Dark chocolates are known for their numerous health benefits. Studies have shown that dark chocolates, rich in flavanols, are highly beneficial for heart patients. Dark chocolates can also reduce risk of bowel cancer and dementia. 

Recent study has added one more reason to eat dark chocolates. The study has shown that dark chocolate can offer protection against harmful effects of sunlight exposure like ageing of skin.

Health functionaries reported that 3 fresh cases of swine flu deaths have taken the death toll in the country to 484.

Out of the three new cases, one death has been reported from Punjab and one was from Kerala.

In addition, one fatality that took place earlier in Kerala has now been confirmed as swine flu case.

According to the reports, Rajasthan has recorded one more human swine flu-related death on Friday.

This time, a twenty-four-year-old girl has succumbed to the fatal H1N1 virus in Kota.

While confirming the news, the health functionaries stated that swine flu threat is increasing among school kids in Rajasthan.

The reports of the victim, which came today morning, confirmed the presence of H1N1 virus in her blood samples.

In the meantime, swine flu is spreading among pupils with 8 out of the 12 new cases recorded in the desert state today including them.

The recent study has shown that intake of coffee during night-shifts negatively affects quality of sleep during day, and this phenomenon goes on worsening with the age.

Caffeine can interfere with sleep.

Research team led by Julie Carrier, a Universite de Montreal psychology professor, analyzed data collected from twenty-four men and women. The study subjects were divided in two groups.

Adding tomatoes to diet will not only help you in reducing weight, but it will also satiate your hunger. Recent study showed that tomato can help in shedding extra pounds.

It is believed that lycopene that gives tomato its red colour has the ability to lower the levels of hunger hormones such as ghrelin hence leading to satisfaction of a person’s hunger even in lower quantities.

The death of 15-year-old Deng Senshan highlighted the harsh treatment given to youngsters at various Internet boot camps to cure “Internet addiction”. As a result, China's Ministry of Health has banned the use of physical punishment to cure unhealthy Internet habits among the young.

The growing concern among the parents regarding the unhealthy Internet habits in their children led to a surge in number of clinics offering cure for such habits.

Presently, there are at least 400 private Internet rehabilitation clinics operating nationwide.

Scientists have developed a genetic test that can predict how much time a woman has left to start a family. The test is based on a gene that can predict the rate at which a woman's egg supply declines.

Hence, test can warn women about declining fertility so that they can chose different alternatives like starting a family early or freezing some eggs, which can increase chances of becoming pregnant later.

Recent study has shown that children who drink full fat have lower chances of becoming overweight as compared to children who drink the skimmed version. It was found that children who consumed full fat milk have lower body mass index than children who consumed low fat milk.

Research team from Gothenburg University in Sweden studied the nutrition, body composition and bone mineralisation of 120 healthy eight-year-olds. Information regarding the dietary habits of the children was also collected from them. The blood samples of the children were also taken.

Recent study has shown that rain water can be safely used as a drinking water. Till now there was confusion if rain water could be used for human consumption. It was believed that rain-water was susceptible to contamination with micro-organisms and chemicals. Study showed that rain water, the cleanest source of drinking water, was fit for human consumption.  

Turmeric, the yellow spice, is used in Indian homes for a variety of purposes from cooking to various homemade remedies for different aliments.

Curcumin, a potent antioxidant present in turmeric, can help in fighting number of diseases. Various studies are being conducted to test ability of curcumin to cure diseases like colon cancer, psoriasis and Alzheimer's disease.

Recent study has shown that high intake of fructose can increase chances of developing hypertension. Fructose is a common sweetener that is found in a wide range of food and drink products like fruit juices, soft drinks, bakery products, and candy.

For the study, research team led by Dr Diana Jalal, from University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center studied data collected from 4,528 Americans 18 years of age or older. The study subjects had no history of hypertension.

The fructose intake of study subjects was calculated by questioning them about their food and drink intake. Then their blood pressure was checked.

The latest study denotes the harmful effects of the sugary ingredient erroneously considered as a healthy method of sweetening in most of the beverages, juices and soft drink these days. It is been identified that the ingredient present in the processed foods and beverages contains the High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) which acts as a recipe to high blood pressure and increasing level of obesity.

As affirmed, the increasing intake of HFC causes the liver to pump fats into the bloodstream that gradually damage arteries.

ENT Hadi Al-Jassim and his team of consultant are offering a treatment for snoring which is both quick and very cost effective. A genuine alternative to the otherwise painful surgery which many are forced to undertake for snoring, this treatment employs a simple administration of a ?3 injection into the roof of the mouth.

Experts warned Russia on Wednesday that in order to curb the rapid growth of HIV in the country, authorities much legalize Methadone. Currently, nearly one million Russians are infected with HIV and the number is fast growing.

The warning came at the AIDS conference in Moscow, which ran for 3 days, where experts confirmed that in the last 8 years, HIV cases in Russia had doubled. The majority affected population was of drug users, who frequently injected heroine in great volumes from the nearby Afghanistan, who accounted for as many as 80% of the total infected patients.

Lipitor and Zocor, popular drugs used for the purpose of lowering cholesterol levels, might greatly improve the chances of survival in the case of H1N1 flu, a concrete treatment for which is currently being worked upon.

In a study which involved 2,800 people and ran for nearly an year (2007-2008), it was concluded that people who were on either Lipitor or Zocor, and were hospitalized for the flu, were twice as likely to survive as compared to others. A formal, federal study is now being conducted to confirm the results.

Pumpkin recently made a place for itself in the list of vegetables which offer therapeutic benefits after a research confirmed that proteins in the vegetable's skin have the potential to kill many germs which cause infection. In what is being pegged as one of the year's most interesting finds, the study said that pumpkin skin can effectively fight even drug resistant germs, including a fungus which currently attacks million of Americans each year.

A recent survey of over 500 teenagers conducted by Sugar Magazine revealed that daughters of mothers who diet are two times more prone to developing an eating disorder. Out of the teenage girls included, nearly 6% had an eating disorder at the average age of 14. This number rose to 10% for girls who were aware that their mothers were dieting.

Almost 4 out of every 10 young women admitted that their mothers acted as a definite influence on their self perception, while nearly two thirds had, over the years, heard their mothers complain relentlessly about their own weight.

Recent study has offered hope to patients living in darkness due to Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA). The study has shown that vision of these people can be restored with the help of gene therapy. Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a condition, which sets on in childhood and it can lead to total blindness at age 30 to 40.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine treated 12 patients aged between eight and 44 with the experimental gene therapy. Out of these, five were children and seven were adults.  

The need to eat healthy food during pregnancy for the health of unborn child is a well established fact. Recent study has shown that intake of vegetables during pregnancy can reduce the risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the child. During type 1 diabetes, certain cells in the pancreas fail to produce insulin hence leading to insulin deficiency.  

Rising rates of obesity are linked to increased junk food intake. A recent study has shown that junk food could be as addictive as drugs. Intake of junk foods like burgers, chips, sausages and cake could lead to addiction of food high in sugar, salt and fat by programming the brain.

The craving for high fat and high sugar foods goes on increasing and at one point of time it becomes a substitute for happiness that why people go on eating junk food despite being aware of the fact that it is harming their health.