Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Cholesterol absorber or cholesterol producer: Which are you?

LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the blood are determined predominantly by two very different biochemical pathways. Depending upon which one is dominant for you, it’s possible to determine how well you’ll respond to medication versus simple diet changes to lower cholesterol.

Easy Health Options Staff

Blood pressure drug recalled for cancer-causing impurity

The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced they are voluntarily recalling several lots of blood pressure medications due to the presence of a cancer-causing impurity known as nitrosamine. Find out if you’re affected and what to do…

Joyce Hollman

Severity of joint pain during menopause clue to deadly condition

Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life. But because doctors expect to hear women come to them with complaints of fatigue, sleep problems, headaches and joint pain during this time, women are being left behind when it comes to a dangerous and potentially deadly condition…

Joyce Hollman

Study identifies how many years your brain ages per drink

What’s the harm in a daily drink? Despite what smaller studies have found, it turns out just one drink followed by just one more can exponentially age your brain by shrinking it. In fact, a shockingly small amount can steal a decade from your brain…

Carolyn Gretton

The air pollutant increasing your risk for cognitive decline

Breathing in ozone pollution is harsh on the lungs. It can also raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. Is that the worst of it? Long-term exposure to ozone has been found to contribute to cognitive decline. You have to breath, but you can still protect your brain….

Virginia Tims-Lawson

‘Everyday’ plastics mess with metabolism, increase fat cells

Endless commercials tell us if we join weight loss programs and eat their pre-packaged meals, the pounds will drop. Maybe you’ve tried them or followed a diet at home, working out on top of all of that, but the scale keeps going up. Let me be the first to tell you to stop beating yourself up. Here’s why…

Joyce Hollman

New therapeutic target takes aim at Age-related Macular Degeneration

AMD leads to loss of the sharp vision required for activities like reading, driving, recognizing faces and seeing the world in color. It can also lead to blindness. To keep that from happening, research looks into gene therapy, inflammation and oxidative stress…

Joyce Hollman

8 tips that take the stress out of eating for weight loss and wellness

If you still think being mindful about your eating habits has something to do with meditation, you’d not only be wrong, you’d be missing out. Here are 8 ways to simplify eating better, losing weight if you want and avoiding disease to live healthier…

Joyce Hollman

Live longer strengthening muscles just one hour a week

Anything you can do to develop stronger muscles will add years to your life — up to 20 percent more! But if you’re like me you’re not a fan of breaking a sweat. I have good news for all of us: When it comes to the benefits of muscle-strengthening exercise, less is more…

Joyce Hollman

Common painkillers can put you in the sodium ‘danger zone’

They plop. They fizz. And what a relief they bring. But the reason those fizzy pain relievers dissolve so well is the sodium they contain. Surely, it’s not that much, right? It’s enough to raise risks for stroke and heart attack even if you don’t have high blood pressure.

Jenny Smiechowski

Hurting? Swap your NSAID for this vitamin

Arthritis, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, back pain — you’ve probably dealt with one or more of these forms of chronic pain in your lifetime. And maybe you’re still trying to rein in your chronic pain… even after you’ve tried everything medicine has to offer…

Carolyn Gretton

The brain perks of pet ownership

Having a pet is great for your health, particularly if you’re a senior. Your pet can keep your blood pressure and stress levels down, keep you from getting lonely and make sure you get daily exercise. And now, there’s evidence having a pet may even benefit your brain…

Carolyn Gretton

10 factors most likely to manifest before Alzheimer’s sets in

There are a lot of factors believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s. Without a cure, there’s hope that early identification of these factors may give us the chance to intervene. These 10 factors have been identified as those most likely to manifest many years before Alzheimer’s onset…

Joyce Hollman

Is your doctor prescribing ‘low-value’ heart care?

A review of cardiovascular care in the U.S. found it’s prone to a high frequency of “low-value” tests and procedures. It happens to nearly half of patients and leads to more invasive tests that come with higher risks, costs and questionable benefits. Are you one of them?

