Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Fats, carbs, fiber and lowering your cholesterol

Diet has the greatest potential for the biggest improvement in cholesterol. But that doesn’t mean low-fat or low-carb diets are the answer. Dr. Klodas explains what fats help lower cholesterol, the carbohydrate connection, as well as how the natural cholesterol circulation system you have in your body works…

Joyce Hollman

Drugs that make antibiotics less effective when you might need them most

Antibiotic resistance is leaving us more and more vulnerable to serious disease. But overuse of antibiotics isn’t the only thing that’s causing this health crisis. Other common medications you may be using could make antibiotics less effective when you might need them most.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to eat sushi and avoid the big mercury danger

Sushi has become increasingly popular and it’s easy to see why. The combination of fresh fish, rice, seaweed and yummy sauces and add-ons like wasabi make eating healthy fun. Or does it? Depending on your sushi choices you could face serious heavy metal contamination. Here’s advice from experts on safer sushi choices and how to avoid the big mercury danger.

Carolyn Gretton

When diabetes leads to the worst heart trouble

People with diabetes who have no other risk factors for heart disease are five times more likely to die of heart disease than those without. Researchers now know a critical factor that if caught early enough can help dial the heart health risks down…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What prunes can do for your heart

After menopause a woman’s risk for serious heart trouble only increases. But keeping your heart healthy post menopause could be as simple as eating prunes. Yes, prunes! Just a few a day improved several markers that matter. And there’s no reason men can’t benefit, too…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How vegetable oil could trigger your migraine pain

Migraine is one of the most common causes of chronic pain. If you live with these extreme headaches, you know there’s no easy answer to finding relief. If you’ve tried the medications and they don’t work for you, take a close look at the oils in your diet. One type has been found to trigger them, and another may help reduce them…

Margaret Cantwell

Clot-dissolving Japanese food has potential as COVID treatment

Natto, made from fermented soybeans, is believed to one of the reasons that the Japanese population is healthy and long-lived. The island country is home to more than a quarter of the world’s population over the age of 65 — and boasts the longest life expectancy on Earth. Now research is targeting the traditional dish for help against COVID-19.

Joyce Hollman

The real reason fibromyalgia increases pain sensitivity

Imagine being in pain all over your body, feeling crushingly tired and weak, and being so foggy-brained that you can hardly accomplish simple, everyday tasks. Now imagine years of being misdiagnosed or told “it’s all in your head.” That’s been life for people with fibromyalgia, until now…

Carolyn Gretton

NEAT: How capsaicin can help you burn fat

You may think your body only burns energy when you’re doing vigorous, aerobic exercise. But that’s not entirely true. NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) refers to burning energy through simple daily movement. And you can boost NEAT to improve how your body converts energy to burn stored fat and improve endurance with just a little heat…

Joyce Hollman

Why you can’t depend on your doctor to know if prescriptions are safe

You trust your doctor to keep you safe. They’d never prescribe a drug that could cause you harm, right? Not so fast. Special alerts were set up to help doctors stop prescribing a group of common brain-stealing medications. But did they heed the warnings to give their patients safer alternatives?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What should you eat to avoid heart disease?

In the past, dietary advice for a healthy heart has been all about what not to eat. But broad research says there is no indication that any food is poison in terms of cardiovascular risk. It’s a matter of quantity and frequency of consumption. Here’s a simpler way to eat best for your heart…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How the common cold could protect against COVID-19 this fall

Health experts have warned that relaxed social distancing during the summer months may lead to new cases of COVID-19. But it also may lead to more common cold infections. Believe it or not, this year that couldd be a good thing, because researchers say it could halt replication of SARS-CoV-2.

Joyce Hollman

Low omega-3 levels? You might as well be smoking

Omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart. Smoking is bad for your heart. Those are two well-known truths, right? Well, here’s a new and shocking one: Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that low levels of omega-3s are just as powerful in predicting early death as smoking.

Carolyn Gretton

When eating milk chocolate can help curb your appetite

Most of the health benefits of chocolate are attributed to dark chocolate. But because milk chocolate is so much more popular, a team of researchers decided to see just how much of an impact it had on weight and blood sugar. The findings were pleasantly surprising — depending on what time of day it’s eaten…

Easy Health Options Staff

The best diets for cancer patients and cancer survivors

Lifestyle changes often follow a cancer diagnosis, both during treatment and after. Eating well is often the first step. And there is good reason for it, say the experts. But of the five most popular diets that cancer patients or those wishing to avoid cancer often turn to, two really stand out…

Joyce Hollman

What are your chances of becoming a supercentenarian?

