Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

3 ways group singing boosts our health

Choral groups may not be singing together much right now, but hopefully that will change soon. Because the emotional and physical health benefits science shows happens when we blend our voices are just too good to pass up…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The fruit that guards against sunburn, UV damage and skin cancer

We all need a little sunshine in our lives. It’s an important source of vitamin D. Get too much sun, though, and UV damage can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. But there’s a tasty way to give yourself an extra layer of sun protection and guard against sunburn…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What each serving of fruit and veggies does to heart disease, stroke and cancer

It’s no surprise to any of us that despite the best efforts of moms everywhere, 90 percent of us are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables. But what if we did? For starters, 7.8 million early deaths a year could be prevented. Scientists can even measure the benefits in each serving, and reveal the magic number for saving lives…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why napping is good medicine for your brain

Do you get a little bit sleepy as the afternoon wears on? Are you feeling that after lunch slump that makes you want to just curl up, close your eyes and drift off, if only for a little while? Here’s your excuse to give in: napping may be good medicine for your brain.

Carolyn Gretton

German scientists’ ‘cancer plan’: Age 50+ take vitamin D

For years, scientists have been studying how vitamin D influences a number of diseases, particularly inflammatory diseases, diabetes and cancer. That’s why a group of scientists formulated a plan…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

The difference between surviving a heart attack or not

We’ve seen lots of research about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. But how active, or inactive you are, has been found to have a great impact on whether a heart attack kills you on the spot or serves as a mere warning that you need to make some major lifestyle changes.

Joyce Hollman

Longevity gas: The smelly secret to living longer

People focus on avoiding gas. But inside the body, one gas in particular acts as a chemical messenger, one that could offer smelly protection against life-threatening illnesses and boost longevity. But the wrong foods can cheat you of it.

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

Sleep apnea: An underdiagnosed threat for women

Are you waking up feeling tired and sluggish after a full night’s sleep? Do you find yourself suffering from daytime sleepiness? For women, obstructive sleep apnea is often underdiagnosed and the consequences can be dangerous…

Dr. Mariza Snyder

Top 10 supplements to balance hormones naturally

Your hormones rely on key nutrients to work at their best, and it is virtually impossible to get everything you need through food alone, unless you want to eat 10lbs of broccoli sprouts every day! Let’s take a look at the best and most well-researched supplements for various types of hormonal support!

Carolyn Gretton

Green tea boosts cancer-destroying ‘guardian of the genome’

Green tea is well-known for its positive benefits on metabollism, brain funtion, blood sugar and longevity. Now, researchers say its key compound may increase a natural anti-cancer protein know as the “guardian of the genome.”

Joyce Hollman

Walnuts slash heart disease and diabetes

During early Roman times, the walnut was considered a food for the gods. But recently scientists have been using artificial intelligence to dig deeper and identify the specific components of walnuts that can add years to your life by slashing disease risk.

Carolyn Gretton

Medical marijuana and high blood pressure: Here’s what we know

Medical marijuana, or cannabis, has been used medicinally to provide relief for chronic pain, nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. But what about heart health? More studies are needed but there’s positive news about its effect on blood pressure.

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

Taurine: A natural ‘antibiotic’ and more

Antibiotics are lifesavers. But because we’ve relied on them too heavily, we’ve contributed to a big downside: antibiotic resistance. But scientists are finding promise in a nutrient found in many common foods that may trigger good bacteria in the body to go after disease-causing pathogens.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How bacteria can provide a barrier against pneumonia

The difference between a mild case of the flu and possible hospitalization is the development of pneumonia. Just in time, researchers have identified one more way to reduce risk for a lung infection…

Carolyn Gretton

Why your mouth is the gateway to health or disease in your body

We know it’s important to keep our teeth and gums clean, but we often don’t consider how much good oral hygiene is connected with our whole-body health. More and more research is showing just how much our oral health can influence our overall health — and vice versa…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

Coffee’s secret power: Taking down heart failure risk

Across the U.S., fifty percent of us drink coffee daily. It’s a love affair that likely has a lot to do with energy-boosting caffeine. Too much, and coffee can make you feel jittery and nervous. But if you want to reduce the risk of heart failure, decaf may not have the power to do it.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What a daily glass of alcohol does to your heart rhythm

For the past decade, there’s been a lot of buzz about how a daily glass of wine promotes good health. But for every study that supports that, there’s another that shows harm. New research sheds light on what happens to your heart when you drink a daily glass of alcohol.

