Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The 3-egg-a-day diet that improved insulin, cholesterol and weight loss

Not all fat is created equal. In fact, some fat deposits, like the ones around your abdomen, can be far more dangerous to your health than the fat padding your hips and thighs. This abdomen fat skyrockets your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Now, new research has found a way to lose that fat in just eight weeks without starvation or exercise.

Joyce Hollman

The spice that soothes osteoarthritis pain better and safer than NSAIDs

Turmeric is a spice used in curry. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat any number of conditions. Recent research confirms that it’s also a good substitute for dangerous NSAIDs if you suffer from the knee pain of osteoarthritis.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why too much black licorice is bad for your blood pressure and heart

A 54-year-old man in Massachusetts died after his heart stopped suddenly. The cause? Eating too much black licorice over the course of a few weeks. How could overindulging in candy cause someone’s heart to stop? Well, it turns out black licorice contains a compound that can trigger high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and put your life in serious jeopardy…

Carolyn Gretton

The Chinese herb in the fight against colorectal cancer

Having cancer is scary. But the word “chemotherapy” can be just as worrisome for different reasons, including dreadful side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight loss, fatigue, anemia and infection. Perhaps the worst, though, is when cancer becomes resistant to chemo. What then? Well, research shows a Chinese herb is proving a potent helper in just this situation…

Jenny Smiechowski

This ‘sunshine spice’ could help you feel less depressed this winter

For many, seasonal affective disorder can soon hit hard. The fatigue, sadness, hopelessness and social withdrawal (compounded this year by COVID-19) can make a long winter feel even longer. But if you’re looking for a safe, scientifically-backed way to fend off depression, this fragrant herb can be a big help…

Joyce Hollman

How to sleep your way to better weight loss

Did you know that how you sleep can keep you from losing weight? Research shows that sleep directly impacts your appetite hormones and your ability to say no to fattening snacks. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to counteract this effect…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Diabetics face serious blood pressure risk if breaking the ‘one drink’ rule

If you’re living with diabetes, you already know how important it is to embrace a healthy lifestyle. But there’s one more change you might need to make to be sure you don’t add high blood pressure to your list of diagnoses…

Jenny Smiechowski

Turning down the thermostat may be just as good for you as cutting calories

A calorie restricted diet isn’t easy. But they can lower blood pressure and inflammation, balance cholesterol, reduce insulin resistance and promote a longer lifespan. Why is cutting calories so good for you? That’s the million-dollar question, but it may not be the only way to get these benefit.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The weird effect a popular over-the-counter pain reliever has on risk perception

You probably consider yourself to be level-headed, right? Sure, you like to be adventurous, but you draw the line at risky behavior because it’s the smart thing to do. But if you’re among the 1 in 4 who turns to a popular OTC pain reliever for minor aches and pains, you’re unknowingly putting something in your body that can muddy your perception of risk…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why getting a cold could keep you from getting the flu

The common cold is far from dangerous, but it still makes you miserable by walloping you with a cough, a headache, congestion, a low-grade fever and that awful fatigued feeling you get when you’re sick. But the next time you’re laid up with a serious cold, you have a big bright side to think about… colds may be able to prevent the more dangerous flu virus from infecting your airways…

Carolyn Gretton

The good news thick thighs could reveal about your blood pressure

It’s been drilled into our heads for decades that fat is bad. With obesity comes a higher risk of all kinds of disorders, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers. But recent research has found that fat may not always be a harbinger of a health problem on the horizon. In fact, if you’ve got thick thighs, you may breathe a sigh of relief…

Joyce Hollman

How not to get breast cancer from your salad

In 1972, the United States banned the use of the pesticide DDT. But other endocrine-disrupting pesticides have taken its place and are still in use. Luckily, there are ways to protect yourself from exposure to these endocrine-disrupting chemicals that cause breast cancer.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Eat more blueberries to preserve and repair your muscles

Reduced muscle mass can lead to a lack of mobility, lower quality of life and even steal your independence. Now though, there’s a new weapon in your arsenal that could make all the difference — a simple and delicious way to kick your muscle strength into gear by stimulating the production of special cells in your body that boost muscle growth and repair…

Jenny Smiechowski

Steroids for asthma may lower inflammation but carry chronic side-effects

If you don’t have asthma, you probably know someone who does and know they keep an inhaler close by. Oral steroids can be part of asthma management, too, since inflammation is a troublesome component of the condition. But experts fear these medications are being overprescribed and are leading to some very serious side effects…

Joyce Hollman

Drugs that treat colds, bladder leaks, Parkinson’s and more increase Alzheimer’s risk

Anticholinergics, also called antispasmodics, treat everything from Parkinson’s to COPD and asthma to irritable bowel syndrome. Some are even found in over-the-counter allergy medications. But at least three recent studies point to a strong connection between anticholinergic use and cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s.

