Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

Hard physical labor makes dementia more likely

A new study shows that people doing hard physical work have a higher risk of developing dementia than those doing sedentary work — 55 percent higher. Why? There’s a difference between hard labor and exercise. One of them hurts the blood supply to the brain and the other boosts it…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The heart disease triggers that start as menopause symptoms

It’s time to stop thinking of menopause as something perfectly normal. While the menopause symptoms women experience may seem annoying, the truth is they can actually be a harbinger of things to come for your heart. So, what turns a menopause symptom into a heart disease trigger? The number of them you might suffer carries more weight, even if they’re moderate to severe…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

Reduce depression and anxiety with exercise

2020 has been a very unpredictable year, and levels of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. Even the thought of how to shake it seems like an insurmountable task. But what if all it took was just one thing… one step… one new habit to ditch what’s bringing your down and feel like your old self again? Not to mention the added benefits…

Joyce Hollman

Mom’s high vitamin D levels linked to children’s IQ

Vitamin D builds strong bones and teeth and prevents osteoporosis. It also helps control the overactive immune response. Now, research has shown that a lack of vitamin D in pregnant women could predict future cognitive deficits for their unborn children.

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

3 ways chili peppers could help you live longer and healthier

Why do some people gravitate toward chili peppers and enjoy the burn while others can’t stand it? Perhaps they sense something that more and more research is revealing: that chili peppers may help you live longer. So, if you’re not traditionally a fan of spicy foods, it may be time to change your ways…

Carolyn Gretton

The medical procedure that increases testicular cancer risk

Men need to be watchful for any signs of testicular cancer, especially if they are at higher risk for the disease because of age, race, family history or medical condition. Recently, a study turned up another risk factor for testicular cancer — a medical procedure that can be difficult to avoid but could raise the risk almost 60 percent…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

If you’re living with IBD, here’s the blood clot risk you need to know about

When you live with inflammatory bowel disease, you have a lot to watch out for. There’s the chronic inflammation of your digestive tract, the weight loss and diarrhea and the increased risk of colon cancer. But IBD also triples the risk of a life-threatening blood clot. For 1 in 7 IBD patients, it could be even higher…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

How toxins in your home could give your family diabetes

The Endocrine Society has spent over 14 years researching our exposure to environmental toxins that are present in the air, water, soil and our homes. They interfere, imitate or alter pathways of hormones in the body that lead to disease. And now there’s proof that our exposure can lead to diabetes that we can pass onto our children.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What, not when, you eat still matters most for healthy weight loss

You’ve probably heard that if you want to lose weight, you should eat your biggest meals early in the day. The theory is you drop weight faster by taking in most of the calories you plan to eat in a day several hours before bedtime (when your metabolism naturally slows). The idea of not worrying over what to eat so much as when seemed easy enough. But, we’re learning it may have sounded too good to be true…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

4 powerful ways to naturally control blood pressure

While it’s normal and healthy for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day, when your blood pressure stays elevated, it can lead to many health problems. Many people require medications to control their blood pressure. However, there are several things you can do that will help to make it easier to manage your readings…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How your immune system and inflammation can lead to heart attack

It’s been long understood that when you have a heart attack, it’s because somehow blood flow to your heart has become cut off, either due to a blockage or a narrowing of your coronary arteries. Blood clots can detach and float off to block those arteries. But finding immune cells are the mechanism behind those clots came as a surprise to researchers recently…

Joyce Hollman

New development in stroke treatment gave me my life back

More than a year ago now, I experienced a life-changing event that wreaked havoc with my balance, my ability to swallow liquids and my memory. I got hlep in that “golden hour,” and I know many do not. But a new treatment may make that possible for more stroke sufferers.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Largest randomized double-blind study shows why vitamin D and omega-3s matter

The number of people in the U.S. over the age of 65 has grown by over a third in the past decade alone. And with the increase in life expectancy, that means we need to make changes now to stay healthier later. The largest randomized double-blind study on aging has some advice with that in mind: two supplements that may go further for you than your retirement account…

Carolyn Gretton

The reason meat leads to cancer? Your body builds antibodies against it

Experts have long believed diet can influence the development of cancer, but data showing exactly why has been scarce. However, a new study has found why meat leads to cancer. It comes down to a meat molecule we build antibodies against — defining a molecular connection between cancer and a diet of animal-based products…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