Joyce Hollman

Using aspirin to lower the risk of colorectal cancer

You’ve probably heard about daily aspirin therapy as a preventative for heart attack and stroke. But have you heard of its effect on colorectal cancer? Turns out there’s compelling evidence for it, with one caveat…

Dr. Mariza Snyder

What is estrogen dominance and how does it affect your body?

You’re in your 30’s and 40’s and suddenly you don’t even recognize yourself anymore. That’s because there’s a real change happening in your body. But meeting these hormone shifts head-on is the best way to get you back to your rockstar self as fast as possible.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

CBD found to destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Germs that could once be knocked out within a few days of antibiotic therapy have grown resistant to what medicine has to offer. But a new and powerful option has been found in a source that’s been making the headlines for a while now, and it may lead the next generation of antibiotics.

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

A link between surgery, Alzheimer’s and a vitamin that may help

Going under anesthesia and enduring surgery comes with complications. But cognitive decline may not be one you’d expect. For some of us, that risk may be heightened…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

What doctors aren’t trained to tell you about heart health

There’s an Ayurvedic proverb: When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need. It sums up the problems most doctors have with treating the symptoms of disease with unnecessary medicines and invasive procedures instead of addressing the root cause…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is more oleic acid in the diet the answer to MS?

MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks from within and wears down the protective coating around nerve fibers in the central nervous system, slowly stealing independence from its victims. But research has found they share a common deficiency in the form of an omega fatty acid that could combat the disease.

Joyce Hollman

The ‘infection’ allergy that may cause IBS and gluten intolerance

For too long, patients with irritable bowel syndrome and gluten sensitivity have been told it’s “all in their mind.” The reasons for their pain, cramping and other life-interrupting symptoms have been poorly understood. Now, scientists are uncovering a surprising cause that not only validates the suffering but could lead to better treatments.

Joyce Hollman

8 good reasons to get up out of your chair NOW

While many of us are stuck inside and working from home to avoid COVID-19, we’re being exposed to another serious threat: sitting too much. In fact, there are some overlapping threats between the virus and sitting too much that you should address sooner than later. Here are eight very real, research-based reasons to get up more often.

Joyce Hollman

Researchers sniff out a smelly cure for Alzheimer’s

Researchers have found that the “rotten egg” gas the body produces has an upside: It’s capable of preventing the formation of tau protein tangles, the main cause of the cognitive, motor and memory losses of Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 serious but lesser-known dangers of high blood pressure

When you think of high blood pressure, what comes to mind? For most people, answers might include heart disease, stroke, heart attack, or maybe even an aneurysm. They would be right. But they’d also be missing something. That’s because not all of the dangers of out of control blood pressure are so well known.

Carolyn Gretton

How much are those french fries hurting your heart?

A diet loaded with foods high in unhealthy fats can really hurt your heart health. And fried foods are one of the biggest culprits. Researchers are studying just how fried food affects heart disease risk, and so far what they’ve found is disturbing, including the damage a one-cup serving can do…

Carolyn Gretton

Resveratrol fights effects of a high-fat diet and Alzheimer’s

There appears to be a connection between a diet high in saturated fat and brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s. As researchers explore this link, they’ve discovered that a particular nutrient may help protect the brain in those consuming high-fat diets…

Dr. Mariza Snyder

The connection between declining hormones and depression

You may be asking yourself, “How did I get here? Why do I feel so bad?” If you’re between the ages of 35-50 then your hormones are most likely to blame. Your reproductive hormones are fluctuating, and ultimately beginning to or finishing their decline to menopause. It can be a difficult time. But it doesn’t have to be.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 ways to avoid food industry tricks that make you eat more

Have you ever tried to order just one small fast food item but end up with a whole meal with enough calories for three days? Restaurants know all about the power of ‘food cues’ to get you to spend and eat more, leaving you to pay the price with your wallet and your waistline.

