Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Could you lose just 15 percent to reverse diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is serious enough on its own, but long-term can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, even Alzheimer’s. Doctors will suggest weight loss to their patients, but researchers have evidence weight loss should become THE central focus — that is if you want to not only reduce complications — but reverse it.

Carolyn Gretton

The urgent reason black women should check their vitamin D levels

Vitamin D is important for bone, muscle, brain and immune system health. But the vitamin’s cancer connections are also coming to light. Studies are looking at specific cancers on the rise, how the body produces vitamin D and how skin color comes into play in. The findings are something we can’t ignore…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How COVID-19 tricks arteries into producing blood clots

Covid-19’s affinity for blood clots has perplexed doctors almost since day one. Because blood clots can contribute to worse outcomes for those infected, researchers have focused on finding their cause. Some have speculated that the virus infects the blood vessels themselves. But it’s much tricker than that.

Joyce Hollman

Half a dozen ways to avoid weight gain over the holidays

The holiday season isn’t kind to people who are trying to lose weight or even just trying to maintain a holding pattern. But don’t give up hope. I’ve got some strategies to avoiding tipping the scales before New Year’s Eve, and I’d like to share them with you. Especially if you’ve been a victim of the “COVID 15.”

Joyce Hollman

Fighting macular degeneration with coconut oil

Coconut oil has been shown to have multiple benefits that help with weight, infections, prostate enlargement and cognitive impairment. So, would it be surprising to learn that coconut oil can help with a nutrient deficiency common in people with macular degeneration?

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Could the right food lower your heart disease risk better than meds?

When treating or preventing heart disease, the emphasis has been heavy on medications. But this pill-centric approach often ignores the tremendous impact foods have. Take cholesterol, where the right foods can be one and a half times even MORE powerful than drugs…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to get over your cold quick and keep from spreading it

You wake up feeling terrible and wonder, is it a cold or flu? How contagious are you and for how long? How can you keep from spreading your germs… but most importantly: How can you feel better FAST? I’ve got all the answers for you…

Jenny Smiechowski

What heavy drinking does to your DNA

Drinking is an expected part of social life. That may mean only having a margarita with friends once a month at your favorite Mexican restaurant. But if your social circle brings out the heavy drinker in you, there’s something you should know…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The drink that helps lower breast cancer risk by half

Even though a small portion of breast cancers are genetic, a whopping 85 percent of women diagnosed have absolutely no family history. That means it can come out of no where. Thanks to research, there are a number of ways to reduce that risk…

Jenny Smiechowski

Independent agers skip the gym for this instead

There are a variety of reasons older adults can lose independence. But mainly, it comes down to a loss of physical mobility or a loss of cognitive ability. If the gym’s not for you, try this fun way to lower your risk of losing your independence from either of these causes…

Jenny Smiechowski

The common drug combo that causes brain and stomach bleeding

More than 30 million people take NSAID pain relievers daily. The problem is, a lot of these same people also take a popular antidepressnt. If you’re one of them, you should know about the increased risk for brain and gastrointestinal bleeding this combination can cause….

Joyce Hollman

Is your favorite juice harboring high levels of harmful heavy metals?

If you’ve switched to juice to cut down on sugary soft drinks, you need to heed this warning: 45 different fruit juice brands have tested positive for measurable amounts of arsenic, cadmium and lead. Are you drinking one of them? If so, do these things now…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is it allergies or head and neck cancer?

When is a persistent sore throat or hoarseness, along with earache and maybe problems swallowing, something to be concerned about? If it’s your allergies, you’re probably thinking hardly ever. But this combination mimics symptoms of a common head and neck cancer, too.

Jenny Smiechowski

The blood test that catches Alzheimer’s 16 years before serious symptoms begin

If you knew right now that you were going to get Alzheimer’s in the next 20 years, what would you do to change your destiny? Would you exercise more? Eat better? Try kirtan kriya meditation? All the above?

Joyce Hollman

4 real health benefits of a good cry

When was the last time you had a good cry? For me, it was just the other day. When it was over, boy, did I feel good! Why? It turns out there’s science behind what tears do for your emotional well-being as well as your physical health…

Joyce Hollman

5 smoothie recipes to fuel a disease-free body

Here are five “go-to” smoothies that I’ve tried and enjoyed, in no particular order. They all contain a wealth of fruits and veggies and are geared to boosting nutrients that science says helps decrease your risk of a host of diseases…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Mindfulness won’t take away hot flashes, but it could reduce this killer

Science hasn’t found a lot to offer that works across the board to diminish menopause symptoms, like hot flashes and night sweats. But it may have found a way for menopausal women to overcome one dangerous symptom it certainly creates in their lives…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How the antioxidant power of vitamin C could slay metabolic syndrome

It’s estimated that 35 percent of us suffer from metabolic syndrome, a serious condition associated with everything from heart disease to fatty liver disease to type 2 diabetes… even dementia. But getting more of an important nutrient could be your first step to defeating it.

