Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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. Adria Schmedthorst

The foods that decreased frontline workers’ COVID risks by 73 percent

There’s more proof that food choices matter, and it comes from the front lines: Data from doctors and nurses with extensive exposure to SARS-CO-v2, found that depending on whether you choose high protein, low carbs, more plant foods or fish — risks from COVID-19 could be lowered as much as 73 percent.

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Kidneys carried the second-highest COVID-19 viral load

It’s no secret that COVID-19 can do major damage to the lungs. But the virus can hurt other organs as well. In fact, a recent study appears to show that after the lungs, the kidneys are the next organ to bear the brunt of COVID-19 damage…

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

What fruit can do for insulin sensitivity

High levels of circulating insulin can damage blood vessels leading to high blood pressure and heart disease. That’s why improving insulin sensitivity is paramount. Here’s a sweet way to lower your risk of blood sugar problems by a whopping 36 percent, by doing just that…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Can zinc lower blood pressure?

The number one modifiable risk factor for heart disease and premature death is high blood pressure. That means if you can control it, you can greatly lower that risk. Maybe you’ve cut back on salt, started exercising and eating right. But what about your zinc levels?

Joyce Hollman

Genetic risk of glaucoma? Cut out the caffeine

This sneaky vision-stealer gives virtually no warning signs, not until peripheral vision starts to disappear. Even with treatment, many with the disease will lose vision in one eye. But even in those with a genetic predisposition, you can lower your risk… starting with caffeine.

Joyce Hollman

Milk may do your cholesterol and heart good

Milk has been given a bad rap for a long time. I’m referring to good old-fashioned cow’s milk, blamed for weight gain and heart disease. But a huge study’s found a connection between drinking milk, better cholesterol and keeping your heart strong.

Carolyn Gretton

Your breast microbiome and breast cancer risk

You’ve probably read a lot about your gut microbiome. But you may not be as aware that other parts of the body have their own microbiomes that are just as important to your health, like the connections between diet, breast microbiome, some supplements and breast cancer risk.

Easy Health Options Staff

Ischemic, hemorrhagic and mini-stroke: What to know

If there is a lack of blood flow to the brain, the brain is going to starve. That’s why there is ittle time to spare when stroke symptoms arise. Here are the differences between the two main types of stroke as well as TIA or mini-stroke…

Carolyn Gretton

Want to lose belly fat? Give tai chi a try

The gentle, flowing movements of tai chi aren’t usually the types of exercise you’d associate with losing weight or inches around your middle (where that dangerous fat collects). But a recent study suggests this seemingly sedate practice actually packs a fat-loss punch…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Is your real blood pressure problem incorrect readings?

What’s defined as high blood pressure varies depending upon who you listen to… the American Heart Association or the International Society of Hypertension. In my own practice, I typically favor the more lenient definition. But regardless of which scale you follow, getting correct readings is what really matters…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How weight can turn you into a COVID long-hauler

It’s no secret that underlying health problems increase the risk of a severe COVID-19 infection. Luckily, most of us are at lower risk than we were a year ago. Still, we’re not home-free, especially if weight is an issue. Now’s the time to get serious about it to avoid both the threat of infection and becoming a COVID long-hauler…

Joyce Hollman

When housework can lengthen your life as much as a workout

About 30 minutes of daily moderate exercise is ideal. It’s not easy for all of us to commit to that, but just a few hours of light physical activity can provide major benefits on par with more exercise. Just be sure to avoid the one thing that can negate them.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Do you flail and kick in your sleep? It could mean Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a disease that causes tremors, stiffness and rigidity, cognitive decline and more. And though there is currently no cure, there are drugs and alternative health methods that can help slow the disease progression. That’s why seeing the early signs matters so much…

Carolyn Gretton

The hormone that may signal COVID-19 severity in men

Testosterone is a key hormone for regulating men’s health. Low levels have been linked with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It can also affect bone, muscle and energy levels. And in the age of COVID, men with low-T face another serious threat…

Joyce Hollman

No time for heart-healthy exercise? Try a hot bath

Exercise. Either you love it, or you hate it. But it’s good preventive medicine. Regular exercise can prevent heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. The good news? There’s an indulgent activity that carries a lot of the same benefits.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How your gut affects how well vaccines work

There’s probably been no time in recent history that more people have been focused on vaccines. But, of course, vaccines are nothing new… the seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines have been around for a while. What is new is finding that the key to how well they work is in your gut.