Joyce Hollman

What’s the danger in being a ‘social’ smoker?

If you’re a “social smoker,” you may think your health risk from lung cancer and other tobacco-related diseases is much smaller than if you smoke a pack a day. But is that true?

Jenny Smiechowski

Why a thyroid problem could be fueling your anxiety

A lot of anxiety sufferers find ways to improve their symptoms, but they never quite slay their inner anxiety demon completely. If you can relate to this struggle, you need to know that the root of all those sleepless nights, panic attacks and anxious sweats may be your thyroid.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Authoritative evidence supports increasing omega-3s for cardio protection

For over a decade, experts have waffled about whether omega-3 intake can help you stay heart healthy. Now, the largest meta-analysis to date has found conclusive proof that whatever amount you might get through diet, you should consider supplementing for ample cardioprotection…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why sleep may be the strongest predictor and deterrent to Alzheimer’s

Have you ever wondered if you’re going to end up with Alzheimer’s and when? The truth is that while there is genetic testing for the disease, having or not having the gene won’t answer those questions. But there is another indicator that Alzheimer’s is likely in your future…. one that you can turn around.

Jenny Smiechowski

The best therapy for reducing disease-causing inflammation

Everyone is trying to curb chronic inflammation nowadays. That’s because science has clearly identified it as a major contributor to disease and pain. Popular approaches to dousing it include anti-inflammatory diets and drugs. But a kind of mental therapy can significantly slash your levels — no diet changes or drugs needed!

Jenny Smiechowski

The most important number on your vitamin D test

Based on all the latest research, your vitamin D levels may be a window into your future. They can determine your risk for conditions like heart disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes. The free, circulating vitamin D levels in your blood may be the best indicator of whether your vitamin D levels are in the danger zone.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How to keep pain and the thoughts that worsen it from cramping your style

When you’re living with chronic pain, it’s easy to find yourself giving up activities that you love. But that decrease in your get-up-and-go could actually be due less to the pain itself and more about how you think and feel about your pain. Here’s what you need to know about the pain catastrophizing trap and how to escape it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The biggest risk factor for diabetes isn’t your genetics

Diabetes tends to run in families. In fact, your doctor will tell you that if your mom, dad or grandparents have blood sugar problems, you’re at higher risk. But, does that mean your fate is sealed? The answer is no. There’s a completely changeable factor that plays a much bigger role in whether or not you end up with diabetes.

Jenny Smiechowski

6 simple ways to keep kidney disease from striking you

Chronic kidney disease is surprisingly common. People living with the disease have damaged kidneys that are unable to filter out bodily wastes and fluids efficiently. This leaves harmful levels of wastes circulating in the body, which can damage other organs (like your heart and brain). So, how can you keep your kidneys safe and healthy? Follow these six lifestyle changes…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why honeybee venom has potential in the fight against breast cancer

Have you ever heard of honeybee venom therapy? It’s the use of honeybee venom for medicinal purposes (either through injections or intentional bee stings). A lot of people think it’s just a new age health practice, but it’s been used for over 5,000 years to treat a variety of conditions ranging from gout to chronic pain to multiple sclerosis. Fighting breast cancer may soon be added to that list…

Joyce Hollman

Men should lose the ‘spare tire’ to lose risk for prostate cancer

Carrying excess fat around the midsection raises your risk of heart disease, diabetes, metabolic disturbances, dementia and, in women, breast cancer. Now, at least two recent studies have connected visceral fat with prostate cancer. Not just prostate cancer, but the advanced kind that normally proves fatal.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why a low-carb, high-fat diet could keep you safe from glaucoma

