Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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

Research confirms how diabetes drives Alzheimer’s

Doctors and researchers have long known that some sort of link exists between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, while they could see that the two went hand-in-hand for so many patients, they never actually understood why. Until now…

Margaret Cantwell

How leaky gut leaves you vulnerable to a virus, like COVID-19

As you already know, COVID-19’s symptoms weren’t just upper respiratory. It’s been reported that many people with the virus experienced GI problems, too. It may seem random, but the connection with viral infection is much more concerning: A condition that can act as an open door to disease…

Joyce Hollman

Postural muscles: The key to reducing your fall risk

Injuries and deaths related to falls in older adults are such that the problem has been described as a “hidden epidemic.” My balance is no longer something I take for granted. Because I don’t want to end up incapacitated and unable to enjoy doing the things that give my life meaning, here’s what I’ve learned and practice….

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Boosting blood oxygen levels may halt early sign of Alzheimer’s

Healthy, oxygenated blood flow is vital. That’s why during a stroke, seconds matter. But a catastrophic event isn’t the only concern when it comes to blood oxygen levels. Research has found that the brain is operating on the bare minimum, even on a good day. On a bad day, it can lead to Alzheimer’s earliest sign…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Hops compounds may fight fatty liver

While heavy drinking can lead to liver disease, a quarter of the people in the United States today have a dangerous liver condition that has nothing to do with alcohol. But there may be hope to defeating this condition from an unlikely source — hops.

Carolyn Gretton

How to get up to 10 times the benefits from eating blueberries

Blueberries definitely pack a health punch. But it can be tough for our bodies to absorb all the antioxidants present in the fruit. Now, researchers may have found a way around that problem by combining blueberries with this common food…

Joyce Hollman

10 natural pain relievers and what the science says

No one wants to live with chronic pain. In fact, if given a choice, no one wants to live with pain even for a short time. But standard methods of pain relief can be risky, including acetaminophen, ibuprofen and opioids. Here are 10 alternatives that all fight the root cause of most pain…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The proof is in the spinal fluid: The Mediterranean diet deters Alzheimer’s

The list of diets you can choose and trends you can follow is virtually endless. But when it comes to one that consistently scores high for both brain and body health, it’s the Mediterranean diet. And it may be hands down the most protection against Alzheimer’s plaques you can eat.

Carolyn Gretton

Want to avoid junk food temptation? Get your groceries online

The pandemic made online grocery shopping necessary, but there’s good reason to stick to it that has nothing to do with a nasty virus and everything to do with better food choices, and making fewer of those kinds of purchases we regret later. In fact, the science shows the outcome could mean a better diet and better health.

Carolyn Gretton

Sore throat? OTC cold remedies won’t help and may harm

Catching a cold is a drag and little is worse than a sore throat. But if you turn to drugstore cold remedies to ease the discomfort, think twice. They not only do little good, but they also harm upper respiratory cells…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The best prescription for better blood pressure and cholesterol

You might want to ask your dotor about your prescriptions. If they’re treating your cholesterol, you could end up with double the dementia risk. If it’s your blood pressure, they may have you on the medication found to thicken blood vessels and makes things worse. Maybe it’s time to walk away with a brand new and surprising prescription.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Bloodroot offers promise against triple-negative breast cancer

One of the most difficult forms of breast cancer you could be up against is known as triple-negative breast cancer. It doesn’t respond to traditional treatments and it’s especially aggressive in African American women. A simple plant compound may lead to more effective treatments…

Carolyn Gretton

The nutrient with huge disease prevention potential we don’t get enough of

Between the glut of highly processed foods in the average Western diet and the popularity of meat-heavy diets like keto and carnivore, too many of us are not getting enough of a simple but powerful health-boosting nutrient that wards off heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and more…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Superfoods for blood sugar, blood pressure, inflammation and more

Superfoods have a valuable impact on our health because they’re nutrient-dense or possess special compounds. Three new studies have taken a closer look at the science behind these superfoods. And they’ve discovered benefits that go far beyond what we previously knew…

Joyce Hollman

How heavily weight factors into prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is only second to skin cancer among men. When diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent. Except, that is, if you’re obese. It’s important to understand weight’s connection to agressive prostate cancer, the worst fat and how to lose it…

Carolyn Gretton

The lifestyle habits that can outweigh a family history of dementia

Having a first-degree relative such as a parent or sibling with dementia can increase your dementia risk by a staggering 75 percent compared with someone who doesn’t have this familial history. While this statistic is sobering, there’s more and more evidence that it’s by no means set in stone…

Carolyn Gretton

How effective is garlic for osteoarthritis knee pain?

