Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Jenny Smiechowski

What you should know about the alarmingly common heart complications from a flu infection

Researchers have known for a while that a case of the flu is hard on your heart. In fact, serious heart complications following recovery, even fatal heart attack, can occur. But until recently, they haven’t known exactly how prevalent the danger could be…

Jenny Smiechowski

What women with diabetes should know about their coronary calcium risk

Whether you’re a man or a woman, there’s one factor that automatically increases your heart disease risk — diabetes. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people without it. And according to the latest research, if you’re a woman with diabetes, there’s one medical test you should get to gauge your risk of having a severe heart attack…

Joyce Hollman

7+ lifestyle factors that protect your heart and your vision

New research shows that an overall heart-healthy lifestyle that includes seven specific behaviors can not only save your heart, but it can also prevent the eye diseases that can steal your vision. Simple changes to your diet and lifestyle can protect both your heart and your eyes.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The prescription pain pills your body builds antibodies to

Low back pain is not only the leading cause of chronic pain and disability in adults, but it also tops the chart when it comes to opioid prescriptions. For many reasons, treatment with opioids is far from the best approach. Now there’s one more reason to find a better solution for pain management: opioid antibodies created by your own immune system.

Carolyn Gretton

Why colon cancer is on the rise in young people and how to curb it

Many were shocked when colon cancer claimed the life of 43-year-old Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman after a four-year battle. It’s not completely clear why the rate of colon cancer is increasing in those under 50, but it is clear that the age for screening needs to be lowered. But until that happens, it’s important to be aware of factors that put you in a high-risk group…

Jenny Smiechowski

Antibiotics double your risk of inflammatory bowel disease

Research shows that about 1 in 10 people deal with negative effects after taking antibiotics. This could include anything from chronic diarrhea to the sudden appearance of allergies to issues with blood sugar. But of all the potential impacts antibiotics can have on your health, there’s one that’s starting to appear more common — and more serious — than all the others…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

People who eat pasta have healthier diets and weight

If you’re a pasta lover, I’ve got good news! Despite the bad rap pasta dishes have gotten, new research is revealing that it can be part of a healthy diet and could also help you lose weight and keep your waist trim. But you don’t get the all-clear to slather it with thick, creamy Alfredo sauce…

Joyce Hollman

Plaque similarities point to Alzheimer’s/diabetes connection

Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease often go hand in hand. The evidence for this is becoming stronger. Recently, electron microscopy has enabled scientists to see that amyloid strands that appear in diabetics bear a strong resemblance to the ones that are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Cruciferous vegetables shown best at fighting calcium buildup

Did you know that most heart attacks and strokes don’t start with your heart but with a buildup of fat and calcium in your blood vessels? And while there are numerous ways to keep your blood vessels healthy, they often take willpower, hard work and dedication. But just eating the right vegetables can lower risks by 46 percent.

Jenny Smiechowski

Cinnamon and turmeric’s brain-boosting clout keeps stacking up

Despite the fact that cognitive decline is considered a normal part of aging, you’re not doomed to a future filled with “senior” moments. There are ways to slow (or even reverse) the impact aging has on your brain. In fact, science says potent doses of two spices could keep your cognitive skills sharp as a cactus needle…

Carolyn Gretton

Gut bacteria linked to high blood pressure and more than 2 dozen other diseases

There are trillions of bacteria, both good and not-so-good, colonizing your gut. Now, researchers have uncovered the staggering extent to which those bacteria impact your health. It turns out bacteria are directly tied to specific diseases. Time to get serious about your microbiome…

Jenny Smiechowski

Honey beats medications at treating cough and upper respiratory tract infections

A lot of people see all-natural honey-based cough medicines on the drugstore shelf and think they need something stronger and more serious to tame their cough. But that just isn’t the case. Not only do popular drug-based cough medicines come with more risks, but they’re also not nearly as effective as plain old honey, according to the latest research.

Joyce Hollman

Daily aspirin almost doubles melanoma risk for men

For years, a daily aspirin was viewed as a panacea that would prevent heart attacks and strokes and even help decrease the odds of some cancers. But it also carries risks. Recent research has turned up another one… the increased potential for deadly melanoma, especially in men.