The oldest living person, Jeanne Calment of France, was 122 when she died in 1997. Seems unbelievable, but new research says living to 125 or even 130 years by the end of this century is well within the realm of possibility. That’s because extreme longevity is on the rise…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Cut heart failure risk in half just by sitting less

Staying active is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. But according to the American Heart Association, simply getting your recommended levels of exercise might not be enough. In fact, if you’re a woman over 50, you might be doing everything right and still doubling your risk of heart failure…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why you should take sleep as seriously as nutrition and exercise

So much research has come out on the impact of sleep on our health that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has declared sleep “essential to health” in a statement that has now been endorsed by 25 organizations. Statements like these aren’t made lightly. Here’s why they hope you’ll heed this wake-up call…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A chiropractor’s tips to avoid back and neck pain when working from home

Working from home has its perks: no more rush hour commute and who doesn’t love taking Zoom meetings in pajama bottoms? But it also comes with some downsides — like back and neck pain if your home office setup isn’t supporting you properly. From your neck down, here are seven tips straight from your resident chiropractor.

Carolyn Gretton

Antibiotics may be driving colon cancer among those under 50

For years, public health experts have advised doctors and patients to curb unneeded antibiotic use, mainly because of the rise in infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But there may be an even more urgent health reason for people to avoid antibiotics whenever possible — particularly if you’re under 50…

Joyce Hollman

6 habits that help dodge the Alzheimer’s bullet

If you’re not genetically predisposed, lifestyle changes may be enough to keep Alzheimer’s at bay. But there are people whose brains already show the effects of Alzheimer’s, but continue to function without any signs of dementia. Who are these “cognitive super-agers,” and how can you increase your chances of becoming one of them?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The 5-minute breathing technique that lowers blood pressure like a drug

Fewer than 40 percent of people with high blood pressure meet the recommended exercise guidelines to bring their readings down. If you’re one of them, you might be thrilled about a simple breathing technique that, in just five minutes a day, lowered blood pressure far more than the exercise and some medications doctors recommend.

Carolyn Gretton

The red wine secret to living better post menopause

Following menopause, women are at a higher risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. Also, chronic pain is a symptom that isn’t discussed nearly as much as more familiar symptoms, like hot flashes. Research says a plant compound in some favorite foods can be a big help in all of these areas, so you can live better post menopause.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

More proof coffee is a liver-protecting beverage

Coffee is hands down the world’s most popular beverage. But studies have been piling up for years about how it can improve health. It’s looking like, as far as the health of your liver goes, coffee has definite superpowers…

Joyce Hollman

Is it possible to eat French fries and lower blood pressure?

Potatoes have gotten a bad rap for years, especially that baked potato slathered in butter and sour cream. And don’t get me started on those French fries covered in salt and ketchup. Hypertension waiting to happen, right, or is it? Well, it’s time to think again about the humble potato and what it may do for your blood pressure.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Tai chi may help stroke survivors beat depression, anxiety and sleep problems

For approximately one-third of stroke survivors, the future can feel less than rosy. That’s because afterwards, many face three common problems: anxiety, sleep problems and depression. But there’s hope and help available from an ancient practice that’s already been proven to be good for both the mind and the body…

Carolyn Gretton

Chronic pain? It could be what you’re eating

Chronic pain affects people around the world, making it difficult for them to work or carry out day-to-day tasks. And current treatments for pain have many shortcomings. That’s why scientists are looking to more holistic ways to relieve pain. And they’re finding that the answer could be as simple as eating more…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How stress increases pain sensitivity and how to get relief

Have you noticed that when you’re stressed, pain from your bad knee or a headache kicks in? And it’s the last thing you need, right? The fact is, stress can make everything in your life worse, including pain levels. This inescapable truth starts with immune cells and that one abomination that contributes to everything “unwell.”