What anyone under 45 should know about stroke

Stroke can occur unexpectedly and at any age. In fact, stroke is on the rise among younger adults under the age of 45, and it turns out many don’t know the signs that could save a life or how to keep from becoming a victim of stroke in the first place. Time for Stroke 101…

Joyce Hollman

Why showering less is a good idea, even during a pandemic

Even in these strange pandemic times, there’s a real downside to washing your body every day. So, if sheltering in place has changed your hygiene habits, don’t worry. Experts are telling us that what we’re really doing in our daily shower is throwing our microbiome out of balance, and here’s why that is not a good thing…

Carolyn Gretton

The hormone missing from a low-fat diet that could treat Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is like a thief stealing a person’s memories and personality. No treatment exists that can halt its progression, but researchers are coming closer to finding compounds that can unravel the complex mechanisms behind the onset of Alzheimer’s. The latest? A hormone that will make you want to ditch your low-fat diet.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to time your exercise to lower your risk for cancer

Exercising is one of the best things you can do for your health. But what if I told you that timing your workouts could bring even bigger benefits — at least when it comes to cancer prevention? According to a brand-new study, just changing the time of day you work out could dramatically lower your risk of breast and prostate cancer.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why wild olives might provide the healthiest oil yet

We’ve all heard that olive oil is one of the healthiest choices we can make in our diet. After all, the oil is known for lowering bad cholesterol and fighting heart disease, inflammation and cancer. And now, thanks to a new study, things just got even better with a new olive oil option made from ancient trees.

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

What your ear wax could reveal about your stress levels

Cortisol, which is made in the adrenal glands, is commonly known as the stress hormone. It’s crucial for helping your body deal with stressful situations. But too much cortisol for prolonged periods can lead to all sorts of health problems including high blood pressure, fatigue and type 2 diabetes. Here’s what to watch for, how to balance it and an interesting way to measure it.

Carolyn Gretton

A mushroom-derived compound that may treat depression like magic

Depression rates are spiking as the pandemic drags on, and although there are plenty of medications to treat it, they’re not always effective and can come with unpleasant side effects. To broaden the treatment options, researchers are taking a look at a mushroom with a less-than-savory reputation…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

How to DASH your risk for high BP, cholesterol, heart disease and more

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors or symptoms occurring together which increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. If you only have one of these conditions, it doesn’t mean you have metabolic syndrome — but if you have three or more of the following risk factors, then you could be on a fast track to serious trouble…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Root bacteria may be ginseng’s healing secret and answer to Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a perplexing disease, but we do know more about it than ever before. Where conventional medicine has fallen short, research into natural solutions is pushing the envelope in Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment, most recently with the discovery of compounds wrapped around the roots of the ginseng plant that may work against amyloid plaques and tau aggregates.

Joyce Hollman

Rheumatoid arthritis and cancer: a tangled web

Rheumatoid arthritis and cancer often go hand in hand, but they present conflicts in terms of treatment. RA drugs suppress the immune system, while cancer drugs work to make the immune response stronger. Some cancer drugs make RA worse, and some RA drugs may cause cancer. It’s a tangled web to maneuver to know what’s best for you.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Avoid stroke and heart attack by avoiding these foods

Each year, heart disease and stroke kill more people in the U.S. than all cancers, lower respiratory diseases and cases of influenza and pneumonia combined. But you don’t have to become a statistic. Thanks to a new study, there’s now an easy cheat sheet so that you can know what foods to avoid to keep your heart healthy.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

45 is the new 50 when it comes to colon cancer

If there’s one medical procedure that’s universally dreaded and put off for as long as possible, it would have to be the routine colonoscopy. But considering the statistics on colon cancer, it’s the one procedure we should all be clamoring to get. Well, you may get your turn sooner than you expected…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to save your muscles without moving

Whether you’ve been injured and stuck in a cast, imobilized due to surgery or stroke or maybe you just have a bad shoulder or knee, being immobile leads to muscle wastage that steals strength that’s hard to get back. But don’t let being sidelined prevent you from exercising the limbs you can move. New research shows the benefits can be transferred to the ones you’re not even moving!

