Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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…

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

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.

Carolyn Gretton

The urgent reason black women should check their vitamin D levels

Vitamin D is important for bone, muscle, brain and immune system health. But the vitamin’s cancer connections are also coming to light. Studies are looking at specific cancers on the rise, how the body produces vitamin D and how skin color comes into play in. The findings are something we can’t ignore…

Joyce Hollman

7 reasons to try a persimmon now

Persimmons are a small, sweet fruit that’s around from October to January. If you’ve never tried them, you’re missing out! They’re chock full of nutrients that lower your blood pressure, protect your eyesight and keep your brain young…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The superfood that battles depression, anxiety and more

There’s one food that has racked up an incredibly impressive array of health benefits backed by science. From improving blood sugar and fighting obesity to boosting immunity and reducing joint pain, mushrooms are truly magical. And now researchers say you can chalk one more big benefit up to fungi — better mental health.

Jenny Smiechowski

The 3 most dangerous daily sources of aluminum and the damage it does

Besides breast cancer, aluminum exposure can cause neurotoxicity — a form of damage to the central and/or peripheral nervous system. It’s even linked to Alzheimer’s. So, you want to stay on top of your aluminum exposure, especially since research shows we’re regularly exposed to far too much…

Joyce Hollman

6 fruits anyone with blood sugar problems should be eating

Anyone with blood sugar concerns should be eating plenty of these stone fruits and a few choice berries. Not only do they contain phenols that help your body use insulin, they’ve been found effective against obesity, metabolic syndrome and a bushel of other serious conditions…

Joyce Hollman

The Alzheimer’s-sleep connection: quantity vs quality

Most often, cognitive decline and dementia in adults is a result of Alzheimer’s disease. And poor sleep is a common Alzheimer’s symptom that actually makes the disease progress more quickly. But researchers dug into what makes the most difference: more sleep or deeper sleep?

Joyce Hollman

Potential new strategy for treating UTIs kicks antibiotics to the curb

Experiencing a UTI is miserable. They cause stomach and pelvic pain, nausea, an almost constant feeling that you need to urinate, and a burning sensation when you do. But a new discovery has pointed the way to a potential non-antibiotic treatment based on the body’s response to the infection that might stop a UTI before it starts.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Tryptophan: The ‘Thanksgiving’ amino acid for healthy aging

Tryptophan is the amino acid that we all associate with that post-Thanksgiving meal slump. The truth, though, is that blame falls on the carbs. In fact, the maligned amino acid carries powerful benefits that can help us live happier and healthier, especially if you’re on the mature side…

Jenny Smiechowski

The wrinkles that indicate your heart disease risk

The lines in your face reveal a lot about your life — how much you smile, whether you’re a stomach or a side sleeper, how you feel about sunscreen. But what if they revealed major details about your future? Like how you might die…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The #1 way to reverse type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is most likely to strike after you’ve succumbed to the middle-age spread. But a new scientific study has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt how to reverse it. But there’s a catch: Your timing has to be right to completely reverse it and be diabetes free for life…

Joyce Hollman

Boswellia: Nature’s answer from inflammation to cancer

Boswellia serrata, a tree that is native to India, has long been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine to control arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Lots of research has shown that it’s a safe, natural substitute for dangerous NSAIDs, but that’s not all…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

How to use mushrooms for health conditions

There are more than 270 types of mushrooms with loads of health benefits. So how do you know where to get started using them to boost your health? You can’t go wrong with any of them, but here are some top recommendations and how they help…

Jenny Smiechowski

How a common gum infection and a vitamin deficiency adds up to diabetes

People with periodontitis, a common gum infection, face a diabetes risk that’s “greater than the sum of the individual effects” if they also have a certain vitamin deficiency. In other words, two conditions worked together to fan the flames of type 2 diabetes risk more than anyone could imagine…

Joyce Hollman

Tired of tinnitus? There’s an app that could help

For years, the best options for dealing with tinnitus have been antidepressants to help with sleep, treating any underlying causes like high blood pressure or changing medications that could be the problem. But an exciting new therapy you can do at home has been successful…

Dr. Michael Cutler

How to set your doctor straight on statins before it’s too late

Doctors feel secure prescribing any medicine that’s been shown to be effective. The statin drug manufacturers know this and successfully established their studies showing big benefits of statins to lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular disease risk. But what did they hide?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Marijuana’s cousin stops ovarian cancer in its tracks

Many people think of hemp and marijuana as being the same thing, but they’re not. The big difference being that hemp, unlike marijuana, doesn’t contain THC (the psychoactive compound that makes you high). But they both contain cancer-fighting cannabinoids…

Joyce Hollman

What seniors need to know about rose hips

Fall is the time to leave peaches and melons behind, and start enjoying those crisp, juicy apples. But did you know there’s a tiny ‘cousin’ to the apple that you can harvest at the end of summer? It has more vitamin C than an orange and that’s just the start of its benefits…

Jenny Smiechowski

The supplement that prevents weight gain even when you’re overeating

The only surefire way to lose weight is to give up the greasy fries, sugary milkshakes and fast food burgers. But what if you slip up? This extract of an Amazonian fruit could speed up your metabolism even when you go on a regrettable junk food binge…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

7 natural ways to reduce the look of spider veins

Spider veins are caused by enlarged blood vessels and are similar to varicose veins which often occur on the legs but are much bigger, bulging and can be painful. Spider veins may not be imminently dangerous, but they are unsightly. Here’s how to reduce their appearance…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How to save your brain in 2 minutes

When you sit, your heart doesn’t beat fast and your blood doesn’t pump as quickly. This adds up to less oxygen and nutrients flowing to your brain to help you stay sharp, focused and to preserve your memory and cognitive function as you age. You can fix that in just 2 minutes…

Joyce Hollman

What do Parkinson’s, diabetes and heart disease have in common?