It’s no secret that obesity can put you at risk of a number of chronic illnesses. It can also increase your risk for osteoarthritis and make you a tough candidate to find relief from osteoarthritis knee pain. You may have heard that garlic can help. But how effective is it really?

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Wegovy: What you can expect from the ‘new’ weight loss drug

If you were paying attention to the news this summer, you probably heard about Wegovy™, a “new” drug just approved for weight loss. It’s an injection that you self-administer once a week under the skin. And it works! Sounds great, but before you give it a try, here are all the details…

Margaret Cantwell

How fortified foods and the breakfast myth make us sick

The idea of fortified foods was to reduce nutritional deficiencies. But you can’t cut corners, use cheap ingredients, remove natural nutrition and expect that throwing in a few synthetic vitamins will make up for a product that does more damage than any vitamin deficiency…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The key to staying flexible, energetic and happy found in one fun activity

I don’t consider myself old but I’m not a spring chicken either. My back has gotten stiffer, my shoulders have gotten rounder and my toes seem further away than ever before. If you’re in the same boat, here’s one FUN way to improve all of these problems and more…

Joyce Hollman

9 ‘no-brainer’ steps for vitality at every age

A long-term study found that 70 percent of physical aging and about 50 percent of mental aging is determined by choices we make every day. With that in mind, I’d like to offer you 9 simple choices you can make at any age to keep thriving for decades to come!

Margaret Cantwell

Can these 4 nutrients help us avoid and treat mental illness?

Kate Spade. Anthony Bourdain. Two successful people, in the prime of their lives, took their own lives this week. And we are all asking that question… Why? But another question we need answers to is how to stop the mental illness epidemic. A new approach holds promise…

Easy Health Options Staff

5 ‘health foods’ that can backfire

In our enthusiasm for quick results, some of us go overboard when we try to eat healthy. Don’t let it backfire. Here are 5 ‘health’ foods that you should know more about before chomping down on them…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The top 6 vitamins and minerals all women over 40 should take

There are so many supplements that can benefit your body in different ways that it can feel impossible to narrow it down to which ones you really need. No worries! Here are the top six vitamins and minerals all women over 40 should take for their best health…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

If you have an apple body shape, here’s why and what to do

Fat can have scars. And because of where this fat “sticks,” most people with scarred fat have an apple body shape. So, if your fat cells become scarred as you gain weight, what can you do to finally slim down and avoid the health threats your body shape seems prone to?

Joyce Hollman

Dehydration may be the reason for your aches, foggy brain and premature aging

Dehydration is a real threat that many people don’t take seriously. They think it only happens to someone trekking through the desert, or to marathon runners or other athletes. But it could be the reason for your aches and pains, foggy brain and faster aging…

Jenny Smiechowski

AFIB and heart failure protection you can snack on

When it comes to heart disease, diet makes a big difference. But there’s one food that stands out from the pack if you want to keep your heart healthy. This food may even be able to help prevent two serious diseases at once…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is your nightlight giving you diabetes?

Did you know nighttime light exposure impacts your metabolism? Researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine recently looked into it. The results will make you want to turn off your nightlight, your bedside clock and your smartphone for good!

Joyce Hollman

How to know if it’s male ‘menopause’

Hormones are master switches. One in particular is a double-edged sword. At optimal levels, it keeps our cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems functioning perfectly. But get estrogen off balance and men — yes, men — have a real problem on their hands…

Joyce Hollman

7 ways to avoid the deadliest, preventable ‘invisible disease’

Kidney disease kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined. So why doesn’t kidney disease get the same funding and attention as cancer? Maybe because it’s largely invisible until it’s quite advanced. Make sure you know the risk factors and warning signs…

Jenny Smiechowski

2 anti-aging nutrients that double as disease fighters too

What really keeps you youthful, healthy and living the good life? It’s nothing complicated. No prescriptions, creams or expensive procedures. It’s getting the right nutrients. In fact, if you want to avoid the pitfalls of aging and disease for as long as possible, you need…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The other mosquito danger no one suspected

Mosquitoes carry dangerous viruses, from West Nile and Zika, to malaria and even yellow fever. But these viruses aren’t the only danger you face when a mosquito bites you. There’s a newly discovered one that sends your immune system into hyperdrive…

Jenny Smiechowski

Some might say this cancer cure is a stretch, but they’d be wrong

Research shows that staying physically active lowers your risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, endometrial cancer and many others. But do you have to sweat till you drop to benefit? Or will something much gentler help you fight cancer?

