Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

Chronic inflammation: Your brain’s single biggest threat

Until about a decade ago, scientists believed we had a finite number of brain cells that could not be replaced, and that, over time, we continue to lose those brain cells. We now understand they can, in fact, regenerate themselves — and have identified the most significant source of their destruction…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Common prescriptions can amplify a flu infection

It never hurts to take extra precaution, especially when it comes to the flu. And we have an new reason too, that surprisingly isn’t due to COVID-19. It has to do with common medications found to amplify or dampen how your body reacts to a flu infection.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The simplest step to grow your brain’s white matter

With the global incidence of dementia expected to double every 20 years, combatting cognitive decline has become serious business for researchers. If you’re ready to get just as serious, they’ve found a simple step to grow your white matter day by day.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 reasons to be wary of cannabis

Cannabis has been making big news for its health potential over the last few years. So much so, it’s practically mainstream. However, despite all the interest, there may be a catch… or two or three to know before you decide if it’s for you or not.

Carolyn Gretton

The grapes-gut connection that lowers cholesterol

It’s always a good thing to include fruit in your diet. Most of us don’t eat enough of it, but now we’ve certainly got more reason to — especially when it comes to grapes and the special effect they have on gut bacteria.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Two popular herbs reveal recipe for anti-cancer compounds

We often forget that Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet often holds the answer to so many of the illnesses that we suffer from. The latest: two popular Italian herbs that could go from farm to table to cancer treatment…

Carolyn Gretton

Phytic acid: The antinutrient found in healthy foods

We tend to see phytic acid as something to avoid because of its reputation as an antinutrient. But this plant-based substance isn’t all bad. In fact, it has some health benefits that could offset its potential for causing mineral deficiencies. So let’s dig into the conundrum…

Carolyn Gretton

The ancient spice that tackles a modern-day plague: Chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation is linked to a host of problems, from obesity to autoimmune conditions to depression. So researchers are exploring ways to directly target inflammation in people at risk. It turns out a long-used ancient anti-inflammatory spice could help with these modern-day problems…

Joyce Hollman

Health risks that could decrease if dentists talked to doctors

The connection between gum disease and more serious health problems is no secret. But recent large-scale research has painted a more comprehensive picture, and it’s not pretty. It’s time to stop thinking of the mouth as an independent system of its own…

Joyce Hollman

When women practice self-compassion, their hearts benefit

If you’ve cracked open a magazine or gotten online, you’ve seen lots of terms you might chalk up to New Age fads or practices, like “self-care” and “mindfulness.” News flash: beyond helping with stress, one specific practice made improvements to women’s hearts that could be seen in their arteries…

Joyce Hollman

Black beans: Potent ingredient for insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is when a body’s response to the hormone insulin is impaired and glucose in the blood cannot be used for energy. The next step is usually diabetes. Beans and legumes are great for people with insulin resistance, but black beans just may take the cake…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 rules to overcome chronic pain from a Survivor champion

Chronic pain is a fact of life for over 20 percent of adults. And if you’re part of that one in five, you know just how much of an impact that pain can have on your ability to work, play and simply enjoy your life. But what if you could learn to “reframe your pain” to better manage it? Pain science says it works.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Stroke warning: The significant impact of anger and exertion

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Many health conditions can increase risk for stroke including high blood pressure and diabetes, but when researchers looked closer, they found two common things happening in the hour before a stroke that pushed those risks over the edge.

Easy Health Options Staff

Why poor sleep causes heartburn (and vice versa)

We all need a good night’s sleep. That’s a gut feeling for most people. But sometimes discomfort within the gut is what hurts our ability to get deep, restful sleep. To make matters worse, it tuns out the process can occur in reverse: Sleep disorders are believed to trigger the stomach, too…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Stress: What it does to your DNA to speed aging

Science has discovered how to go beyond chronological age (the number of years you’ve lived) to measure biological age (the rate at which your cells age) using epigenetic clocks. They track chemical changes in DNA that not only helps predict health but also lifespan. And they’re finding too many of us aging faster thanks to the same culprit…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The only 4 cholesterol foods you should avoid

Which is worse for your heart: an egg or a hot dog? Think about it. Since the amount of cholesterol in a food doesn’t always correlate with raising your cholesterol, which high cholesterol foods are the worst culprits for elevating bad cholesterol levels? The doctor says it’s these four…