Here’s a surprise for you: At least three studies have shown very clearly that there’s an intimate link between the symptoms of metabolic syndrome and a disease we’ve always thought to be neurologically based. What does it have to do with heart disease and diabetes? A lot…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The happiness secret to living longer

We would probably all like to live to a healthy ripe old age. Yet, even though most of us are taking more control of our health than ever before, there’s one thing that we’ve been missing… and it has a huge impact on how long you live. Here are 5 ways to get it…

Jenny Smiechowski

The surprising benefit that makes alcohol healthier than you thought

I’m sure you’ve heard the bad news: Drinking alcohol is terrible for your health. But before you commit to life as a teetotaler, there’s a hidden benefit to drinking that plenty of people don’t think of… Alcohol makes you social, and that comes with some serious health perks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Lose just this much weight to lose your disease risk (seriously, that’s all!)

We all know that being overweight can cause major health problems and has been linked to everything from heart disease and diabetes, to Alzheimer’s and even cancer. But how much weight loss is enough to lower these risk? Surprisingly, much lower than you think…

Joyce Hollman

Watch out for this kind of ‘invisible’ heart attack

The symptoms of a silent heart attack can be similar to those you’re familiar with. But blood tests will show no signs of heart damage. There will be no signs of arterial blockage, and an EKG will look nothing like it does in a traditional heart attack. Until…

Jenny Smiechowski

The antioxidant-packed tea that kills cancer stem cells

At some point in your life, you’ve probably been told to “treat your body like a temple.” And that’s good advice. You only have one body, after all. And it has to last you for a while. But, if you’ve been a little rough on it, no worries. One special drink could turn things around for you…

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

Two proven (and free) ‘antibiotics’ to put to use today

There are two powerful antibiotics that can’t be patented. They’re free, plentiful, and you can access them anywhere, except perhaps the darkest polar nights. But for their introduction into early modern medicine, we owe a forward-thinking nurse a debt of gratitude…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to get coffee’s secret fat-burning compound

I’m thrilled to have valid, healthy reasons to drink a few cups of coffee every day — guilt-free! But the really great thing about coffee is this: The less we do to it, the more it gives up its gold. That’s because it contains a special fat-burning compound you don’t want to roast away…

Jenny Smiechowski

What cannabis can do for Crohn’s and colitis

I know someone who has Crohn’s, and once he got a medical marijuana card, it changed his life. He was able to manage his pain without dangerous opioids. He stopped taking the steroids that were giving him osteoporosis. And his symptoms improved. But here’s the thing…

Joyce Hollman

The superspice that could save us from superbugs

More and more disease-causing bacteria are immune to the drugs used to treat them. That’s why research into one healing spice is so exciting. It could be the answer that saves us from succumbing to “superbug” infections that are killing thousands of people each year…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Why that Harvard professor is wrong about coconut oil

You may have heard about the recent YouTube video in which a Harvard Professor called coconut oil “pure poison” and “one of the worst foods you can eat.” Like I did with the American Heart Association, let me set the record straight about this highly nutritious food…

Joyce Hollman

4 powerful reasons to pop some pistachios now (slideshow)

The Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that when healthy adults with high LDL levels ate one serving of pistachios daily, their LDL cholesterol levels dropped by nine percent. Those who ate two servings per day saw a 12 percent drop in LDL. That’s just for starters…

Joyce Hollman

4+ reasons diabetics should be eating mushrooms

If the mushroom’s only “gold star” was that it benefited your immunity, or helped lower blood pressure or inflammation, it would still be a superior natural remedy. But mushrooms can do much more, like helping you process glucose and possibly preventing diabetes altogether…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The best supplements to crank up your husband’s sex drive

Sometimes, as you get older, it can seem like all the fun you used to have in the bedroom is replaced by more sleep and lots of TV time in bed. But, it doesn’t have to be. Despite the fact that 52 percent of men will experience erectile dysfunction, you can crank things up…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why being “skinny fat” may be worse than being obese

Are you skinny fat? It’s not hard to tell if you are… Being skinny fat means you have too much fat and too little muscle mass. Either one of these conditions on their own has a negative impact on your health. But together? They’re a recipe for disaster…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why alcohol and a disease-free life just won’t mix

A night out with friends, dinner or just a few relaxing minutes at the end of the day. Nothing caps off the moment like a glass of wine, beer or a shot of your favorite liquor. Responsibly, of course. But is any amount of alcohol safe? Exhaustive research has the answer most of us won’t like…

Joyce Hollman

An insulin pill may be closer than we think

The number one priority of anyone living with diabetes is having the right amount of insulin at the right time. That usually means injections or insulin pumps. For most diabetics, a lifetime sentence of needle sticks. But what if you could get the insulin you need from a pill?

Jenny Smiechowski

How to use the placebo effect for IBS, back pain, migraines and more

What if you could knowingly take a sugar pill and still experience real healing power? It sounds far fetched but there’s proof it works. In fact, chronic low back pain sufferers knowingly taking a placebo pill had far less pain than people taking painkillers. We think we know why…

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