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why ‘normal’ blood pressure readings set you up for a false sense of security

Healthy blood pressure equals a healthy heart. Or so we’ve been told. But, according to recent research findings, relying on normal blood pressure as a sign that a heart attack or stroke is not in your future has painted a pretty picture that’s been revealed to be nothing but a facade — a false sense of security that could put you in deadly danger.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Eat takeout? You’re ingesting up to 10,000 plastic particles yearly

A new study has some sobering information for those of us who’ve made a regular habit of it eating takeout. Along with your favorite foods and a hefty side of convenience, those takeout containers carry a mega dose of plastic that’s finding its way into your meals. Here’s how, why you should be concerned and how to reduce the harm…

Joyce Hollman

The secret cancer weapon in oats, barley and mushrooms

The human body has two different immune systems with different roles. But did you know that one of those systems can be trained to seek out and destroy cancer? That’s exactly what immunotherapy is all about and why researchers are excited about a nutrient found in certain foods that could double our immune power against cancer.

Craig Cooper

My top 3 tips for travel fitness

How can you travel successfully without losing all you’ve worked so hard to achieve? There are different strokes for different folks, but because I travel a lot, I’ve come up with a system that works great for me. I think it might work for you too…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Feeling fat, foggy and forgetful? Drink this

Fat, foggy and forgetful. It’s safe to say that a lot of us feel this way, especially when we hit middle age. And, while many people, even doctors, write it off as just a part of aging, that’s not the case…

Jenny Smiechowski

What’s so special about water from copper mugs?

You may have heard a thing or two about the health benefits of copper mugs… like storing water in copper containers helps purify bacteria, while also infusing the water with trace amounts of copper that can benefit your health. But here’s the thing…

Dr. Mark Wiley

Loneliness kills like a 15 cancer stick-a-day habit

Loneliness and isolation is a horrible place to be, and not just in your mind. New research suggests that the effects of loneliness and social isolation are more detrimental to your health and wellness than smoking and obesity…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to use peppermint oil to stop hair loss

Whatever the reason, hair loss affects millions of people around the world. And while some believe it’s just a fact of life, there is an all-natural solution that can help you stop hair loss, maintain a full head of hair for life and feel more confident…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Two DNA hacks to improve your bad genes

When you’re trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, you often focus on things like building muscles and maintaining a healthy weight. But there’s something very important we often overlook — frankly, because we don’t realize our actions can have much effect on it. It’s the tiniest but most essential part of what makes you tick…

Jenny Smiechowski

Keep things dark to lighten your breast cancer risk

Maybe you’re used to light from street lamps streaming into your bedroom window every night… Or bright lights beaming down on you from car dealerships, grocery stores and big box retailers’ parking lots as you go for an evening drive. But there’s a dark side to living somewhere with a lot of artificial outdoor light…

Jenny Smiechowski

Beware of this not-so-sweet side effect of coffee

You’ve been hearing a lot about the health benefits of coffee lately — like that it can protect your neurological health, ward off liver cancer and help you live a longer life. But there’s an unintended side effect of drinking coffee that you may not have noticed even though it’s definitely happened to you…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

8 safe and sane steps to a flatter belly

Are you battling belly bulge? Is that spare tire around your middle expanding? Counting calories alone is not enough to get the flat stomach you’ve always wanted. It’s also about what you eat and smart supplementing. With that said, here are the eight steps to a flatter stomach you can start taking today…

Carl Lowe

6 head-to-toe benefits of one simple action

One simple activity can exert a tremendous influence over your health. Scientific research proves the health-power of this activity, but most people don’t seem to understand how much it can improve their lives.

Margaret Cantwell

How helping Texas can make you happier and healthier

Doesn’t your heart just ache for the people of Houston? Like me, you probably want to help. Fortunately, there are many ways you can. You may already know that, but here’s something I bet you didn’t: When you help someone, that act of generosity is returned to you in a scientifically proven and healthy way…

Easy Health Options Staff

How to grill up less cancer [slideshow]

Cooking meat at high temperatures, like on a grill, produces the same carcinogens found in cigarette smoke and car exhaust, and they’re linked to colorectal cancer. Want to reduce your risk? Follow these tips on how to grill your red meat for a safe and tasty cookout…

Dr. Mark Wiley

4 ways to strengthen your legs and your independence

Do you find yourself sitting more and more and moving less and less? Well, if you do, I hope this will be a wake-up call… According to experts, the single best predictor of whether or not you will end up in a nursing home is your leg strength. If you stop moving, the weakness sets in…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

6 ways to beat the habit that ages you 8 years

A few hours of T.V. time in the evenings, a little computer time here and there, or maybe going to see a movie or dinner with family or friends. These are all things you probably enjoy, but they have one dangerous thing in common…

