemic behind the rise in autoimmune disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and more…

Carolyn Gretton

Having irregular periods could lead to liver disease

For the longest time, having long or irregular periods was dismissed as something women just had to put up with. But that’s changing. We now know a menstrual cycle gone awry can be a sign of serious illness — including liver disease. A few ways to rebalance your cycle can also protect your liver…

Joyce Hollman

How sleep makes more room in your brain for memories

The brain has been compared to a computer. It takes in information, processes it, and stores it away in our memories. But just how does this happen? And how can we help things along? A recently published study took a close look at what’s going on in our brain when it’s at work forming permanent memories for us.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The vitamin you didn’t know could help prevent heart attack

Analyzing the bloodwork of patients who’ve suffered heart attack has revealed a common problem — low levels of a vitamin that helps regulate blood flow, lower blood pressure and the levels of oxidative stress in your cardiovascular system. You might say it turns back the clock on your veins, arteries and heart.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why diabetes causes cancer to spread

There are a lot of downsides to living with diabetes. But there’s one big downside that might not be on your radar — cancer. A new study shows that not only are people with diabetes more likely to develop cancer, they’re also more likely to develop the kind that spreads. It comes down to a trigger you must control…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3+ ridiculous reasons research is being funded to keep you away from vitamins

I’m a fan of The Big Bang Theory. In my favorite episode, Sheldon tells Amy that all vitamin supplements can do is give you “very expensive urine,” a conclusion that’s not far off from that of the recent study questioning the use of vitamins. But their ridiculous reasons are sitcom-worthy…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The dirty trick your brain plays that makes you gain more weight when stressed

If you’re an occasional junk food muncher when life is on cruise control… but especially lean towards sugary, gooey high-calorie foods when stress derails you, pay close attention to the dirty trick your brain plays on you that gets your body to stop burning calories…

Joyce Hollman

Studies find not-so-sweet links between popular sweetener, cancer and diabetes

The makers of artificial sweeteners have taken full advantage of the data to make a case for their products. But one after the other, “safe” artificial sweeteners have been unmasked as the health hazards they really are.

Jenny Smiechowski

Glyphosate triggers generational toxicology that could harm your family line

If you’re trying to decide if glyphosate (the chemical in Roundup) is harmful to your health, good luck. It’s hard to get a straight answer. Many organizations categorize it as a probable human carcinogen, except for the EPA. Whether an immediate concern for you or not, research says your family line could suffer…

Joyce Hollman

4 breakfast foods that will boost your brain power

What you choose to eat in the morning can have a very real effect on your brain power and focus for the rest of the day. But the right “brain foods” can help you put together some powerhouse breakfasts. Here are the top four brain-fueling breakfast foods that can help you stay sharp daylight to dark…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

8 ways to beat a genetic predisposition for cardiovascular disease

Many of my patients who have a family history of heart issues seem to resign themselves to the fact that they will experience the same fate as their relatives. There’s nothing further from the truth. Genetics is not destiny. It is merely a predisposition. And that means you have a big say in your outcome…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

10 minutes a day is all it takes to keep osteoarthritis from stealing your independence

Most people think cancer is about the worst thing that could happen. As a health researcher, I’m no exception and spend a lot of time looking for ways to diminish that risk. But there are other health issues that may not seem as scary — but can disrupt and derail your life just as much… maybe even more…

Joyce Hollman

The super salad six (and then some) that saves your brain

The importance of eating dark, leafy green vegetables is something you’ve heard me talk about before. The chlorophyll that makes them green fights cancer, heals wounds and detoxifies the liver. That’s why leafy greens are a central part of healing diets — even one that could help you eat your way to a stronger brain.

Jenny Smiechowski

30 foods that pack a punch against postmenopausal breast cancer

During menopause, everything about your body (and life) is in flux… Your risk for breast cancer increases after 40 and keeps going up. It’s at its highest after your 70th birthday. Luckily, a new study just identified a plant compound that can help keep you breast cancer-free during those midlife changes and beyond…

Jenny Smiechowski

What your sense of smell says about your lifespan

A slight decline in your senses as you get older is normal. But even though diminishing senses are a normal part of aging, there is one sense you should pay close attention to if it starts to go south — your sense of smell. For one reason, it could also be an early sign of a few serious diseases…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What the chemical that gives chilies their kick does to lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. But, why is it so deadly compared to other cancers? Often it’s simply not found early enough to stop its spread. And, once it’s metastasized to other parts of the body, it’s extremely difficult to treat. But science may have found a new tool to help stop it…

Dr. Michael Cutler

More than measuring carbs: The glycemic index and disease risk

You must have sugar to survive. But sugar is bad for you, right? It all depends on the way sugar is presented to your body. That’s where glycemic index comes in. Let’s look at the ways sugar heals…or kills you.