Craig Cooper

Why do men cheat?

Cheating. It’s just not OK. Some men do it… but why? Is it all about an insatiable sex drive, boredom, unrealistic expectations or loss of that loving feeling? For men who are over 40, the urge to cheat has become a cliché, but that doesn’t mean it should be acted upon…

Joyce Hollman

The best workout for firm muscles and younger cells

An abundance of research is being done to determine just which type of exercise will give you the biggest returns for your efforts. The results are streaming in, and they all support one form of training that goes to the cellular level to keep cells young…

Jenny Smiechowski

5 ways to improve Parkinson’s symptoms and outcomes

If you or someone you love has Parkinson’s disease, you need to know the difference diet can make. Studies shows that the future looks brighter for people with Parkinson’s who follow a healthy diet. But not just any old healthy diet…

Dr. Mark Wiley

One must-have supplement for better blood sugar, arteries and bones

As you age, or let healthy eating habits fall to the wayside — or worse, both — you’re at much higher risk of bone loss, heart disease and hardening of the arteries. Yet, in many cases these diseases and conditions can be prevented, even reversed, with one super supplement…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The food with 2-in-1 anti-aging power

Who doesn’t wish they could turn back the hands of time? After all, if you could slow the rate at which your body ages, you could hold on to your energy, your muscles, your bones, your mind (your looks!) and even your zest for life a little longer. If that interests you, then you’re going to want to read on.

Jenny Smiechowski

The vitamin that works like dementia ‘repellent’

Vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of a long list of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus and psoriatic arthritis. But just how strong is the link between vitamin D deficiency and dementia?

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

3+ ways to gift yourself less holiday stress

The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests — and no, I’m not talking about friends and family that come in from out of town… I’m talking about stress and anxiety. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, cleaning, baking and entertaining, just to name a few.

Joyce Hollman

MRI: The ‘routine’ procedure that could ruin your life

When a doctor orders an MRI, it’s usually to help detect or rule out something potentially life-threatening, or at the very least, something that could make you seriously ill. But, it’s recently come to light that this rather routine diagnostic test, meant to help you, can have devastating effects…

Jenny Smiechowski

The secret to unleashing a longer life and healthier heart

Studies show that married people live longer, have fewer strokes and heart attacks, and are more likely to survive cancer or major operations. But if you prefer the single life, don’t sign up for a dating website just yet. There is something you can do to boost your odds…

Dr. Michael Cutler

The joint regenerative power of hematopoietic cell transplantation

Stem cell therapy has come to the forefront of health restoration. For people with joint conditions not helped or relieved by standard means, it holds exceptional promise. And a chance to move away from drugs that control illness… and closer to therapies that reverse it.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The weight-loss resistant gut bug foiling your diet

You know some bacteria can be antibiotic resistant. Well, a certain bacterial strain in your gut is weight-loss resistant, and it’s living in the guts of at least 50 percent of us. That explains why diets work for some, but not for others. But there are a few ways to remedy this situation…

Carl Lowe

The reason more women get multiple sclerosis and what to do about it

Recently, the actress Selma Blair came forward announcing she’s doing her best to fight Multiple Sclerosis. MS is an autoimmune disease that targets many more women than men. In a perfect world no one would suffer from it. One doctor, who’s also a patient, is doing her best to make sure that happens.

Margaret Cantwell

The painful truth and questionable use of off-label pain pills

As soon as my friend handed me the list of potential side effects the pharmacist had provided him, printed on a sheet of “caution tape” yellow paper, I could see why he wanted to talk. He asked me if I thought it was worth it, trading the pain for these dangerous risks. I had to say no. And here’s why…

Easy Health Options Staff

3 Ways to activate your cancer-fighting cells [slideshow]

Scientists are harnessing the human body’s own natural cancer-fighting cells in their continuing research to stop cancer. But why wait on them? Here are three natural ways to boost the cancer-killing effectiveness of your own T-cells yourself…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Just 3 cups slam heart disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s risk

Do you drag yourself out of bed in the morning to pour yourself a big cup of coffee? Maybe, you even down multiple cups throughout the day. It’s all good: a review of 200 studies of coffee drinkers will give you a guilt-free pass to pour yourself another cup…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

To lower BMI, BP, lipids and more: Get your breakfast on!

