Trying to slim down? Diet drinks aren’t likely to help, researchers warn. And those containing the artificial sweetener sucralose may even increase food cravings and appetite in women and people who are obese, according to a University of Southern California study. “There is controversy surrounding the use of artificial sweeteners because a lot of people…  read on >

Besides the long-established benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mom, a new study reports one more: Nursing could help chase the blues away. It is linked to a lower risk for postpartum depression — the so-called “baby blues” — and nursing for a longer time may further ease depression symptoms, according to the findings. “Women…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Bullying by a brother or sister in childhood can have lasting effects, threatening mental health in the teen years, new British research suggests. Researchers found that mental health was affected whether one was the bully or the victim. “Of particular note was the finding that even those who…  read on >  read on >

Americans are of two minds about President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate, with political party affiliation playing a pivotal role in their opinions, a new poll finds. Most Democrats are for it and most Republicans are against it, the survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed. Overall, the poll found that 51%…  read on >  read on >

For those who smoke or drink, it’s only a small step to marijuana, researchers report. “Legal consumption of alcohol and tobacco may directly increase the level of illicit drug use. However, the relationships are complex,” said researcher Dr. Zoe Reed. She is a senior research associate in the Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group at the…  read on >  read on >

THURSDAY, Sept. 30, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Men with heart failure have worse long-term survival rates if they have severe depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, according to a new study that urges doctors to change the way they treat people with mental disorders. Previous research shows people with these conditions have an earlier…  read on >  read on >

The country’s leading health agency on Wednesday implored all Americans who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant to get a coronavirus vaccine. COVID-19 poses a serious risk to women who are expecting, since they are vulnerable because of pregnancy’s dampening effect on their immune system, experts say. But less than one-third of pregnant…  read on >  read on >

Despite the troubling findings of a congressional report released earlier this year on toxins in baby foods, a new report finds even more manufacturers are selling baby foods that contain potentially unsafe levels of heavy metals. The toxins in question include dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, among others. “No level of toxic…  read on >  read on >