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ are hiding in your cosmetics

Think the makeup you put on your skin each day is safe because the label says, “Clean” or “Natural”? Think again! Testing of more than 200 cosmetics sold across the United States and Canada, found your cosmetics could be hiding a dirty toxic secret — “forever chemicals” associated with everything from thyroid disease to cancer.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The nutrients that lower depression up to 70 percent

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for reasons other than your body not producing them on its own. From improved heart health and cognition to longer life, omega-3s have long been identified as important nutrients to avoid numerous health problems. Add relieving depression to the mix, but there’s one caveat…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 serious health risks from chewing gum

Chewing gum. It’s all hearts and flowers, right? Wrong! What those commercial don’t tell you is that most (if not all) of the gum on the shelves of your grocery store could come with some serious health risks…

Joyce Hollman

5 super nutritious fruits to enjoy before summer ends

Few things are as wonderful as summer fruit. Here are our picks for the top five most delectable, versatile and super nutritious summer fruits to get before they’re gone so you can benefit from their cancer-fighting, heart-protective and super healthy attributes…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

One more reason in a long list to avoid processed meat

Processed meats — like the meat on your favorite deli sandwich — have a long history of causing harm to your health. It’s scary to think your favorite sandwich could lead to an early death, but facts are facts. Now, there’s one more mind-boggling reason to avoid processed meat…

Jenny Smiechowski

10 raw foods that strengthen your mental health

Scientific studies keep showing that certain nutrients have the power to improve serious mental health problems like psychosis, bipolar disorder and PTSD–in many cases better than the prescription drugs used to treat them. Here are your top ten…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Evade the colon cancer epidemic with one supplement

During the next 15 years, more than 10 percent of colon cancers and about 25 percent of rectal cancers will be diagnosed in people under the age of 50. In fact, rectal cancer is expected to increase by more than 124 percent. One simple supplement that can drastically reduce your risk…

Dr. Michael Cutler

A skeptic’s guide to pain relief with acupuncture

The quickest way to discover a skeptic is to start a conversation about acupuncture. I know because I was one myself… My left shoulder had been aching for 9 months. Out of desperation, this M.D. found himself in the office of a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, and, to my amazement, this is what happened…

Joyce Hollman

4 things holding your weight loss efforts back

When you think about weight loss in relation to health, rather than as a way to fulfill an image, the discussion becomes one about disease prevention, rather than ego or appearance. And we need more of that. Because obesity and being overweight are lady killers…

Margaret Cantwell

Dementia-causing drugs commonly prescribed to women

Women fall victim in numbers much higher than men to dementia. The culprit? Certain drugs, aimed at women and disguised by conventional healthcare as “good” medicine, have been found to set you up to live out your senior years without your mind or your memories.

Easy Health Options Staff

The stroke-stopping supplement trio (slideshow)

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of heart attack, but it also causes about half of all strokes. And there are often no symptoms until it’s too late and a plaque ruptures or blood flow is completely blocked. That’s why prevention is key. And this time, it’s pretty easy…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Nootropics: How to supplement smarter to age better

There’s a new buzz word you may be hearing, and it refers to “smart pills” that are all the rage right now, being used by everybody and anybody who wants that extra edge to perform better and stay sharper. And guess what? There’s no reason you shouldn’t benefit too…

Jenny Smiechowski

How to eat anything at dinner and still cut your cancer risk

A few sacrifices are totally worthwhile if they increase your odds of staying cancer-free, right? Then again, occasionally you stumble upon a super simple and painless way to lower your cancer risk that doesn’t require much sacrifice at all, like this…..

Joyce Hollman

5 healthy benefits of the ultimate green food

Do you remember learning about photosynthesis, the process by which plants absorb light from the sun and turn it into nourishment and energy? The pigment that makes plants green is at the heart of that process. It can also protect you from the ravages of disease…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 everyday things that can give you cancer

Most of us feel we don’t have much control when it comes to cancer prevention. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you can take a look around your home and find these five everyday things that affect your cancer risk right now…

Joyce Hollman

Why doctors lie about the healthcare you need

According to the National Health Interview Survey, an annual in-person survey of Americans regarding their health- and illness-related experiences, 38 percent of adults seek out and use complementary and alternative medicine. Here’s one big reason why…

Joyce Hollman

Forgotten and surprising reasons men need probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that balance your gut microbiome — the actual epicenter of your health benefits and problems. Everyone can benefit from probiotics, but what’s less known is that the right combination of healthy bacteria offers special benefits to men.