I do my best to eat healthy, not because I’m obsessed with my weight but I have concerns about heart disease. I really thought I was doing everything right until I found out it was actually something I was NOT doing that could be leading me down the path to heart disease.

Joyce Hollman

It’s time to get the lead out of your water—and your body

If you don’t live in Michigan, you may have never given a second thought to the town of Flint before the reports of dangerously high lead levels in drinking water. But what if you live in one of the 3,810 towns with lead levels as much as four times higher than what they found in Flint?

Jenny Smiechowski

Unlocking vitamin D’s autoimmune superpowers

If you want to prevent autoimmune diseases, the science is clear: Get enough vitamin D. But for people living with an autoimmune disease, it’s not as simple as popping a supplement and watching symptoms disappear. That doesn’t mean vitamin D can’t help, but there are a few things to know…

Joyce Hollman

Why you should squat once a day

If you seldom put your hips and knees through their full range of motion, never bending them past 90 degrees, your body gets the wrong message: make less synovial fluid. Consequently, your joints become less lubricated … stiff… arthritic. Here are two ways to fix that…

Jenny Smiechowski

2 surprising ways to heal a wound faster

You can slather on the antibiotic ointment, but if your immune system’s not operating at its best, the healing process is going to be slow and painful. You need to promote wound healing from the inside out. How do you do that? Well, the U.S. Army Institute of Environmental Medicine found this works…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The weight loss secret the biggest losers didn’t know

80% of people who successfully lose at least 10% of their body weight gradually regain it to end up as large or larger than before they went on a diet. Why is regaining the weight you lose so easy? Let me explain, because once you understand, it makes the secret to keeping it off easier!

Dr. Mark Wiley

Avoid the medical error killing as many people as breast cancer

Doctors are professionals operating with a patient’s best interest at heart. But, even armed with a toolbox of knowledge and tests at their beck and call, they are still human. Diagnostic errors are much more common than often reported — many life-threatening. Here’s how to avoid the danger…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why menopausal women are getting asthma

Think you’re safe from asthma because you never had it as a child? Feeling short of breath, coughing or wheezing more? Asthma is influenced by hormones. No wonder menopausal women, going through the biggest hormonal shift of their adult life, are at an increased risk.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The steroid deficiency behind stubborn weight gain

Before you decide to take drastic measures and get prescription weight loss pills that can cause side effects like headaches, dry mouth, constipation, gas and more, you should know there’s a little-known natural steroid you might be missing that could be behind your weight gain.

Jedha Dening

9 foods that fight skin aging

Various components offered by food can affect the structure and integrity of your skin. So if you want to avoid the visible signs of aging, it’s recommended you avoid junk foods and sugar, and focus on eating the healthiest diet you can, starting with these 9 foods…

Jenny Smiechowski

Biweekly yoga gives you a bigger brain

If you do yoga, you may have noticed that yoga changes your thoughts, mood and emotions for the better. So it’s got to be doing something inside that noggin of yours, right? Well, it absolutely is. It’s actually altering the physical structure of your brain…

Jenny Smiechowski

The surprising bacteria fueling gut disorders

Need a little incentive to keep getting those twice-yearly teeth cleanings? Well how about this… if you get too lax on your oral hygiene, your mouth could become a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria that can quickly ruin your health…

Dr. Mark Wiley

The mind hack that makes things better

The smell of pie in the oven can trigger strong feelings from another time and place… proof of the mind’s ability to associate and affect a reaction from a cue. Now, imagine a cue that stops your arthritis pain, a migraine attack or self-defeating thoughts. Here’s how to do it…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Top tips for cold weather health

Winter can be rough… it’s cold and damp, people are regularly coming down with viruses, and we often don’t feel like we’re at our best. That’s why a little extra effort to boost your immune system and your mood could go a long way in helping you survive it. Here are a few tips from Dr. Eliaz…

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