Joyce Hollman

7 signs of anemia you should never ignore

Are you anemic? Actually, a better question is this: would you know if you were? Many people over age 65 are and don’t even know. They also don’t know that there are two problems that make anemia more dangerous than it needs to be…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why you need a water filter and how to choose it

According to a new reports, tens of millions of Americans each year are exposed to contaminated drinking water — consuming everything from fecal bacteria to lead and arsenic. Clearly, drinking right out of the tap is a bad idea. So, if you must invest in a water filter, which one?

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

5 serious health risks that rise with summer travel

Whoever said, “Traveling is good medicine,” never spent time on a cramped plane. Particular risks come into play with specific conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or recent surgery. These and other factors can make long-distance travel potentially dangerous….

Jenny Smiechowski

How big does your belly have to be to harm your health?

Everyone knows that belly fat increases your risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases. But when does belly fat become a problem? Is a little bit worth the worry? And what if you’re fit everywhere else but your belly? Are you still at risk? Here’s how to know…

Joyce Hollman

If your urine’s this color, see a doctor

Normally, urine color ranges from pale yellow to deep amber. If your urine falls outside of this color spectrum, it’s usually time to consult your doctor. A variety of medical and dietary issues can cause urine to take on a range of colors you might not expect. Here are some colors to watch out for.

Dr. Michael Cutler

Why the glyphosate danger keeps getting worse

It’s the most widely used herbicide in the world, and new evidence says that it’s more prevalent and dangerous than ever. Worrisome enough on its own, new research reveals glyphosate-based herbicides expose us to five hormone-disrupting heavy metals…

Margaret Cantwell

The hormone imbalance that sets you up for Alzheimer’s

Hormone treatment therapies of the past have many of us too scared to consider HRT. But there is an urgent reason why you should consider your options… That menopause ‘brain fog’ may not end with the last hot flash. In fact, it could be the reason two-thirds of Alzheimer’s victims are women…

Cara McCarthy

7 Smart tips to eat healthy on a budget

One way to stretch your dollar is to make sure the produce you buy doesn’t spoil before it’s eaten. Another way is to consider store brands, many of which are just as nutritious as their full-priced competitors. Here are 7 tips to get you started.

Jenny Smiechowski

How much exercise does it take to keep your heart from aging?

It’s no fun to see signs of of aging. Every time a wrinkle appears, your heart sinks a little. But trust me… what’s going on inside your body is even more alarming. Aging is hard on your vital organs, and your heart is particularly vulnerable to the harsh hands of time…

Joyce Hollman

The nutty secret Italians use to look and feel great

Many Italian towns have reputations as blue zones… places where inhabitants live unusually long and healthy lives. Most often their health and longevity is attributed to a healthy Mediterranean diet. But the citizens of a town on the Italian Riviera hold tight to another healthy secret…

Craig Cooper

Can saw palmetto shrink the prostate?

Many claims have been made about the ability of saw palmetto to shrink the prostate, relieve symptoms of BPH and associated urinary tract problems and perhaps even fight prostate cancer. Is this hype, or does saw palmetto really help?

Joyce Hollman

Are you aging in the ‘right’ place? Here’s how to know

I’m looking at old age from a comfortable distance. But I’m realizing some adjustments to my home are necessary if I want to remain here independently for another decade or two. If you’re “of a certain age” and want to live in the home you love, here are some things to consider…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why using your legs generates brain power

A recent study from Italian researchers found that when you don’t exercise your legs enough, not only do you lose muscle mass in your legs, you lose nerve cells. You’ve heard the saying, “use it or lose it.” Well, it’s particularly true when it comes to your brain cells…

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

6 Aging myths to start ignoring right now

Believing a myth is counter-productive to slowing the signs of aging, improving your health (now and well into your future), and living the best life you can. So, let’s break down some of the most popular wrong-headed ideas so they don’t hold you back….

Joyce Hollman

What you ought to know about powder and cancer

The American Cancer Society lists almost twenty risk factors for this often-silent, fast-moving cancer. Many of the risk factors are medical and genetic in nature. Some have to do with habits like smoking and drinking. Then there’s talcum powder…

Jenny Smiechowski

Can cold water end chronic pain? It did for this guy

Most chronic pain sufferers have to resort to addictive and dangerous painkillers to cope. But members of the Polar Bear Club may be on to a simple and side effect-free way to relieve chronic pain, perhaps for good, that doesn’t involve addictive painkillers…

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