Jenny Smiechowski

How a multivitamin could help you through our most challenging cold and flu season yet

The COVID-19 pandemic combined with our usual cold and flu season is going to make this autumn one of the most challenging ones we’ve ever faced. We need all the help we can get, especially those of us on the mature side, since the immune system naturally weakens with age. Luckily, a new study shows that taking a multivitamin could offer some critical protection…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Tips that help you kiss unhealthy food cravings goodbye

Have you ever noticed that your diet can be going along just fine until you eat one of those “forbidden foods” and suddenly the cravings you thought you had conquered are back with a vengeance? Here’s how to avoid temptation and kiss food cravings goodbye.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why menopause may put you at risk for liver damage

There’s a common misconception that liver disease only threatens people who drink a lot of alcohol or take a lot of medications. But nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can strike anyone and lead to liver damage, liver cancer, liver failure and even death. Unfortunately, one group of women may be extra vulnerable to this dangerous liver disease…

Joyce Hollman

The 7 best diets for lowering blood pressure

There’s no lack of research comparing the detrimental effects of a meat-heavy diet with the blood pressure-lowering benefits of a plant-based diet. But all plant-based foods are not equal. In fact, if you’re eating the right plant foods, you can still eat meat and lower your blood pressure without feeling deprived. Here are some of the best diets to choose from…

Jerry Walker, Ph.D., Dale Wilson, Ph.D.

The natural health benefits of an emotional support animal

From a natural health perspective, there is strong evidence to suggest various benefits to a person’s mental and physical health from interacting with a pet. Studies found a significant reduction in stress among cardiac patients when compared to non-pet owning cardiac patients with similar conditions.

Jenny Smiechowski

Can plant-based meats really keep your heart healthier?

A lot of people choose plant-based meat over real meat in the hopes of improving their health. But many of these plant-based meats are highly processed and full of saturated fat and sodium. So, should you just keep eating real burgers? Well, if you’re concerned about your heart, plant-based meat may still come out on top…

Jenny Smiechowski

12 actions that could reduce dementia rates by 40 percent

Part of the reason dementia is so difficult to prevent and treat is that it doesn’t have one cause. It’s caused by a lot of different things. Genetics. Diet. Exercise habits. Pollution. These and many more factors play into your risk of developing this devastating disease. Luckily, new research published in the journal The Lancet […]

Joyce Hollman

Keep diabetes away with a spoonful of cinnamon

It’s nearing the end of summer, so our favorite Fall spice may be on your mind, with good reason! Because not only is cinnamon tasty, it’s helpful for losing weight and managing blood sugar so well it could keep prediabetes from developing to full-blown diabetes…

Jenny Smiechowski

Can probiotics put a plug in urinary incontinence?

When it comes to staying healthy, it seems like all roads lead back to your microbiome. Everything from anxiety to Parkinson’s to diabetes to depression to multiple sclerosis to cancer has been linked to the microbes you have (or don’t have) in your body. And now there’s another common condition in which your microbiome may make a huge difference… urinary incontinence.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Losing weight may take the aggression out of breast cancer cells

Even though the medical community has long known of an association between obesity and increased breast cancer risk, researchers weren’t exactly sure why — until now. What they’ve learned about fat tissue, inflammatory molecules and breast cancer aggression is lifesaving information every woman needs to know…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Supplementing lipoic acid for weight loss: Does it work?

Losing weight can feel like fighting a losing battle, leaving many of us to give up before the weight even starts coming off. What if there were an easier way to shed that extra fat and slim down without the struggle… all wrapped up in an easy-to-find medium-chain fatty acid supplement?

Joyce Hollman

How to make bacon that won’t give you cancer or heart disease

Bacon is one of those processed meats that raises your cancer and heart disease risk. So, what’s a bacon lover to do? Some people turn to turkey bacon. But don’t kid yourself. It’s still processed meat. But there’s a tasty alternative you can make easily and eat to your heart’s content…

Jenny Smiechowski

How to calculate your stroke risk right now

Despite how sudden strokes seem, there are often clues that hint a stroke could be on the horizon years before it happens. The biggest clue is metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that include things like high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels. Luckily, researchers have recently developed a simple online calculator you can use to gauge your risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Smile! Science says faking a happy face raises your spirits

When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Celebrities from Louis Armstrong to Katy Perry have produced hits praising the power of a smile to lift your spirits and make the world a better place. But is there science backing the premise behind these songs, or is it all just blind hope? The answer to that question will put a smile on your face…

