Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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. It turns out ghrelin may be an ally in losing a particularly stubborn form of fat…

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.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What sleep has to do with obesity

It’s no secret sleep is vital to your health. And now we know if you’re not getting it, you can’t control cravings, improve your metabolism or keep your blood pressure stabilized. No wonder it leads to diabetes and obesity…

Joyce Hollman

Is your doctor letting you ‘drug and drive’?

Nearly half of all older adults are using seven or more prescription medications that could impair their driving ability — making them dangerous not only to themselves, but to others. Are you one of these people? It’s not something your doctor always catches…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What to know about colonoscopies and cancer risk

No one looks forward to a colonoscopy. After all, the prep that keeps you running for the bathroom, not to mention having a scope inserted into your, well… bottom. If you’re overdue and not sure about going through with it, this may help make up your mind…

Jenny Smiechowski

The common antibiotics that double your risk of aortic aneurysm

Antibiotics have risks. But in many cases the benefits far outweigh those risks… Except when they’re prescribed for a virus, or as “preventative,” or especially when they put you at risk for a serious and potentially deadly aortic aneurysm…

Dr. Michael Cutler

The side-effects of cannabis they don’t talk about

Despite the fact that cannabis is legal in more states and perceived to be harmless for recreational use, newer evidence has emerged showing that regular heavy use of cannabis causes a number of adverse health effects. Let’s review them…

Joyce Hollman

3 weird signs that indicate winter dehydration

Surprisingly, many experts consider the risk of dehydration higher in winter than in the hot summer months. Your body operates differently in the colder months, and its priorities may not be focused on keeping you hydrated. Here are the odd signs to look for…

Margaret Cantwell

The one time sitting doesn’t harm your health

You’ve probably heard and read that sitting seriously sabotages your heart health, and it may even double your heart disease risk. But that’s not always the case. There’s one instance when sitting is actually great for your heart…

Joyce Hollman

5 life-saving banana benefits (slideshow)

Bananas are high in potassium, a mineral that plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy heart. Without enough of this mineral, your heart and arteries simply cannot function the way they’re supposed to.

Joyce Hollman

How vitamin C helps shield you from toxin exposure

So the verdict is in. Glyphosate, the toxic weedkiller in Roundup causes cancer. It wreaks damage by depleting the body’s supply of its “master antioxidant,” glutathione. But in high enough doses, a common vitamin has been shown to reverse the depletion of glutathione caused by glyphosate…

Jenny Smiechowski

The simple test that reveals your brain’s health

It’s scary to think that dementia could be brewing in your brain without even realizing it. But there’s plenty you can do to protect your brain health. And there may even be a simple way to gauge how healthy your brain is right now without expensive brain scans.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The ‘tree spinach’ that fights fatty liver like a drug

When people think about what carrying extra weight around does to their body, they often forget about their liver. But even if you’re skinny, you’re not home free from fatty liver disease. Either way, there are a few things to add to your diet that can protect this vital organ.

Jenny Smiechowski

How tick and chigger bites clog your arteries

Meat allergies are becoming more common because of two creepy, crawly causes — ticks and chiggers. But that’s not the worst of it. Not only can these allergies keep you from enjoying a good burger, they can clog your arteries and put you at risk for heart disease.

Joyce Hollman

The sweet fruit that sours fibromyalgia symptoms

Fibromyalgia means pain, extreme fatigue, memory problems, depression and digestive problems. Treating fibromyalgia has proven challenging. But there may be an unusual way to ease the condition: a tropical fruit with a “sour” name that doesn’t match its flavor.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 ways to get the health benefits of CBD oil

When you hear the word cannabis, it’s likely that things like joints and special brownies come to mind. But, the fact is that the products derived from hemp offer some very real health benefits, without the high you get from the THC in marijuana…

Dr. Geo Espinosa

What you should know about penis pain

Penile pain is a delicate subject, pun intended. It’s a subject that most men don’t talk about. But the presence of pain can be serious and should not be ignored…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Late nights lead to diabetes and heart disease