Carolyn Gretton

3 dietary molecules linked to aggressive prostate cancer

While most men with prostate cancer recover completely, the outlook is grim for the handful diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease. But research has identified three molecules — and the foods they come from — showing that the place to start to change your fate is your gut…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The good deed that shows up in your blood work

There’s growing evidence that many of the worst and most chronic diseases, including coronary artery disease, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s may be riding the same steed: inflammation. But there’s a simple, non-medicated fix that works so well at dousing it, you can see the proof in your blood work…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Study finds a handful of heavy metals clogging major arteries

Some experts have said that at least 31 percent of the cardiovascular disease burden in the world could be avoided if environmental pollutants were eliminated. So when researchers looked at the association between toxic heavy metals and the body’s major arteries, they were shocked, but not surprised…

Joyce Hollman

Discovery shows how omega-3s help prevent stroke

Hardening of the arteries is a dangerous factor that can increase a person’s risk for stroke. It’s associated with chronic inflammation that damages blood vessels and hinders self-repair from mechanisms called resolvins. That’s where omega-3s come into the picture…

Joyce Hollman

An urgent reason to pamper your liver: Air pollution

Fatty liver disease isn’t new. What is new is learning its impact on metabolic health is so strong it’s now called Metabolic-associated liver disease, and that with every breath you take, you’re increasing your odds of the most common indication for liver transplantation. Start here to reduce your risks…

Joyce Hollman

Why giving up saturated fats can lead to heart trouble

Are you a label reader? Do you review the fat content of almost every product before adding it to your grocery cart? We’re not judging but we do want to share some new evidence that will blow all your concerns about saturated fats and heart trouble out of the water — and make life easier…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

One more risk of too little exercise: Pneumonia

Winter is here, and you know what that means: Your chances of getting sick and ending up with pneumonia are higher than at any other time of the year. And if you still haven’t gotten the message about the harms of a couch potato lifestyle, you’re missing out on the easiest intervention that works across all age groups.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

For women, hormones could wreak havoc on arteries

When it comes to your arteries, you want the consistency of a wet noodle, not an uncooked piece of pasta. Otherwise your risks go up for heart problems. Yet, age isn’t the only thing that can stiffen our arteries. From birth control pills to menopause, women face a unique risk that can have serious consequences…

Carolyn Gretton

The vitamin deficiency that doubles risk for heart trouble

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the No. 1 cause of death worldwide. And though we’re familiar with the three main risk factors for CVD — high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking — research has uncovered another, less-obvious factor that can double your risk for heart trouble…

Carolyn Gretton

Experts may have found ‘fountain of youth’ in tiny seed

We’ll do just about anything we can to extend our lifespan, whether it’s following an anti-aging diet or exercise regimen — or as involved as using hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In all those efforts, there’s one goal scientists continue to chase: the ability to swallow one pill to stop aging. And they are inching ever closer…

Joyce Hollman

What you should know about peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is similar to coronary artery disease. Both involve a buildup of plaque inside the arteries, which slows the flow of blood that nourishes all parts of the body and increases risk for blood clots. Scary thing is, it’s considered a “silent disease.” Here’s what to watch for…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Good news for your bones if you’ve passed menopause

Saying the word “menopause” immediately conjures up images of hot flashes, night sweats and bones becoming frail and prone to fracture. However, while menopause isn’t always a walk in the park, everything post menopause isn’t always bad news…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

12-year study finds 8 foods to beat cognitive decline

More evidence is stacking up that, when it comes to keeping your brain at its best, what you eat counts. According to research that spanned 12 years, there are eight foods you’ll want to make a part of your regular diet if you want to ward off cognitive impairment and dementia as you age — and one to avoid like the plague…

Joyce Hollman

Got 10 hours? Use it to turn metabolic syndrome around

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms affecting one-third of American adults that increases risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke. If you have excess belly fat, high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, you may be one of them. If you’ve got 10 hours, you can turn it around before it’s too late.