Joyce Hollman

The drinking water contaminant killing sperm and men

It’s among the most frequently used weed-killing chemicals polluting our drinking water. Among it’s dangers, we can now add “fertility killer.” But if you think fertility isn’t an issue that impacts you directly, you should understand how it shortens men’s lives…

Jenny Smiechowski

2 surprising health tips modern-day ‘cavemen’ can teach us

Is everyone you know following the paleo diet to lose weight and gain health? Maybe you are, too. But there’s still skepticism about whether the caveman lifestyle really works. So to find out, scientists went to some real, live modern-day cavemen, and guess what they found?

Joyce Hollman

5 times burping might be something serious

In some parts of the world, belching might be considered a high compliment. But in the United States, well, it’s a real faux pas.The occasional burp can be embarrassing, but if it happens regularly, and often, it could be a sign of more serious concerns…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

When it looks like dementia but isn’t

If you spend time with an elderly relative or act as a caregiver, you know how those little signs their cognition is slipping can be cause for concern. But some seniors who appear to be headed down the path of dementia, are actually suffering from something totally treatable.

Jenny Smiechowski

Will eating fried food fry your lifespan?

No matter what diet you’re following, there’s one type of food that’s always on the no-no list — fried food. But how “dangerous” is fried food, really? What’s the true price of gliding through the KFC drive-thru and scarfing down a few chicken legs?

Joyce Hollman

Cancer’s complicated relationship with blood pressure drugs

Many people are unaware of just how many drugs there are to control blood pressure. That’s because if the first line drugs don’t work for you, the system is set up to get you on the next one. And that can lead you to a different and scarier disease threat…

Jenny Smiechowski

Can essential oils really cause male breasts?

Who doesn’t love essential oils? But if you’re male and use peppermint oil to ease a headache, lavender oil to relieve anxiety or tea tree oil to clear your skin, listen up… any potent substance that can make significant changes to your body comes with a risk of side effects…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to avoid neck pain from computer use

Poor posture may seem harmless but the truth is that it compresses your neck and not only cause headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, and problems concentrating, but over time it can actually damage the vertebrae in your neck. And it’s happening at your computer…

Joyce Hollman

2 simple methods to try for better memory recall

As I get older, my ability to remember things is changing, and not for the better. This shift is in no way debilitating, thank goodness… just annoying. So I was thrilled to find these fun exercises to strengthen my memory, and hope you will be, too…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The oil that works better than “those” ED Pills

Most men would like to boost their performance in the bedroom. Many men are tempted to turn to the little blue pill for help, but they could slash the chance of erectile dysfunction by a whopping 40 percent just by including plenty this oil in their diet.

Dr. Michael Cutler

15+ herbs, vitamins and nutrients that help fight dementia

Despite decades of research, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s dementia. That doesn’t mean all hope is lost to avoid this devastating disease. Current medications, at best, may slow the rate of disease progression. So, shouldn’t we consider natural options that may do the same, or better? Let me share them with you…

Jenny Smiechowski

The common household chemical that contributes to cancer and heart disease

Disease-causing chemicals are in our water, food, clothing, make-up, furniture — pretty much everything we encounter daily. We’re told they’e safe, but they’re making people sick. Case in point? This one raises your risk of two devastating chronic diseases…

Margaret Cantwell

The truth about lectins and the real reason beans ‘disagree’ with you

For years I struggled with digestive disorders. I tried elimination diets and finally found my problem was gluten. So I gave up grains. But still, certain foods, like beans, disagreed with me in a big way, and I mean more than gas. The reason why has been quite an eye opener…

Easy Health Options Staff

4 times you should pay attention to your breathing

The way you breath can increase or reduce stress and anxiety, effect the beating speed of your heart and the oxygenation of your blood supply — all things that impact your health. Here are 4 times you should pay attention to how you’re breathing…

Jenny Smiechowski

How to boost the Alzheimer’s-fighting hormone hiding in your brain

Right now, there aren’t many hopeful treatments for Alzheimer’s. Current drugs have minimal benefits and loads of side effects, including diarrhea. But research shows how you can  encourage your brain to release a hormone that could be the answer we’ve all been waiting for.

Joyce Hollman

The carcinogens hiding in your chewing gum

You wouldn’t eat food with cancer-causing chemicals in it, would you? Lucky for us, we have a government agency to warn us about such dangers. That is, when this government watchdog isn’t siding with the chemical producers, rather than with us, the consumer.

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