Joyce Hollman

Exercise ‘snacking’ may be the best new trend anyone can do

What kind of exercise is best? And how much is enough? What if you just can’t stand to work up a sweat and keep at it for long? Well, there’s more evidence that you don’t have to exercise yourself into oblivion — instead, grabbing a little here and a little there can be quite beneficial…

Margaret Cantwell

Foods that lead to premature aging and the best that beat it

In just the last few years, discoveries regarding telomeres and mitochondria have provided big clues into how to live longer healthier. But in my group of friends, I get asked about another kind of anti-aging quite often. The kind everyone wants to know how to drastically slow… The kind that shows on your face and skin.

Joyce Hollman

3+ ways the golden spice is your golden ticket to great health

Of all the spices in your cabinet, there’s one that is arguably head and shoulders above the rest in terms of disease-fighting properties. But it’s time to give you an update: Studies have explored even more benefits of this spice that’s been prized for thousands of years, both for its flavor and its healing properties…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘skinny’ on black seed oil and diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is rampant. But there’s some weight behind something that just might be Mother Nature’s answer to blood sugar and weight problems — two health issues that often go hand in hand. If you haven’t heard of this Egyptian secret, here’s what you need to know…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The hip breathing trick that helps your hippocampus remember better

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a breathing exercise that lowers blood pressure and eases sleep apnea. Well, hold on to your hat because the power of breathing doesn’t stop there. If you’re experiencing your fair share of senior moments, breathe like this to boost your brain’s memory center…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why your husband’s beard is dirtier than your dog

Beards are big right now. No wonder: there are a lot of benefits to having a beard… not shaving every day, avoiding sun damage and many women find them attractive. But despite all the beard benefits, there’s a big beard pitfall. It’s something bearded men and their partners should be aware of…

Jenny Smiechowski

Say yes to cheese for better blood sugar

No matter how you slice it, cheese is delicious. But cheese is high in fat. It’s high in calories. It’s high in sodium. It causes inflammation. Sure, there are some downsides to going hog wild on a sharp cheddar cheese wheel. But there are upsides too… especially if you have prediabetes or diabetes…

Joyce Hollman

The bigger your waistline, the smaller and older your brain

No one questions any longer that being overweight or obese is a serious health problem. Excess body fat has been linked to a dozen types of cancer. But does excess body weight affect your brain? Based on research done over the past fifteen years, the answer seems to be yes. Being overweight produces definite physical changes in your brain… and none of them are good.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How the Mediterranean diet deters overeating, weight gain and disease

We’ve all heard about those diets that claim you can eat as much as you want and not gain weight. But, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, right? Not always… See why the Mediterranean diet not only deters overeating, but protects against obesity and disease…

Joyce Hollman

Magnesium deficiency: Symptoms, causes and cures for the silent crisis

While a magnesium deficiency manifests symptoms and can lead to dire health consequences, it can be very hard to detect. Routine blood tests don’t often look for levels of magnesium. And, even when they do, it’s not a foolproof test. That’s because most of your magnesium is stored in your bones, not your blood.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

What you’re NOT eating could kill you

Most of the time, when we look at dietary factors that contribute to disease, the focus is on the things we get too much of — red meat, highly processed items, trans fats. But a recent look at dietary patterns found that what you’re NOT eating could be just as detrimental to your health…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

People with happy spouses may live longer

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Happy wife, happy life.” According to my husband, it’s one that’s extremely accurate. If I’m happy, his life is going well too. If I’m not, then he’s more likely to be stressed and unhappy as well. But new research shows that old adage goes both ways… and has a major impact on your health.

Jenny Smiechowski

The fruit that rivals prescription anti-inflammatory drugs

Diseases are like dominoes. You get one disease, and it triggers a chain reaction that causes others. Just think about it for a second… If you have an autoimmune disease, you’re more likely to get cancer. If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to get heart disease. If you have heart disease, you’re more likely to get dementia. The list goes on and on. Why are chronic diseases connected?

Joyce Hollman

The scary new ‘superbug’ no one’s telling you about

In 2010, the CDC estimated that 23,000 people were dying annually from infections caused by MRSA and other “unkillable” bacteria that have learned to resist our best antibiotics. Then we stopped hearing much about superbugs. Now we’re finding that fungal infections are following suit, and it’s downright scary…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This is the diet that could save your heart

To keep all of the organs in your body working, your heart muscle must work tirelessly. Unfortunately, as you age, your chance of heart failure goes up significantly. Aside from genetic factors, what you eat makes a big impact. And out of these 5 popular styles of eating, one could slash your risk by 41 percent…

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