Joyce Hollman

7 foods to soothe winter skin

Winter is probably the worst time of year for anyone’s skin. But for those of us with naturally dry skin, as well as skin that’s passed its fifth decade or so, the challenge of making it through the winter can be even greater. Let’s keep it healthy and looking good, too…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Harvard identifies best foods to fight breast cancer

Previous research has demonstrated links between increased fiber intake and reduced breast cancer risk. So for years, the best advice to cut your breast cancer risk was eating more fiber. Not so fast. Turns out there were other nutrients at work doing a better job at keeping breast cancer at bay…

Jenny Smiechowski

3 ways to protect yourself from this painful flu shot side effect

The flu shot is a tricky topic to bring up this time of year, because a lot of people feel strongly about it. Some people never get it. Others always do. If you fall in the latter camp, there’s something you need to know about a flu shot side effect that can cause you pain for months after you get it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What your appendix has to do with getting Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a scary disease. There’s no clear cause for it, so your best protection is understanding the risk factors, and looking for ways to lower those risks even more. One of those things has to do with your possible attachment to — or lack of — a certain vestigial organ…

Jenny Smiechowski

Try this risk-reducing combo to shut down stroke

So, what’s the difference between people who have severe, life-altering strokes versus those who have minor ones? More importantly, what’s the difference between people who have strokes and people who live their lives stroke-free? A couple of things you need to start doing every day…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The vital sign your doctor isn’t taking but should be

You know the drill at your doctor’s office… step on the scale, then the nurse takes your blood pressure and clips that thing onto your finger to get your pulse. Each of those vital signs tells him how you’re doing and if there are any concerns. But, are those vital signs really getting the “big picture”?

Dr. Michael Cutler

How to do a water fast and what to expect

I’ve personally seen dramatic improvement with arthritis, headaches, high blood pressure, fatigue, rashes, water retention, and more as a result of water fasting. If you’ve thought about it, but didn’t know how to start, what to expect, and how to move back to solid foods, I’ve got all the answers for you…

Jenny Smiechowski

This ancient first aid staple heals wounds and fights superbugs

Your first aid cabinet is probably stocked with antibiotic ointment, band aids, hydrogen peroxide, gauze dressings, medical tape, aloe vera gel and antiseptic solution. You may even have some manuka honey or arnica gel in there. But if you want to keep MRSA away, you’ve got to add this…

Joyce Hollman

How to keep bursitis from making every movement a pain

Many people confuse bursitis with arthritis, where bone-on-bone friction occurs. Both are inflammatory conditions, but are caused by injury or wear to different parts of the joint. If you’re not sure what’s causing you pain, here’s how to tell and what to do about this painful condition…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why that thing you’re avoiding could help fix your IBS

It’s hard to be active and fit when you have irritable bowel syndrome. Just to leave the house, you have to locate the nearest bathroom… just in case. It’s very limiting, but worse, prevents you from getting the exercise you need. But the very thing you’re avoiding could be the key to relieving your symptoms.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to reset your hunger hormone for easier weight loss

Have you ever wondered why it’s so easy to gain weight but so hard to lose it? Why, no matter how many times you tell yourself that you won’t reach for that bedtime snack, you do it anyway. The answer lies with one particular hormone. When it malfunctions your willpower goes out the window…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why tall people get the short end of the stick when it comes to cancer

There are a ton of advantages to being tall… You can reach stuff on high shelves. You can see better at movies and concerts. And you can eat more because taller people need more calories than short people. Despite these advantages, there’s one big disadvantage to all that height…

Jenny Smiechowski

Two minerals that boost bone health better than exercise

Exercising is one of the best ways to keep your bones healthy. But what if you can’t exercise because you’re sick, injured, or just too dang busy to fit in your usual workouts? Is there any other way to keep your bones strong? There is. And it’s more effective at protecting your bones than exercise…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

9 ways fake sweeteners can lead to disease

By now you know artificial sweeteners are bad for your health. In fact, drinking diet sodas, sweetened with these chemical compounds has been linked to everything from migraines and kidney damage to heart attack and stroke. Now there’s one more reason to avoid those sweeteners…

Joyce Hollman

High blood pressure might ‘turn on’ Alzheimer’s in the brain

One piece of information that is pretty solid about Alzheimer’s is the presence of sticky amyloid plaque. But there’s still more to learn about how it affects the brain. That’s because about thirty percent of people over 70 actually have amyloid in their brains — but not everyone with amyloid develops Alzheimer’s…

Jenny Smiechowski

Family history of stroke? Slash your risk 66%

Has a close family member had a stroke? Unfortunately, that means you’re more at risk. Especially if your family member had their stroke before the age of 65. But even if genes put you in the stroke danger zone, it’s possible to counteract your genetic stroke risk…

Jenny Smiechowski

How much can organic eating lower your cancer risk?

