If your taste buds lean toward spicy, you might be doing your heart a favor, new research suggests. Spicy foods may increase salt sensitivity, thereby dampening the desire to consume heart-harming salty food, researchers in China say. “High salt intake increases blood pressure and contributes to cardiovascular disease,” said study author Dr. Zhiming Zhu. “Thus,…  read on >

Acetaminophen is considered the go-to pain medication during pregnancy. But a new study adds to evidence linking the drug to an increased risk of behavioral issues in kids. Researchers in Norway found that among nearly 113,000 children, those whose mothers used acetaminophen during pregnancy were slightly more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity…  read on >

To cut calories, you may be tempted to cut out carbs in the form of grains. But that could be a mistake — for a variety of reasons. The answer is to choose the right kind of grains — whole grains rather than refined or over-processed white bread, rice and pasta. A whole grain contains…  read on >  read on >

Children and adults with eczema shouldn’t suffer in silence because new, improved treatments can do more to help ease the uncomfortable, itchy rash associated with the skin condition. Many adults diagnosed with eczema (atopic dermatitis) actually had the condition since they were children but were never diagnosed, explained Dr. Luz Fonacier. She is an allergist…  read on >

Gone are the days of hunting through calorie and carbohydrate counting books to find the information you need to plan weight loss menus. Now all that and more is in the palm of your hand — if you have the right smartphone app, that is. There are hundreds of apps for dieters, many of them…  read on >

When you were growing up, Mom might have told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But when you’re an adult trying to lose weight, you may not need to eat breakfast if you’re just not hungry first thing in the morning. Dieters have long been told to start the day…  read on >  read on >

If you have trouble keeping slim, don’t put all the blame on your DNA. People carrying so-called “obesity” genes tend to gain more weight if they don’t work out or don’t get enough sleep, said Timothy Frayling, a professor with the University of Exeter Medical School in England. “You can’t change your genes — but…  read on >