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

6 important sunscreen facts to know before you hit the beach

There’s a lot of false (and deliberately misleading) sunscreen facts on the internet and it’s critical that you know the truth, so you can protect your skin from the harshest rays of the sun. Let’s start with these 6 before you hit the beach…

Jenny Smiechowski

What mothers need to know about their Alzheimer’s risk

As any mother knows, motherhood is all about sacrifices. Giving birth is hard on the body. Even more so when you give birth to many children. Women who do it put themselves at risk for depression, obesity… and, according to a new study, maybe even Alzheimer’s…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

How an integrative therapy helps against prostate cancer relapse

Men with relapsed prostate cancer have historically been limited in terms of available treatment options… But new research into an integrative therapy is opening new doors for patients struggling against this aggressive disease.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The 3 biggest dangers of eating farm-raised fish

At the supermarket, watch out for farm-raised catfish, cod (most often what you will find in fish sticks) and tilapia. And when buying salmon, look for wild-caught. If not, then you’ll get a mouthful of dioxide, diabetes and this chemical that goes for your eyes…

Joyce Hollman

The most powerful (and preventable) trigger of metastatic breast cancer

Postmenopausal women are at particular risk of developing breast cancer that metastasizes (spreads), and there are a few things that can contribute to that risk. But this one thing makes her risk of aggressive cancer skyrocket. Hint: It’s not HRT…

Joyce Hollman

Ayurveda’s top two secret weapons against Alzheimer’s

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. Now, decades of research have revealed two powerful and ancient weapons in particular that are gaining attention for their significant effects on cognitive health… especially aimed at Alzheimer’s.

Jenny Smiechowski

Is caffeine good or bad for diabetes?

When you have type II diabetes, you spend a lot of time thinking about what you’re eating and how it affects your blood sugar. But what about caffeinated beverages… are they good or bad for your diabetes? What if I told you a caffeine cure may be on the horizon…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 ways to manage cholesterol without drugs or disease risk

I recently had my yearly physical and guess what? The doctor thought my cholesterol levels were a tad borderline, so of course he wanted me to jump on the statin bandwagon. Why would I take that risk when I can try these six simple steps instead…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Is inflammation sending your health up in flames?

I believe that quelling inflammation can help you live healthier longer. So, the earlier you find out if inflammation is burning up your health, the better. That’s why it’s important to have these seven blood markers of inflammation, as well as intestinal markers, checked out…

Margaret Cantwell

7 ways to beat stiffness and thrive

No one ever died from morning stiffness, at least not quickly. But losing mobility is one of the things that seniors fear most. And if you let stiffness turn you into a couch potato, stop you from moving and grooving and doing ‘life,’ now, there is where the danger lies…

Jenny Smiechowski

5 yoga poses for better bladder control (slideshow)

Research shows that about 50 percent of adult women deal with urinary incontinence. That means, when you head out to dinner with your girlfriends, half of the women at the table are worried about their bladder control too.

Joyce Hollman

For prostate protection without side effects, try flaxseed

Are flaxseeds the safer alternative to prostate drugs? Study after study shows it’s not only rich in minerals, but prostate benefits too. If you want to avoid these six scary side effects of prostate drugs, including painful erections, here’s how to use flaxseed and get relief…

Jenny Smiechowski

3 Upsides and downsides of medical marijuana from seniors who tried it

Maybe you’re a senior considering medical marijuana yourself. Maybe you’ve even used it before years ago. But can marijuana actually help you feel better now? Well, there’s no better way to find out than to ask seniors who’ve tried it…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How a sight-saving nutrient can make your brain younger (and bigger)

Hopefully you already know that lutein is an essential nutrient for eye health that your body can’t make on its own. But here’s something you may not know… lutein accumulates in your brain tissue, and it could be the miracle that saves your aging, shrinking brain…

Joyce Hollman

The household carcinogen chemical companies hope you don’t sniff out

It’s an industrial chemical used in products commonly found throughout your household. It’s a carcinogen, and it damages your eyes, skin, respiratory and nervous systems. So why are the industries that rely on this toxic substance being protected… and not you?

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