Joyce Hollman

Simple sleep tweak cuts depression by double digits

There are people who tend to thrive and do their best work late at night. But others are at their best earlier in the day. One drawback of being a night owl is a higher risk for depression. But one hour is all it takes to slash that risk by double digits — without giving up late night..

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Popular bleach alternative not so safe to disinfect your home

Are you a cleaning fanatic? Be wary of the ingredients in the products you use. You could face serious respiratory damage if you’re not careful.

Carolyn Gretton

Bad news for couch potatoes: Sitting less sustains weight loss

Let’s say you’ve reached your weight loss goal (congratulations!) and you’re looking forward to all the health benefits that brings. You probably worked very hard, but maintaining your new weight may not be so hard, as long as you don’t do this one thing that works against sustained weight loss.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

How to load up on heart-healthy nutrients at your farmer’s market

One of my favorite rites of spring is browsing aisles of beautiful asparagus, radishes, herbs and lettuces at farmer’s markets. It’s one of the most inspiring ways to cook more heart-healthy foods at home. My favorites contain lots of potassium, calcium and nitrates, which may help improve blood flow, and of course fiber!

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Lifestyle changes that reversed aging 3 years in just 8 weeks

Who wouldn’t want to roll back the clock and reverse aging to feel better and live longer? But is turning back your biological age even possible? And if so, is it something you can do yourself? Here’s how the study participants did it in just eight weeks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Study proves you’re only as old as you feel

For some people, age is only a number. No matter the number of years that have passed, they stay active, strong, and yes — youthful. They seem to live and breathe the popular saying “you’re only as old as you feel.” And now science has proven there’s really something to it…

Carolyn Gretton

Anesthetic may release tau and spur Alzheimer’s development

Surgery is difficult at any age, but it carries specific complications for older adults, including long-term memory loss. Researchers have dug into this connection and may have narrowed it down to the way a specific type of anesthetic affects tau protein, a key player in Alzheimer’s development…

Joyce Hollman

7 foods that reduce colorectal cancer risk despite your genes

You might think having a genetic predisposition for cancer is a death sentence, or that there’s very little you can do to counteract heredity. Well, recent research has shown this to be untrue when it comes to colorectal cancer. In fact, lifestyle factors can do more for folks with the cancer gene than those without…

Joyce Hollman

A better variety of gut bacteria reduces age-related muscle loss

Sarcopenia can put a kink in your plans to enjoy retirement, whether you see yourself playing golf every day, going on cruises or hosting campouts in the backyard with your grandkids — and instead leave you frail and housebound. But your gut bacteria can help keep it from stealing your get-up-and-go.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Mildly elevated BP in middle-age doubles women’s heart attack risk

Traditionally, women start out with much lower blood pressure than men. But when we get into our 40s, things start to change. That’s why women are being urged to diligently check it. Turns out even a mild elevation in BP for middle-aged women can double the risk for heart attack.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

It takes fewer steps than you’d think to live longer

Walking is one of the safest and easiest ways to stay active. It’s also great for your heart health and can help you live longer, reducing your risk of death as much as 32 percent. Better news? Retire your Fitbit… it doesn’t take near as many steps as you’d think…

Dr. Michael Cutler

19 alternatives for naturally healthy blood pressure

Hypertension can mean a lifelong pre-existing condition and daily medication that doesn’t just cramp your style… it invites some side effects you’d probably rather do without, like diarrhea or constipation, lightheadedness and erection problems. Unless you’re open to alternatives… and I’ve got 19 natural ones.

