Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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.

Jenny Smiechowski

Reversing age-related brain shrinkage is easier than you think

As you get older, the size of a certain vital organ becomes more and more important — your brain. That’s because, typically, the older you get, the smaller your brain volume gets. And if this shrinkage gets too out of hand, you end up with a serious cognitive impairment like dementia.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why cool temps could slow down autoimmune diseases like MS

By definition an autoimmune disorder is one in which your own immune system goes haywire, attacking the healthy tissue in your body, causing the disease. MS is one such disease. New research shows its symptoms may be improved and progress prossibly slowed with a change of temperature. Here’s why…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

New way walnuts improve cholesterol discovered

From controlling type 2 diabetes to stopping cancer in its tracks, if you want to stay in tip-top shape, nuts could be your ticket to a longer, healthier life. And it looks like the benefits of walnuts just keep stacking up, especially where heart health is concerned…

Joyce Hollman

How to tell if it’s age-related memory problems or Alzheimer’s

Memory problems can be unnerving, especially when we get older. It’s easy to begin second-guessing everything and wondering whether you’re simply forgetful or if something worse is happening — like Alzheimer’s. How can you tell the difference? Here are a few things to take note of…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising connection between MS and the sun

Sun exposure may be rough on the skin, but it has a lot of upsides for our sleep, mood and vitamin D levels. And now researchers are discovering that the benefits of sunlight may go even further by protecting us from certain autoimmune diseases…

Carolyn Gretton

Catching AMD before you start losing vision

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of sight loss in the Western world. And most people don’t know they have it until they’re already losing their sight. Researchers have been looking for ways to catch AMD before that point, and they may have identified some new early warning signs that can help them do it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

10 steps to simplify living heart healthy

To lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, we’re told to eat a heart-healthy diet. What exactly is heart-healthy? Is it only eating certain types of foods and eliminating others? Or is there a way to get to that elusive heart-healthy status without feeling deprived? Yes, according to these new rules…

Joyce Hollman

11 exotic superfruits with supersized nutrition

Instead of dreaming of tropical islands this winter, why not try some exotic fruits that hail from warmer climates? Here are 11 exotic “superfruits” that are fun to try, and packed with enough nutritional power to dispel the winter doldrums and most anything else that ails you…

Carolyn Gretton

Why more men are getting thyroid cancer

It’s been known for some time that people who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting certain cancers, including thyroid cancer. But it’s been unclear exactly how many cases of thyroid cancer are connected with weight — until now — and the findings should be a wake up call, especially for men…

Joyce Hollman

Study finds inflammatory foods feed Alzheimer’s and dementia

Research shows inflammation is a driving force behind obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Now research is stacking up that connects it with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The good news? Foods feed that inflammation in a dose-dependent manner and a change of diet could make a big difference.

Joyce Hollman

Weird causes and signs of low blood pressure

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, comes with its own set of troublesome symptoms. And, just like high blood pressure, it may also be a signal of other things going wrong in the body — surprisingly enough, even with your thyroid…

Carolyn Gretton

How grains can dash diabetes by more than 30 percent

The average American eats less than one daily serving of whole grains, and some studies show that over 40 percent of Americans never eat whole grains at all. When you know what whole grains can do for blood sugar, it’s no wonder so many Americans are in trouble…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The unexpected truth behind AFib triggers

AFib skyrockets your stroke risk. By throwing your heart out of rhythm, the condition can result in blood clots being released, blocking blood flow to your brain. If that wasn’t bad enough, strokes caused by AFib tend to be more severe than strokes from other causes. That’s why getting to the truth about AFib triggers is vitally important…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Best reason to exercise: rebuilding your body to live healthy longer

Aging means slowing down, doing less and retiring, right? Wrong! According to research from Harvard, if you’re taking it easier as the years pass, you’re missing out on processes in the body that can actually build your body back stronger and fight disease to help you live healthier and longer…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

An unexpected perk of housework: Healthy aging

Need a reason to stop procrastinating when it comes to household chores and get that sweeping, vacuuming and dusting done? A study looked at housework specifically for its ability to increase the amount of physical activity people get, and found quite a few unexpected perks that promote healthy aging…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising habit that weakens your pelvic floor (and we all do it!)

