Researchers have found a correlation between drinking diet soda and metabolic syndrome — the collection of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes that include abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and blood glucose levels — and elevated blood pressure.

Scientists found the risk of developing metabolic syndrome was 34 percent higher among those who drank one can of diet soda a day compared with those who drank none.

[Read](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/nutrition/05symp.html?_r=1 “Read the Article”) (The New York Times)

A large new study found no sign that vitamin D lowers the overall risk of dying from cancer, injecting a note of caution to the latest vitamin craze. The exception: People with more vitamin D in their blood did have a significantly lower risk of death from colorectal cancer, supporting earlier findings.

[Read](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hrkLuf-EKNOPg_M2jaHnbXk_331AD8SJPE1O0 “Read the Story”) (AP via Google)

The World Cancer Research Fund carried out the largest ever inquiry into lifestyle and cancer, and issued several stark recommendations. They include not gaining weight as an adult, avoiding sugary drinks and alcohol, and not eating bacon or ham.

Everyone must also aim to be as thin as possible without becoming underweight. People with a Body Mass Index (BMI), a calculation which takes into account height and weight, of between 18.5 and 25, are deemed to be within a “healthy” weight range. But the study says their risk increases as they head towards the 25 mark, and that everyone should try to be as close to the lower end as possible.

[Read](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7069914.stm “Read the Story”) (BBC)

A study found that families who watched TV at dinner ate just about as healthfully as families who dined without it. The biggest factor wasn’t whether the TV was on or off, but whether the family was eating the meal together.

One study, published in The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in 2004, found that even after controlling for family connectedness, kids who had seven or more family meals a week were far less likely to smoke, drink alcohol or use marijuana than those who had just one or none.

[Read](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/health/16well.html?ex=1350532800&en=de9906bd6570e189&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss “Read the Story”) (The New York Times)

For American dentists, times have never been better. The same cannot be said for Americans’ teeth.

With dentists fees rising far faster than inflation and more than 100 million people lacking dental insurance, the percentage of Americans with untreated cavities began rising this decade, reversing a half-century trend of improvement in dental health.

The dental profession’s critics who include public health experts, some physicians and even some dental school professors say that too many dentists are focused more on money than medicine.

[Read](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/business/11decay.html?ex=1350187200&en=c8b0e68ae7b60140&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss “Read the Story”) (New York Times)

Stretching before or after exercise has little or no effect on subsequent muscle soreness, research shows.

A Cochrane Collaboration analysis of 10 trials found stretching reduced soreness by less than one point on a 100-point scale.

The main reason to stretch before exercise is not to reduce soreness, but to reduce the risk of injury. It lengthens the muscles, improves their elasticity and makes them better prepared to cope with the duress of exercise.

[Read](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7046634.stm “Read the Story”) (BBC)

A treat at a fast food restaurant could expose children to “staggeringly” high levels of salt, a survey has suggested.

Lobby group, Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash), found one meal from Pizza Hut contained four times the daily limit of salt for a six-year old. KFC also did poorly in the analysis of hundreds of food items, which also included McDonalds and Burger King.

The government recommends a maximum of 6g of salt per day for adults, 5g a day for children aged 7-10 and 3g for children aged 4-6.

According to the survey, a family of four sharing a Pizza Hut meal deal – consisting of one Cheesy Bites Meat Feast, one medium Super Supreme, a portion of garlic bread, a portion of potato wedges, chicken wings, and a cheesecake desert – could eat 12.3g of salt each.

[Read](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7050585.stm “Read the Story”) (BBC)

A daily dose of dark chocolate may help reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Patients in a pilot study found they had less fatigue when eating dark chocolate with a high cocoa content than with white chocolate dyed brown.

[Read](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7018055.stm “Read the Story”) (BBC)

Could the floral scent of your air freshener contain toxic chemicals known to cause birth defects? NRDC recently tested 14 different air fresheners and found that 12 contained chemicals called [phthalates] (http://www.answers.com/topic/phthalates “Answers.com Article”), chemicals that can cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems. Even air fresheners marketed as “all-natural” or “unscented” contained the hazardous chemicals.

Pregnant women and children should avoid products that contain phthalates but because there are no labeling requirements it is virtually impossible for consumers to know which products may pose a risk.

[Read](http://www.enn.com/green_building/article/23394 “Read the Story”) (Environmental News Network)

Good news for diabetics: Both aerobic exercise and strength training improve blood sugar levels. And lots of both provides the best results, a new study shows.

[Read](http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-09-17-diabetes_N.htm?csp=34 “Read the Story”) (USA Today)