There are a lot of eye problems you can fall victim to as you get older. But perhaps the most concerning is glaucoma. It’s one of the few that can cause permanent and complete blindness. On the bright side, it’s possible to reduce your odds of ever developing the disease in the first place. One of the most effective ways is a popular diet…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Foods that shorten your telomeres and trigger aging

While the term processed food is one most of us have heard, the concept of ultra-processed food is a litter trickier. These zero nutrition foods have been linked to everything from diabetes and high blood pressure to cancer. And a recent study has more bad news. they speed up your biological aging…

Jenny Smiechowski

How day sleeping clogs your brain and increases risk for brain disorders

The human body was designed to sleep during the night and stay awake during the day. Mixing that up leads to problems. In fact, research shows there may be certain critical functions that your body will only perform during a nighttime sleep session… like clearing all the dementia-causing wastes out of your brain.

Coach Todd, MMT, MPA

Follow these 4 steps to banish neck pain and tension for good

Holding strange neck positions over and over again, only to find little to no lasting relief? We’ve all been there, but now, we finally know why… and what is not going to help, like stretching. If you really want to get the root of your neck problem, and experience lasting relief, give this a try…

Jenny Smiechowski

The scary short-term steroid sepsis connection

You’ve probably been prescribed short-term steroids for an illness that won’t kill you, like back pain, allergies or respiratory tract infections. But the complications of this medication can increase your risk for three dangerous conditions, and two can kill you.

Jedha Dening

To avoid Alzheimer’s eat more fruit… or veggies?

While it is important to eat both fruit and vegetables, it turns out that with each additional 3.5-ounce daily serving of one of these food groups, your risk of dementia continues to decrease…

Debra Atkinson

Why strength matters most to women 50+

Strength training can lengthen your life. In fact, in one study, people who strength trained outlived other people who did just about every other exercise under the sun but strength training. So there is definitely something special about boosting your strength…

Dr. Michael Cutler

13+ natural ways to ease leg cramps

Leg cramps, no matter the cause, are painful, annoying and sleep-disturbing. You can decrease your chances of experiencing leg cramps by modifying physical activity, but if you find yourself writhing in “Charley horse agony” often, you might need to dig deeper…

Jenny Smiechowski

Send calories and high blood sugar down the drain

If you only fill up your bathtub when you’re feeling extra stressed, you may be missing out on some of bathing’s best benefits. There’s something about a hot soak that sends high blood sugar and calories down the drain…

Easy Health Options Staff

5 ways to naturally curb your appetite (slideshow)

Side effects for appetite suppressants include dry mouth, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, and psychological or physical dependence. There’s got to be a better way, right?

Dr. Mark Wiley

Try this for a quick dose of energy and vitality

Qigong is an ancient technique that helps the body restore itself by cleaning, de-stressing, relaxing and energizing through a series of postures, movements and breathing techniques. Try these sitting or standing…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

What your hair tells you about your heart disease risk

Gray hair is an inevitable part of the aging process. But there’s something you should know about going gray… It affects more than just your appearance. It could be a sign your heart is in danger…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 Surprising triggers that trick you into overeating

There are four sneaky causes behind the excess calories many of us consume every day that make it hard to lose those extra pounds. If you ignore these triggers, your weight loss plans are doomed to failure…

Jedha Dening

4 reasons alcohol makes you feel worse as you age

Friends, fun, a few drinks… what’s the harm? Recovery, that’s what. It’s not your imagination that it takes you longer — up to four days — to recover from just one big night out. And it gets worse…

Craig Cooper

The greatest spice for men’s health

Turmeric, and its well-known active ingredient curcumin, has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and has been studied for a wide variety of healing properties, most of which greatly benefit men’s health. Here are a few of them…

Jenny Smiechowski

Should you nuke your food for more nutrients?

