Coffee’s bitter taste shouldn’t be a selling point. But a genetic variant explains why so many people love the brew, a new study suggests. Bitterness evolved as a natural warning system to protect people from harmful substances. That means they should want to spit out coffee, the researchers said. But their study of more than…  read on >

Obesity in the teen years may increase the risk of developing deadly pancreatic cancer in adulthood, researchers report. The odds for this rare cancer can quadruple due to obesity, the Israeli research team found. Moreover, the risk rises as weight increases, even affecting men in the high normal weight range. “It’s been known for some…  read on >

Twenty percent of homicides of U.S. children ages 2 to 14 years are related to intimate partner violence, a new study indicates. That’s double the rate in the National Violent Death Reporting System, according to Harvard School of Public Health researchers. For the study, the researchers analyzed data on nearly 1,400 children in 16 states…  read on >

Kids who were born large and whose mothers developed a form of diabetes during pregnancy have nearly triple the odds of becoming overweight or obese in childhood, new research shows. “Just like smoking, alcohol consumption and other lifestyle choices, [women’s] weight prior to getting pregnant, and weight gain and blood sugar control during pregnancy may…  read on >

Many women have nausea during the first trimester of pregnancy, sometimes called morning sickness. Symptoms tend to ease as the pregnancy progresses. The American Pregnancy Association suggests how to help manage morning sickness: Eat non-spicy foods rich in vitamin B6, including wholegrain wheat and other cereals, seeds and nuts, fruits such as bananas or papayas,…  read on >

A young child who has chronic anxiety may have trouble learning, Harvard University researchers say. Fears of the dark, monsters or strangers are common and are considered normal and usually temporary. But when fears extend to physical, sexual or emotional abuse, they can affect a child’s developing brain, the researchers noted. The school’s Center on…  read on >

Children and teens who suffer a sports-related concussion should reduce, but not eliminate, physical and mental activity in the days after their injury, an American Academy of Pediatrics report says. “Athletes absolutely need to take an immediate break from play after a concussion, but we find that, during the recovery process, it is best to…  read on >

Temper tantrums are a way of getting attention and expressing displeasure among younger kids who can’t express their needs or control their emotions, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. Tantrums tend to be worst between ages 2 and 3, and rarely occur after age 4. Being tired, hungry or sick can make them worse,…  read on >

Childhood is the perfect time to start healthy eating habits, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. While children need fat in their diets to get the daily energy they need, too much fat can lead to health problems, especially if it’s in the form of saturated fat that can lead to heart disease later in…  read on >