Jenny Smiechowski

Don’t get duped by ‘whole grain’ decoys’ deceptive labels

With mounds of research showing whole grains help fight disease, filling your shopping cart to the brim with whole grains is one of the best decisions you can make for your health. Full stop. But what if the whole grains you’re buying aren’t really whole grains? New research shows that far too many of us are getting fooled by deceptive labeling. Here’s how to get the real stuff…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How night-time blue light increases your colon cancer risk by 60 percent

Blue light from artificial sources like phones, tablets and LEDs has been linked to numerous health problems ranging from sleep disorders to obesity. Now, we find the risk for one type of cancer is through the roof, especially if you’re exposed during the nighttime hours. But a supplement may help…

Jenny Smiechowski

What can we do about the microplastics found growing in our fruits and vegetables?

In case you haven’t heard, microplastics are taking over the planet. Scientists are finding them in every nook and cranny of the earth. And it’s kind of scary since microplastics contain BPA, phthalates and other toxins proven to harm human health…

Jedha Dening

The warped reason doctors ‘treat’ women differently

If you’re a woman and you’ve taken a trip to the doctor, chances are you’ve wondered more than once if your doctor was taking you seriously. You may have even brushed those feelings aside, thinking it was just your imagination.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The nutty solution to save your thyroid

Are you completely and thoroughly exhausted? Have you been feeling depressed or anxious and having joint pain, muscle aches, and headaches? Maybe your skin feels dry or your hair just isn’t as shiny and thick as it used to be? Guess what… Your thyroid could be to blame for all of it.

Jenny Smiechowski

Try the 5-day anti-aging anti-disease diet

Fasting can do everything from rebooting your immune system to helping you live longer. But there’s one problem with fasting… it’s incredibly difficult. What if you didn’t have to go through the discomfort of fasting to get the disease-fighting and anti-aging benefits?

Dr. Michael Cutler

9 ways to boost your sexual energy

Sexual energy is a key to good health. It boosts creativity. It is vital in an intimate and loving relationship. However, for those us who are aging, even thinking about feelings of sexual energy can be a chore. That doesn’t mean your sexual energy can’t be renewed.

Debra Atkinson

10 pro tips to make any workout count

A small snack with protein and fat will boost your workout energy. Though there is a lot of talk about burning more fat if you exercise fasted, you’ll spend the most energy if you feel good. More energy spent will equate to more fat burned. Get more tips to get the most from your workout right here…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 Reasons to eat butter’s better cousin (not margarine!)

Tired of all of the good stuff being bad for you according to so-called experts and giving up the foods you love most? Well, here’s some good news for you… There is a type of butter that is so good for you that it gives you a special license to ignore all those warnings about high fat foods.

Dr. Mark Wiley

Muscle up during side plank from downward facing dog

Yoga offers such great physical training for the body even while you seemingly do nothing but sit still. One of the basic reasons yoga is so effective in toning the body is because of these postural holds, which are an ancient form of isometric training.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to switch off your hunger hormones

Have you been struggling to lose weight? There are a number of hormones in your body that are responsible for signaling to you when you are hungry or full. Get these hormones out of whack and your weight can suffer.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The missing micronutrient for balanced blood sugar

What if you’re already doing everything right, like trying to balance blood sugar through diet, exercise, and getting the right nutrients that help your body manage or avoid type 2 diabetes — but something’s just not clicking. It could be you’re missing this important trace mineral…

Jedha Dening

Nature’s answer to overactive bladder

We’ve all experienced it… the mad dash to the house and race to the restroom after a long car ride or that sudden feeling during the middle of the night that jolts you out of bed. An overactive bladder can certainly keep you on your toes… and on the toilet frequently.

Debra Atkinson

One minute to a flatter belly and less back pain

Ignore the memes that suggest doing more, longer and harder, is better. And the videos that suggest you try for the record 8-minute plank hold. The truth is there is limited return on your investment when you exercise too hard.

Jenny Smiechowski

Grab a pickle jar and try this at-home longevity test

If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of your day using your hands. But even though they may be constantly moving across keyboards or smart phone screens, your hands, and your health, might be getting weaker with every passing day…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The candy cure to decrease stress and lose weight

Do you feel tired, listless, and stressed out? Sounds like adrenal fatigue. And, that “spare tire” isn’t just a sign of a slow metabolism. This candy cure can regulate your stress hormones and help take a load off your adrenal glands.