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising way your immune system helps burn fat

You may think your immune system is only activated when you’re sick. Truth is, it remains active in your body even when you’re perfectly healthy. In fact, It has cells stationed all over the body that are busy performing vital functions, such as those related to energy production and burning fat…

Carolyn Gretton

The silent way your gut influences heart disease

The gut influences processes in our body far beyond digestion. In fact, it’s known that disturbances in the microbiome and heart problems can go hand in hand. But there’s been some uncertainty about where the issues actually begin and what could be done to decrease the harm…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How body fat can function to stave off old-age ailments

Most of us think of body fat as something we need to lose. However, growing research is proving it’s much more than a reservoir for storing calories. Depending on how well it functions, fat may be key to preventing some of the most common age-related ailments.

Carolyn Gretton

The cholesterol-busting power of caffeine

Caffeine has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. But it’s been unclear exactly how. Turns out, there’s an interesting connection between caffeine and a protein that stimulates cholesterol production.

Joyce Hollman

How the right fiber helps slash dementia risk

We’re always hearing we should eat more fiber. It helps maintain a healthy digestive system, reduces cholesterol and improves heart health. Now, research is finding that eating more of a particular type of fiber may also keep dementia away…

Joyce Hollman

Microplastic ‘magnets’ deliver poisons to your bloodstream

Who in their right mind would sit down and eat a bunch of plastic particles with their meal? But we have been for a long time. To the point that it’s poisoning us in an entirely different and alarming way…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How much meat can you eat and keep cancer risks low?

More and more, research is proving that being a meat lover can put you at higher risk for cancer. But is it really an all-or-nothing deal? Maybe not. You may only need to follow a few simple rules to enjoy meat and keep the “big C” at bay…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Autoimmune disease over 50: Why the rise and how to stop it

If you’re at an age where heart and brain health are top of mind, you might be missing a threat that’s 50 percent higher in older adults than it was 25 years ago. The good news is that the nutrients that support your heart and brain can also decrease your autoimmune risk by 30 percent.

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.

Jenny Smiechowski

The supplement that keeps your muscles from wasting away even when you can’t use them

It happens to all of us at some point… we throw out our backs. Or need surgery. Or break a leg. Or come down with a virus. And we’re couch-bound for weeks or months. In that time, your muscle mass can deteriorate fast, unless you’re getting plenty of this essential fatty acid…

Jenny Smiechowski

The dirty little secret hiding in your dental floss

Now, I’m all for taking good care of yourself. But sometimes our basic hygiene habits can backfire on us… That’s because many of the modern products we use in our daily hygiene rituals contain chemical ingredients that harm us rather than clean us.

Joyce Hollman

MSG: From headaches to brain damage?

MSG is an artificial flavor enhancer that is derived from glutamate, an amino acid produced by our bodies naturally. It creates a magical taste sensation in Chinese-American food, but adulterating this formerly natural substance does some pretty nasty things to your health.

Jenny Smiechowski

2 natural ways to neutralize bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder can derail a person’s life. Most people need medication to get their serious symptoms in check and their life back on track. But two natural approaches shown to improve bipolar symptoms are making life better for people facing this challenge.

Jenny Smiechowski

The simplest way to supersize the cancer-fighting power of green tea

For years, green tea was the darling of the hot beverage circle, until coffee’s (and even black tea’s) health benefits became better known. But green tea still reigns as king of one potent cancer-fighting compound. Use this trick to supersize it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Your Facebook friends could make you sick

As social media use has skyrocketed, researchers have been taking a closer look at its impact on our psychological and even physical health. In fact, a new study has demonstrated that what you see on your friends’ Facebook pages might just make you sick…

Joyce Hollman

Why setting your alarm clock can save your heart

Just a night of six hours of sleep or less can reduce the power of your cancer-fighting cells by as much as 70%. But, no one has really looked at the regularity of your sleep habits as a factor in preventing disease. You’ll want to know what it can do to your heart…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Forget lead! Cancer’s lurking in your water

Water is essential. But, what if the water you’re drinking is actually dangerous? What if it could even cause you to develop cancer? Those are pretty big “what ifs,” but not as big as the number of Americans possibly drinking carcinogens in their water right now.

Joyce Hollman

How sugar gives you osteoporosis

The sugar habit is hard to kick. Add to that the fact it’s hiding in places like bread, yogurt, ketchup, dried fruit, and salad dressing, and it seems almost impossible to escape. We’d better try, though, because now there’s even more evidence of its harm…

Jenny Smiechowski

7 steps that can help lower diabetes risk 80 percent

These seven lifestyle habits for optimum heart health have benefits that go beyond your heart. In fact, a new study shows that following just four of these habits can lower your diabetes risk by 80 percent.