Sucking in our stomachs can seem normal, especially for women. But it turns out it’s not exactly healthy for us to be holding in our stomachs all the time. Read on to discover the dark side of “stomach gripping” and why it might have you running to the nearest restroom faster…

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…

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…

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…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Two plant compounds leading the fight against colon cancer

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. These numbers, together with the statistics on outcomes from conventional therapies, reveal an urgent need for integrative approaches to stop cancer development and spread… specifically, plant-based compounds that fight against colon cancer…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

7 times you should consider genetic testing for cancer

When it comes to cancer, there are many factors that can increase your risk… age, diet, physical activity and even your weight all play into the equation. Fortunately, they are also factors that you can control to limit your risk and hopefully avoid that cancer diagnosis.

Joyce Hollman

4 conditions you can fight with fall’s favorite fruit

We all know the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But you may not know there’s abundant research, including six anti-cancer studies at one university alone, to show that no matter what variety is your favorite, you’ll be making a healthy choice…

Jenny Smiechowski

The supplement to save us from antibiotic resistance

The fewer antibiotics each of us take, the less antibiotic resistance there will be worldwide. How can we do this? There’s a safe supplement that could make all of us much less likely to rely on an antibiotic script from the doctor…

Dr. Michael Cutler

What are your choices for sagging skin?

Good skincare can cut down on further damage, but to reverse the look of sagging skin, you might have to consider a cosmetic procedure. These days, that doesn’t mean a full-on face lift. In fact there are many, much less-invasive options to choose from…

Margaret Cantwell

Much ado about a drug that doesn’t even relieve pain

It’s no secret that opioids come with serious side effects: nausea, vomiting, constipation, depression and a huge risk of addiction. Most people put up with these side effects, because opioids made that pain more tolerable. At least that’s what we thought…

Joyce Hollman

4 blood tests that could prevent heart disease and stroke

There are quite a few other things my doctor could be looking at besides my iron and cholesterol levels. A few could actually save my life. In fact, there are several simple blood tests that will alert you to changes you can make to slash your risk of heart attack and stroke…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The really big vegetable with stroke-fighting power

They’ve been reported to have the power to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of clots that lead to both heart attacks and strokes. But until now, no one was sure why or which variety offered the best protection…

Jenny Smiechowski

Get younger, healthier cells in 2 minutes

Mitochondria are the energy centers of your cells. As you get older, your mitochondria don’t work as well. They become less active. Some become defective. This causes physical aging and illness. You can change that…

Joyce Hollman

Why you want a superager brain and how to get one

A “superager” brain stays sharp and protects your body, too. The same brain regions that control your decisions and dreams also regulate your organs, your hormones, your immune system, and predict how much energy your body needs…

Joyce Hollman

10 hypertension risks you may not know about

About one in every three American adults suffers with hypertension. You probably know the big things that can bring on hypertension, including family history, salt, anger, stress, smoking, being overweight. But there are a few sneaky ones you need to know about…

Jenny Smiechowski

The best supplement for better bones, sex appeal and a healthy glow

Did you know that most people with osteoporosis don’t realize that their bone density is slipping away until they have their first fracture? If you’ve been lazy about boosting your bone health, a single supplement may be able to slash your future bone loss in half…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Training your fight-or-flight response to keep your heart healthy

Music is a well-known stress management tool, which could be very helpful to someone with heart disease. But let’s hope that you’re not there yet. If that’s the case, there’s another important way music might help keep you from ever having your first heart attack…

Jenny Smiechowski

How low-quality foods are feeding cancer

Food is everywhere. But we’re woefully deficient in nutrients. Underfed and undernourished. And this has serious consequences for our health. In fact, there’s compelling evidence these low-nutrient foods could be causing the cancer epidemic…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Want to stress less? Give of yourself more

Have you ever felt that warm glow when you do something for someone else, from helping a neighbor with their yard work to dropping a few dollars into the hand of someone who really needs it? Well, you should see what it does to your brain…

Jenny Smiechowski

The number one diet rule for dodging diabetes

While healthy foods play a role in diabetes prevention, science shows there is one food that goes above and beyond in the fight against type 2 diabetes. And its serious diabetes protection might come as a shocker in more ways than one…

Joyce Hollman

6+ reasons pine bark extract could replace aspirin

Experts have starting asking is an aspirin a day worth the risks, including gastrointestinal bleeding. But what if aspirin is your go-to remedy for knee pain, headache or your doctor said it would protect against stroke and heart attack? How about an aspirin alternative?