Jedha Dening

The anti-aging intervention that starts in your gut

You might look in the mirror and notice a few new lines appearing on your face. You might also notice you have a little less energy. We’d rather not experience these things, but they are the inevitable signs of aging… It would be great to slow the interior and exterior aging process. Well, it seems you can…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Fight thinning hair with castor oil

Are you starting to notice that your hair is thinning? If your locks don’t look or feel as thick and gorgeous as they did when you were younger, join the club…

Jenny Smiechowski

Whole grains for whole body wellness

Confused about whether or not grains are good for you? I don’t blame you. There’s a lot of conflicting information… But despite these differing opinions, there’s one fact about grains that’s undeniable…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Snacking on weight loss

One of the barriers to eating healthy is cravings. Fortunately, with a little effort, we can retrain the body to hunger for healthier items by eating foods that balance and sustain our blood sugar throughout the day.

Dr. Michael Cutler

Your sexual energy can help you live longer

What really is sexual energy? We are sexual beings, and thankfully so. However, I believe this energy is greatly underutilized and misunderstood.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Curb carbohydrate cravings with chromium

If you’re a carb-oholic struggling to lose weight, you need all the extra help you can get. If chips, crackers and pasta are your downfall, that little extra push you need to avoid these pound-packing choices is easier to find than you might think.

Margaret Cantwell

Gluten-free done wrong may be poisoning you

If you’re following a gluten-free diet, your exposure to arsenic and mercury could be higher than most people’s. At high enough concentrations, these elements can lead to cardiovascular disease, neurological problems and cancer. You need to fully understand how gluten-free diets can cause this problem in the first place…

Easy Health Options Staff

7 ways yoga melts fat and tones [infographic]

Yoga is essentially full-body weight training. You burn calories during (and for hours after!) your workout, while toning muscles, gaining flexibility and eliminating fat.

Jenny Smiechowski

The easiest, quickest way to get out of the dumps

Does the grayness of winter, an unfulfilling job, a disappointing relationship or just a bad day bring you down? Well, there may be a sure-fire way to improve your mood quickly, without a lot of fanfare, prescriptions or counseling sessions…

Dr. Mark Wiley

Have a ball working on your core fitness

While many core exercises focus on stomach crunches, there’s one piece of equipment that beats them all for dynamic training: the stability ball — because it keeps all the right muscles firing…

Jedha Dening

Green tea continues to amaze as potent cancer-killer

The first way a natural approach can help is in finding preventative measures that can help you avoid a cancer diagnosis in the first place. And it seems the Japanese have held a cancer prevention secret in their hands for thousands of years — the everyday consumption of green tea.

Jenny Smiechowski

Is the secret to success healthy competition?

Getting in shape is one of the most commonly broken New Year’s resolutions. So what can you do to stick to it once and for all? When it comes to success at exercise, and most anything, a little healthy competition will go far.

Jenny Smiechowski

The 14-day ‘Eat more’ intervention for health and happiness

What if you could increase your happiness, vitality and motivation in just two weeks by making one small tweak to your diet? Would you try it? What if I told you this one small change could completely overhaul your mind and body? And here’s the best part…

Jedha Dening

8 anti-inflammatory foods to beat disease

In recent years, it’s been discovered that inflammation is much more than an ache, pain or arthritic condition. We all face the likelihood of an increased inflammatory response. It’s now recognized that every single disease begins with chronic inflammation in our cells.

Dr. Mark Wiley

Doctors admit what’s really best for low back pain relief

Low back pain is one of the leading causes for doctor visits, but mainstream medicine has finally admitted they’ve been treating it incorrectly. That’s because drug therapy, their first-line treatment option, has done nothing to help. Finally, they’re admitting which alternative therapies work…

Jedha Dening

Say goodbye to feeling bad when you drop one nasty nutrient

Not so long ago, some faulty research led to the belief that eating fat was one of the worst things for your health. Fast-forward a number of years and we now see sugar as the predominant villain of the modern day diet. And for good reason…

Jenny Smiechowski

Learning a second language protects your brain from Alzheimer’s

Think you’re already trying every trick in the book to keep your memory sharp and your brain dementia-free? Well, I have one more unique way you can fend off Alzheimer’s in the years to come…

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