Dr. Michael Cutler

3+ things that trigger Alzheimer’s plaques and tangles

Plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are like a stamp on the brain that may as well read “Alzheimer’s was here.” They are the hallmark indicators of one of the most feared diseases of mankind. But what exactly are these substances, how do they get there and what can we do?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Turn your pain into a distant memory and forget about it

A big part of the reason something hurts is because your body remembers how it felt to hurt in the first place. But not only that, the memory of the pain can cause anxiety and even worse pain when you feel it again. Here’s why and what you can do about it…

Jenny Smiechowski

How somber moods trigger serious disease

Chronic inflammation causes disease… It’s a contributing factor in diabetes, cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, asthma and more. So, preventing inflammation should be a top priority. But one big cause will probably surprise you…

Joyce Hollman

Why this ‘dirty’ hobby could help you live to 100

Growing fresh produce, free of pesticides andcontaminants, is an activity that could help head off Alzheimer’s disease and depression and boost the immune system. Now, discover the surprising reasons putting on gardening gloves might help you get to 100..

Craig Cooper

10 health benefits of eating ginger (slideshow)

It’s possible to combine the culinary zing and healing properties of ginger in delicious, convenient ways. That’s why along with the 10 reasons to eat ginger, I include some helpful hints on how to incorporate this spice into your menu.

Joyce Hollman

How to turn pasta into a ‘health food’

When you think of maintaining optimal health and weight, pasta is probably not the first food you think of. But it’s a staple around the world, in places where people enjoy good health and longevity. With a little know-how pasta can be much healthier. Here’s how…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Leveraging the French paradox for heart protection

You may have heard of the French paradox… which explains how the French consume a diet high in cholesterol and saturated fats, but have a lower incidence of heart disease. But if alcohol, even wine, is increasingly tied to risks, how can you make it work?

Jenny Smiechowski

The one nutrient that could keep generations free from Alzheimer’s

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could do something right now to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and the risk of your children and your children’s children? There’s an essential nutrient that seems to have a multigenerational impact on Alzheimer’s…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Better breast bacteria can lower your breast cancer risk

You may have heard the term “microbiome” used in relation to the composition of bacteria (good vs. bad) found in your gut. But did you know breasts have their own microbiome? And, research shows if breasts have more good than bad bacteria, it inhibits tumor growth.

Jenny Smiechowski

Fight off four devastating diseases with a single nutrient

In this age of hyped-up health claims, you may be skeptical when you hear that one nutrient, supplement, food, etc. can prevent a major disease (let alone several major diseases). A healthy dose of skepticism is good for you. But this one nutrient is better…

Joyce Hollman

Are you suffering from the ‘menopause mimic’ or the real deal?

Menopausal symptoms are hard to deal with. Some can lead to permanent damage. And, as if that weren’t enough, there’s another condition that middle-aged women are prone to that has many of the same symptoms and possible outcomes. So, how do you tell the difference?

Joyce Hollman

Why carcinogens, garbage and bacteria are getting into your FDA-approved medications

8,000 medicines that have been recalled since 2013. Have you heard about them? Everything from cancer-causing chemicals to deadly bacteria and even glass and metal particles have been found in medications that may be in your medicine cabinet right now.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Could this be the secret to meeting all your resolutions?

Approximately 45 percent of us make New Year’s resolutions to limprove our health. Unfortunately, 80 percent of us give up by February. After all, it’s not always easy. But there’s something that can boost your odds and help you stick with it…

Jenny Smiechowski

A fungus could be fueling Alzheimer’s disease

There’s one opportunistic fungus notorious for causing health problems, big and small. You may even have it in your gut right now. Seventy percent of us do. It may even trigger a brain infection that causes Alzheimer’s-like brain damage…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The link between a nightcap and a future stroke

Atrial fibrillaiton is a potentially serious condition that makes you vulnerable to stroke. There are certain factors that can increase your risk including high blood pressure, excess weight and diabetes. But, there’s one more you need to account for…

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