Mounting evidence shows that microwaving may help food and beverages retain nutrients and beneficial compounds better than other heating methods. Which means microwaving might not deserve such a bad rap, after all…

Debra Atkinson

How stretching keeps your brain and body sharp

You may regularly stretch your body, but are you stretching your brain? If not, you’re only working half of the equation that could keep you strong, sharp and independent. Here’s how to do both in just 10 minutes…

Dr. Mark Wiley

What your tongue shows about your health

The tongue is an amazing body part. It helps you speak, eat and keeps your mouth and lips moist. But did you know your tongue could reveal surprising secrets about you, from anemia, to autoimmune diseases, to food allergies and more…

Jedha Dening

The metabolism-boosting, heart-protective oil

Like most food groups, not all saturated fats are the same. Coconut oil consists predominantly of a fatty acid known as lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid with some pretty powerful benefits for your health…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Surviving allergy season 101

Allergies can be a sign of more serious long-term conditions such as a poorly functioning immune system or even digestive problems. In other words, there’s actually no such thing as just an allergy…

Jedha Dening

Is the secret to stopping type 1 diabetes in your gut?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body kills insulin-producing beta cells. One thing has always been made abundantly clear: diet and lifestyle have no influence whatsoever on stopping it, unlike type 2 diabetes. That is, until now…

Jenny Smiechowski

Miracle mineral slashes bone fracture risk by 44 percent

One of the leading causes of disability and poor health in adults is completely preventable. As you get older, your risk of bone fractures goes up because your bones don’t retain calcium and other minerals as well. But there’s a simple answer…

Debra Atkinson

7 simple tips to feel, look and age better

Slowing the aging process is no longer considered a fruitless search for a mythical “fountain of youth.” Research has revealed that if there truly is a way to slow the hands of time, it means getting up, moving and getting physical. These 7 tips will get you going so you can look and feel younger longer…

Dr. Michael Cutler

What’s causing those annoying leg cramps?

What causes leg cramps? All of us know by experience what a leg cramp is — and how much they can hurt. Especially a Charley horse in the middle of the night…

Jedha Dening

6 nutraceuticals to combat your digestive troubles

Whether it’s constipation or more troublesome and serious conditions such as gastric ulceration, inflammatory bowel disease, and even colorectal cancer — many of us will struggle with gastrointestinal illnesses (GI) at some point in our lifetime.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The top 3 reasons to ditch your toothpaste

Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. See your dentist for a checkup every six months and make sure your toothpaste has enough fluoride to prevent cavities. We’ve all heard it. We’ve probably all believed it. Yet, your toothpaste could be doing you more harm than good.

Easy Health Options Staff

10 signs of a sick liver [infographic]

Your liver helps fight infections and cleans your blood. It also helps digest food and stores energy for when you need it. This is why a poor-functioning liver impacts a frightening number of other organs. Here are 10 signs that your liver may be in need of some extra care.

Dr. Mark Wiley

Say goodbye to tension in 5 quick steps

I’m always on the lookout for unique ways to relax. I’ve tried and had success with herbs, teas, and music when I need to take the tension down a few notches. If you’re having a bad day and need to reset yourself in a matter of minutes, this does the trick…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Your heart called and wants dairy back

Does milk really do a body good? Well, that depends. Some people will tell you cutting out dairy is the single best thing you can do for your health. You might lose weight, get clearer skin… maybe have more energy. But it’s really not that cut and dry…

Jedha Dening

Are your meds blocking your brain’s feel-good chemicals?

We all get the blues. They tend to accompany stress, pain or injury, dramatic or traumatic life events… even seasonal changes. But there are substances in your brain that can make you feel better, unless you take a medicine that works against your brain…

Jenny Smiechowski

Thin ‘healthy’ women face breast cancer double threat

You’ve been told time and time again that if you want to avoid breast cancer, you should maintain a healthy body weight. And it seems like logical advice. But what if the connection between excess pounds and breast cancer isn’t that clear-cut, after all? Well, that may be the case…

Craig Cooper

Cold therapy benefits for men’s health

My kind of “chilling out” means daily and regular cold therapy, meaning I purposefully place my body in a cool to cold environment. Once I explain all the health benefits you may be reaching for the ice cubes, too.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why caffeine spells trouble for your thyroid

Do you enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning? Many of us do… but the caffeine could be messing with the thyroid’s delicate hormone balance. Here’s what you need to know about when and how much you should be having…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The natural germ killer that can replace antibacterial soap

Triclosan, the main ingredient found in many antibacterial soaps was finally banned by the FDA. But as antibacterial products begin slowly disappearing from store shelves, what are your choices for keeping a clean and germ-free body?

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