Jenny Smiechowski

The best supplement for stress, anxiety and sleep

Cortisol throws your hormonal balance out of whack. Beyond your hormones, high cortisol levels weaken your immune system, put you at risk for diabetes and contribute to obesity. High cortisol is also tied to mood problems and, of course, anxiety. Bust it with a simple amino acid…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The secret to safe, effective, non-addictive back pain relief

The U.S. is facing an addiction crisis like no other in its history. While it’s easy to sit back and say those people were simply opioid addicts, many of them started as patients in pain. That’s why more people need to know about this method shown to reduce drug dependency and pain at the same time…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Anxiety or just this hard-to-diagnose gland condition?

It accounts for more than 40 percent of all cases of depression and 30 percent of all cases of anxiety. Those are some big numbers! And, unfortunately, it’s super easy for doctors to misdiagnosis it as ‘menopausal symptoms’ or depression or anxiety alone…

Joyce Hollman

The extra life-saving benefits of exercise for diabetics

It’s hard to think of a condition that exercise won’t help. It slows the growth of cancer, boosts HDL cholesterol and lowers LDLs that clog arteries and cause stroke. But is it as beneficial for type 2 diabetics? Doubly so… Just take a look at what it does for glucose and insulin control and heart attack risk…

Jenny Smiechowski

How to fight superbugs with this simple supplement

Looking for a simple way to protect yourself against bacterial infections… especially those scary superbugs you’ve been hearing about? Well, there may be safe and cheap way to do just that. In fact, you may be able to fend off those nasty bacterial infections with…

Joyce Hollman

When vertigo signals something more serious

When your vestibular system is damaged, you may have episodes of vertigo, a general term for a sensation of dizziness. But there are six lesser-known conditions that cause vertigo and loss of balance, along with other symptoms that can often resemble signs of stroke or brain tumors…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Here is a method helping migraine sufferers everywhere

Migraines=misery. After an exhaustive review of more than 180 studies on migraines and diet, researchers at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center were able to identify four of the most likely dietary triggers — and what to eat for relief.

Craig Cooper

Why coffee is even better for you after 45

When it comes to drinking coffee, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, per se. However, if you are among the hundreds of millions of coffee drinkers in the world, there’s significant proof that coffee is very healthy habit, but even more so if you’re on the mature side…

Jenny Smiechowski

Is bacteria behind your hair loss?

If you’ve been following microbiome medicine, this may not be a shocker… It seems like every health condition around can be connected to the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living in your body. The good news is, if this is true, then a healthy gut may be able to curb or reverse your hair loss…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Genetics or exercise: Which wins at weight loss?

While it’s perfectly normal to look at your family and wonder, “how in the world can I ever beat my genetics,” the truth is that your weight has far more to do with your daily choices than you might think. But a big part of the puzzle is your age…

Joyce Hollman

The little-known mineral that fights arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer

There’s a trace mineral you’re almost certainly overlooking… It’s a “gatekeeper” for most of the important vitamins and minerals your body needs. This often-ignored mineral makes nutrients accessible to your body, preventing some of the conditions we fear most with age…

Jenny Smiechowski

Five scientifically-supported health benefits of saunas

1,628 men and women between 53 and 74 years old were divided into groups and given a hard job… to sit in a sauna for a few minutes, anywhere from one day a week to seven days a week. And one group slashed their stroke risk more than 60 percent. Any guesses?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How fiber now could help you fight off next year’s flu

Traditional methods for fighting the flu have some stiff competition. Previous studies have shown fiber fights inflammatory diseases, like asthma and allergies. So researchers wondered… could fiber help your body’s immune system work better at protecting you from flu?

Jenny Smiechowski

How alcohol fuels cancer-causing bacteria

The connection between the community of bacteria that call your body home and disease is the cutting edge of medicine right now. And it looks like alcohol seems to fuel the bad stuff — the strains tied to cancer, heart disease and other health problems…

Joyce Hollman

10 essential oils for a clean toxin-free home

While essential oils are a healthy alternative to toxic cleansers and chemicals, they are typically concentrated and pack and powerful punch. But with a littler know-how, they’re an effective and safe alternative to harsh commercial cleaners. Here’s how to use them…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

The surge in Lyme disease: Should you worry?