Jenny Smiechowski

The secret to a bigger brain is on the dance floor

Aerobic exercise not only prevents the brain shrinkage and cognitive decline associated with aging, it reverses it. But there’s one aerobic activity that has bonus brain benefits: It’s time to overcome any hesitations you have about dancing and head to the dance floor…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Caffeine’s role as pain-reliever moves to the operating room

Do you have a surgery coming up? Are you dreading the pain that goes along with it and feeling anxious about how you will deal with it? While your doctor will most likely send you home with a narcotic pain medication, you might want to try an old-fashioned cup of coffee…

Craig Cooper

9 blood sugar strategies I like better than metformin

I took metformin for a week — and felt like I’d been pummeled with a sledgehammer. The research I did indicated that metformin could truly be a wonder drug that could impact my disease risk and signs of aging. So I gave it a go. But I found something better…

Jedha Dening

3 reasons to eat ‘red’ for a healthy heart

There’s something about the color red that fires up the belly. But more than stimulating your appetite, the red happens to have several potent heart-healthy benefits. And it’s all due to the pigment that gives pink and red-colored fruits and veggies their irresistible hue…

Dr. Mark Wiley

Disease-free eating made easy

The single biggest factor that impacts your health is what you put in your body… High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type II diabetes and chronic disease and pain are all associated with a poor diet. All you have to do is focus on “eating clean.” But what does that really mean…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How stress flips your body’s disease switch

In our modern world, we treat living with stress as a normal phenomenon. But stress can lead to everything from digestive issues to heart problems. New research is once again demonstrating that living with chronic stress kills you… if you let it.

Jedha Dening

Is your anticancer antioxidant all it’s chalked-up to be?

When your antioxidant defenses are low, your body can’t repair the cellular damage caused by free radicals. And if not corrected, normal healthy cells can switch to cancer cells. Antioxidant supplements to help combat these effects…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

The citrus pith-PSA connection to your prostate

Elevated PSA, in addition to indicating possible prostate cancer, can also result from chronic inflammation and infection. But a compound extracted from the pith of citrus fruit peels show promise for these conditions and for people who are interested in strategies for healthy aging…

Jenny Smiechowski

This secret to stronger willpower is just nuts

Eating healthy is hard, especially when you’re dealing with constant cravings for chips, cookies, cheeseburgers or whatever your particular vice is. Luckily, there’s an easy hack that can help you handle incessant hunger and unhealthy food cravings with willpower and grace…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 foods (plus supplements) that bring your thyroid back to life

More than 60 percent of adults with suboptimal thyroid function don’t have symptoms, at least not ones that they recognize, and testing is leaving them in the dark. So, what are the symptoms of low thyroid levels? In addition to unexplained weight gain, you can experience dry skin, thinning hair, anxiety, depression and even brain fog. If that sounds like you, it’s time to bring your thyroid back to life.

Jedha Dening

Is your gluten-free diet destroying your health?

If you have celiac disease, it’s a given that you have to eat a gluten-free diet. Or, it may be that you’ve flicked the gluten-free switch with the goal of increasing weight loss or improving your health. Regardless, it’s a common assumption that a gluten-free diet is healthy, but…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why some foods cause cancer and some don’t

By now, you know that your diet influences your cancer risk. In fact, scientists believe that 30 percent of all cancers could be prevented through proper nutrition. The question is, what naughty nutritional habits are putting you in peril?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 Steps to fix your frozen shoulder naturally

Do you have pain and stiffness in your shoulder joint that makes it hard or impossible to exercise, keeps you awake at night and stops you from enjoying your normal day-to-day activities? If so, you could be one of the many Americans who suffer from frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis.

Jenny Smiechowski

The fruity way to fight inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases are more than just uncomfortable. They’re downright dangerous. But what if you could knock out your symptoms and one of the scariest complications of these diseases simply and simultaneously? Well, you can…

Margaret Cantwell

The worst drug side effect of all

Painful chronic conditions that become more common with age, such as arthritis, cancers and neurological diseases to name a few, are among the top reasons your doctor may prescribe a certain medication that just might carry the worst of side effects…

Jenny Smiechowski

3 reasons your arthritis risk is higher than grandma’s was [slideshow]

People today are more than twice as likely to develop osteoarthritis than people before World War II. That means something in our modern lifestyle is making us more arthritic. You may guess it’s because people are living longer. You’d be wrong…

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