Articles

Research shows that women who take vitamins that contain folic acid may lower the risk that their baby will be born with a birth defect called a neural tube defect. Between 2 and 4 babies of every 1000 babies born in Canada have neural tube defects. More...

Marrying a distant relative could mean a larger family, according to Icelandic researchers who studied their nation's genetic record. The Science journal study found third and fourth cousin couples had more children than those more distantly related.  More...

Drinking 500ml of beetroot juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure, UK research suggests. The key beneficial ingredient appears to be nitrate, which is also found in green, leafy vegetables.  More...

During pregnancy, skin changes are common. Many of these skin changes are normal in pregnancy and should not be mistaken for a rash or skin disorder. What are normal skin changes during pregnancy? The most common skin changes in pregnancy are: * melasma: brown, clearly defined patches on the face, typically on the cheekbones and forehead.  More...

The nation is eating too much saturated fat, and even children as young as two may need to consume less, the Food Standards Agency says. The regulatory body aims to reduce everyone's saturated fat intake by 20%, through a combination of raising awareness and working with industry. More...

Jessica Tate has a normal pregnancy and is on course for a normal birth. Like many pregnant women Jessica is slightly anaemic and she wants a home birth. What makes Jessica very different however, is that she is in fact a virtual pregnancy.  More...

A study may have discovered why breastfeeding might help protect children against allergies such as asthma, scientists have said. The French research, published in Nature Medicine, shows female mice exposed to allergens can pass them directly to their offspring in milk. More...

A new warning is being issued over the safety of the birth-control patch after a study found women on the patch are twice as likely to develop serious blood clots as those taking oral contraceptives. It's the second study in less than two years that found women using the Ortho Evra patch - marketed as Evra in Canada - face increased risks for developing blood clots, and is raising new concerns about the potential dangers of this contraceptive method. More...

Cloth infused with the herbs of traditional Indian medicine is becoming increasingly popular as the country's stressed urban workers seek cures for conditions such as insomnia and eczema. Wearing a special shirt is claimed to cure itchy or sore skin, while sleepless nights can be taken care of by putting a herb-infused sheet over your mattress.  More...

The longer a woman takes birth-control pills, the lower her risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to a new study. The research, published in today's edition of the medical journal The Lancet, shows that women who take oral contraceptives for a decade can slash their cancer risk by more than one-third.  More...

Premature babies who receive morphine may grow up to be more sensitive to pain, a study on rats suggests. US researchers found rodents given the drug just after birth later needed higher doses of morphine to kill pain than counterparts in a placebo group. More...

Pregnant women who eat a Mediterranean diet may help protect their children from asthma and other allergies, researchers say. More...