Lyme disease is a complicated condition, but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. By integrating conventional protocols, together with complementary approaches and targeted supplements, we can help optimize health and vitality over time…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 supplements to soothe depression

When you’re mired in the blackness of depression, it can seem if you’re completely alone, caught in a downward spiral you can never get out of. The last thing you need is negative side effects. The good news is that those medications are NOT your only solution…

Joyce Hollman

Daily habits that are surprisingly bad for your joints

It doesn’t take an injury or a degenerative disease to do damage to our joints. In fact, there are innocent daily habits you may be doing over and over again that are destroying your joints. They may seem harmless, but they can take a toll, causing pain and mobility issues. Check out these 10 and see if you’re guilty of them…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Why you may wake up tomorrow with high blood pressure

31 million more Americans suddenly now have hypertension. Does that shock you? What’s even more shocking is that it’s by no fault of their own. The American College of Cardiology has provided new lowered criteria, so now anyone is fair game for their medicine…

Jenny Smiechowski

A supplement to remember your dreams and sleep deep

This could be the first step toward lucid dreaming. And, believe it or not, lucid dreaming has a bunch of potential benefits. People have used lucid dreaming to overcome nightmares, treat phobias, practice creative problem solving, refine motor skills and even recover from physical trauma.

Margaret Cantwell

Calcium trumps cholesterol at saving your heart

Plaque is nasty stuff. It consists of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin. And of course when it clogs your arteries, you’re in for a world of hurt. So, the two “ingredients” from this recipe that stand out are calcium and cholesterol. Which do you think is your biggest concern?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 proven summer cold remedies (slideshow)

If you end up with the dreaded summer cold, there’s not a lot your doctor can do for you and their normal advice is to rest and wait it out. However, there are a few things you can do at home to alleviate your symptoms, stimulate your immune system to fight off the virus and feel better quicker.

Jenny Smiechowski

The protein trick that helps seniors keep their strength

It starts in your 30s, and by the time you reach your 70s, you may have lost as much as 50 percent of your muscle mass. That’s why sarcopenia is one of the top causes of frailty, poor mobility and falls in older people. So does that mean you’re doomed to a future of weak muscles and waning independence?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

4 serious ways inflammation makes you sick

Most of us think of joint problems when we hear the word inflammation. But, inflammation is behind a number of serious health problems that could be waiting in the wings, ready to attack and rob you of your well-being. Here are the top four health risks caused by inflammation and what to do to stop it…

Jenny Smiechowski

10 signs of the most fatal heart condition

If you experience any of these symptoms without a reasonable explanation (like the flu or another illness), run, don’t walk to the hospital. Don’t shrug them off. It could cost you your life. Plus… if you commit this simple information to memory now, it may save someone else’s life too…

Craig Cooper

Pros, cons and your prostate on the keto diet

There’s a lot to understand about the Keto diet, and much you should know before you decide whether you’re jumping on board or not, including the pros and cons. And if you’re a man, you probably want to know how the keto diet may or may not impact your prostate health…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Home remedies for nail fungus

There’s not much worse than a nail fungus this time of year when everyone’s wearing their cute sandals. What is a nail fungus anyway? And why would you get one? I’ll explain and we’ll get you fixed up with these home remedies for nail fungus as effective as a prescription.

Joyce Hollman

4+ ways melatonin guards against Alzheimer’s

Many people supplement this hormone when they experience sleep problems. But research has now shown us that we should be taking melatonin even if we’re sleeping well. Because, if you start taking it soon enough, you may just be able to fend off Alzheimer’s disease…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Tips for alkalizing your diet for peak health

Managing your body’s pH level can help fight health conditions like high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes. It’s also been shown to reduce chronic pain and cause the death of cancer cells. Here are the most important tips for shifting to an alkaline diet.

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