Being an early riser or a night owl can influence your health, uncovering a growing body of evidence indicating an evening preference leads to very serious health risks. In fact, being an evening person increases your risk of both heart disease and diabetes, and here’s why…

Jenny Smiechowski

The black nut that fights inflammation, obesity and more

If you’re a true health-nut (or even a part-time health nut), there’s one food you should always have on hand — nuts. Especially one that contains several essential fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals like magnesium and potassium and a bona fide disease buster…

Joyce Hollman

New medication brings hope to migraine sufferers

Migraine headaches affect ten percent of the world’s population. That means that one in every ten people you meet — maybe even you — suffers from attacks of debilitating pain on one side of their head that are often accompanied by slurred speech, nausea, and vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound.

Jenny Smiechowski

How to hypnotize your bowel problems away

Most people don’t think of irritable bowel syndrome as a serious condition. They think it’s a bit of diarrhea, constipation or both. Nothing you need to worry about too much. But for those with the most severe cases it feels very serious…

Joyce Hollman

Why you should have a living will and how to get one

We’re reluctant to talk about the end of our life, let alone plan for it. Seems like tempting the fates. In reality, though, it is one of the smartest things you can do, not only for your benefit, but for the peace of mind and well-being of your family and friends.

Margaret Cantwell

8 great nutrients that will keep your brain from short-circuiting

As we age, we begin to focus on what can help us gracefully enter our senior years. So, let me share what science now knows about eight specific nutrients you want swimming in your bloodstream to keep your brain connections and your cognition strong…

Joyce Hollman

10 best foods to protect your hard-working liver

Without a fully functioning and healthy liver, you could take all the vitamins and supplements in the world, but they wouldn’t do any good. So, pay special attention to eating these ten foods that nourish this crucial organ.

Jenny Smiechowski

Brain viruses behind bowel problems

If you go to the doctor’s office and they can’t find anything else wrong, they may diagnose you with irritable bowel syndrome and send you on your way. But there could be something stranger behind your bowel trouble…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Does evening exercise really ruin your sleep?

You may have heard the conventional wisdom that says you shouldn’t exercise in the evening since it makes it hard to fall asleep. I know that I had… In fact, I though I had to skip my workout if I couldn’t get it in before 5 pm. But, is it the truth? Let’s get to the bottom of it…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The citrusy herb that ‘reverses’ heart damage

I love to cook with herbs and spices. Not just for the amazing flavor they add, but because many, especially one of my favorites, help heal your body. A a new study found one particular citrus-tasting herb may even reverse heart damage…

Jenny Smiechowski

More cheese makes the Mediterranean diet healthier

Some diets make you ditch dairy altogether, while others make you cut fat. Either way, cheese is out of the picture. But if you’re a cheese lover like me, don’t worry… a newer version of one of the healthiest diets is bringing dairy back, and the health benefits are just as good…

Joyce Hollman

6 things that can go wrong with your spine and how to avoid them

The spine houses a bundle of nerves that allows the brain to keep us moving, functioning and healthy. When a connection is severed, it’s like shutting off the switch to a vital function. It doesn’t take a serious injury to have problems. Watch for these…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 wildflowers with big health benefits

There are around 21,000 plants that have the potential to fight disease, but you’re unlikely to come into contact with most of them. However, there are six wildflowers that you could easily run across in a short hike that pack a big punch when it comes to your health.

Jenny Smiechowski

The mineral that helps you master your vitamin D levels

Optimizing vitamin and mineral levels is a bit like walking a tight rope. Too much or too little, and you’ve got problems. So, when supplementing your vitamin D, wouldn’t it be nice to have a little “insurance” that protects you from getting too little or too much?

Joyce Hollman

Don’t fall victim to Big Pharma’s promotional scare tactics

You know how drug commercials rattle off dangerous side effects so fast there’s no way to get it all? Well, drug companies have found a new way to get around the law requiring them to disclose that information. Here’s what to watch for so you don’t get tricked…

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