Joyce Hollman

Feeling ‘young at heart’ will help you age better

This phenomenon of subjective age is nothing new to most people. What you may not know is that it can be controlled, and that this is a good thing, since it seems that it actually plays a part in determining how long, and how well, you can live…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How sleep debt can destroy your metabolism

A bad night of sleep can throw your whole day off, but that’s not all… After a single night without the proper amount of rest, the metabolism in your fat cells are already in trouble — leaving you unable to burn fat and beginning to store it instead…

Jenny Smiechowski

The oil that’s essential for long, healthy hair

As you get older, your hair changes. It thins. It gets more brittle. And your once Rapunzel-like locks begin growing at a snail’s pace. But, you might be glad to know that researchers have found a way to help hair follicles survive longer and stimulate hair growth….

Dr. Michael Cutler

Topical treatments for fine lines and wrinkles

Ultimately, it’s those lifestyle habits, the way you eat and how you treat your body — including your skin — that are the biggest factors to looking and feeling your best… even when it comes to fine lines and wrinkles. But the right topical treatments can go a long way to help…

Jenny Smiechowski

FDA finally considers depression-fighting compounds in mushrooms

Psilocybin, a compound found in some mushrooms, has major advantages over the current go-to depression treatment, SSRIs, including things like high effectiveness after just one dose and the ability to relieve depression without numbing other emotions.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

To live better longer: less weight or more muscle?

On a recent trip to the gym, I noticed most of the men were using weights while the women were focusing on aerobic activities and machines, like ellipticals. And I started wondering… In the long run, which matters most in terms of a longer, healthier life?

Joyce Hollman

The best nut to crackdown on chronic disease risk?

Nuts are considered a staple of healthy diets. While almonds are reported to be a big favorite with big benefits of their own, my favorite and a superstar reported to help reduce numerous disease-risk factors, including these big four, is the humble…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

5 steps to lower the dementia risk that follows stroke

Is any stroke ever minor? Even if you appear to gain a full recovery, there’s something sinister that could be waiting for you around the corner… Having a stroke greatly increases your chances of developing Alzheimer’s. But there are steps you can take to put the odds in your favor…

Joyce Hollman

Asbestos: It’s back and as dangerous as ever

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. And it’s dangerous as heck… a known carcinogen responsible for malignant mesothelioma and the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. That’s why it was banned decades ago. So how is it making a comeback?

Jenny Smiechowski

Are your taste buds setting you up for cancer?

Food preferences come in all shapes and sizes. Some people have a raging sweet tooth. For others it’s salt, hot and spicy, or all of the above. But there’s one taste preference that could harm your health. It may even put you at risk for cancer… Sensitivity to bitterness.

Jenny Smiechowski

Sleep habits that increase your heart attack risk

You wouldn’t think your sleep habits would impact your heart that much… but they do. Depending on how you sleep you can significantly increase your odds of having a heart attack and dying from cardiovascular disease in the next ten to twenty years…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Cellular alterations prove plastic in the kitchen is just not safe

If the idea that the plasticware you may be using on a daily basis could result in chromosomal alterations isn’t enough to scare you, the scientists discovered one more thing that might… according to the researchers, those cellular alterations get passed down.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

An aspirin a day: Risky or worth it?

Some studies have indicated daily aspirin to help stave off cancer and possibly even dementia. That meant people without heart health problems, were suddenly “supplementing” with aspirin. When it comes to aspirin, it’s important to carefully weigh any benefits against the risks…

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