You might not be surprised to learn that eating organic food frequently could make you 25 percent less likely to get cancer. But when it comes to several specific types of cancers, eating organic could bring some risks down by more than 75 percent! So what’s holding you back? I know, it can be costly. But if you eat organic the smart way, you’ll save your life and your life’s savings…

Joyce Hollman

8 benefits of ginkgo biloba

The Ginkgo tree is a species that dates back over 270 million years. Considering its longevity and hardiness, numerous researched healing “superpowers” are attributed to these living fossils. Ginkgo biloba, the extract collected from the dried leaves of the tree, has been a staple of Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. Here are eight reasons for its healthy reputation…

Jenny Smiechowski

What cannabis cream could do for your skin

If you’ve ever suffered from a chronic skin problem or disease, you know that it’s not just physically uncomfortable, it’s psychologically uncomfortable too. You could turn to a popular medicinal herb for life-changing relief from your chronic skin problems… especially those with a strong itch factor.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Does your body have a diabetes switch?

You might remember the research by the Mayo Clinic that showed you can turn off your body’s aging switch with high-intensity interval training exercise. The key is that it reduces a common symptom that’s also linked to your immune system and type 2 diabetes. Doe that mean your body has a diabetes switch too?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The strange symptom that makes this mood disorder harder to treat

NAC is a derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine and has been shown to significantly decrease bipolar depression. Good news for sufferers, since the drug treatment is successful in only 40 to 50 percent of patients. But if you’ve tried NAC without success, this one symptom could be holding you back…

Joyce Hollman

How science is helping the immune system find and kill breast cancer

Your immune system is in charge of defending you against invaders. That means that it attacks any organism it sees as dangerous or not belonging to you. An example of this system going awry is an autoimmune disease, where your body attacks itself. Can this same system seek and destroy cancer cells?

Jenny Smiechowski

They did the math: Here’s how much to exercise to slow brain aging

Exercise can reverse age-related brain-shrinkage and reduce your risk of developing cognitive issues by up to 90 percent. But if you want to use exercise to improve your brain health, what type of exercise work best? And how much do you need to do to keep your brain in tip-top shape?

Debra Atkinson

The daily workout for a slim waist and flat belly

Six-pack abs are over rated. A more realistic goal to work towards is simply a flatter belly and slimmer waist. This daily workout focusing on your core can help you get there…

Craig Cooper

6 foods that help shrink the prostate (slideshow)

Men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, such as urinary hesitation, frequent nighttime urination, and weak urine flow, have a number of natural options to help shrink the gland. By including these six foods in your daily menu, you can increase your chances of reducing inflammation and prostate size.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why more sleep doesn’t always mean more smarts

Most of your life, you’ve prioritized sleep before a big day. The first day of school? An important interview? Better go to bed early. But more sleep isn’t always better. In fact, there are times when more sleep could sabotage your brain power and put you at a serious cognitive disadvantage…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Exercise in a pill could be the new way to fix high blood pressure

Have you ever thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could skip the exercise and take a magic pill that could do it all for me?” Unfortunately, we all know that to get the health benefits, you have to put in the work, right? Well, maybe not for too much longer when it comes to lowering your blood pressure…

Jenny Smiechowski

Balance blood sugar and feed your ‘good’ bacteria with this one food

Science shows that the bacteria in your gut directly affects your blood sugar. And what you eat directly affects the bacteria in your gut. So, if you want better blood sugar, you have to get strategic about feeding those healthy bacteria. So, top your grocery list with this one food…

Joyce Hollman

7 ways to use lavender for your mind and body

The earliest recorded use of lavender comes from ancient Egypt. Today, research substantiates many of lavender’s benefits, including calming anxiety. But it’s a natural remedy for some troubling physical ailments as well. Here are just seven ways you can put this sweet-smelling herb to use…

Jenny Smiechowski

The strange sign women get their health is headed for trouble

Women have a serious disadvantage when it comes to aging. They’re much more likely to develop physical limitations and disability with age than men. And scientists have no clue why. Stay vigilant and watch out for this one warning sign that your physical abilities are on the downslide…

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