Health News: Fight Colds With Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains more antioxidants than most fruit juices, according to studies. And it’s those antioxidants that rev up your immune system, which is responsible for fighting colds. Choose varieties with at least 70 percent cacao. —Chemistry Central Journal

Want to lose weight? Focus more on what you’re eating, or eating mindfully, and less on measuring how much you eat. Research has found that folks who are told to “eat less” of everything don’t necessary reduce their caloric intake. Use a common sense approach by cutting back on sugar and eating lots of veggies, good carbs and protein. —International Journal of Obesity “Practice eating consciously by paying close attention to the foods you eat by noticing their aroma, flavor and texture rather than diverting attention to the food fad of the day. A small piece of dark chocolate, a seasonal fruit or vegetable, or a savory piece of sustainable fish are all mindful food choices that will bolster a healthful diet.” —Jackie Ehlert, R.D., Wise Gourmet, Mahwah

Feeling lonely and socially isolated makes you 29 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack. The reason? Stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, can raise blood pressure and inflammation. If you’re feeling depressed, see your doctor. —Heart “High cortisol can wreak havoc on your immune system, while being alone can also contribute to stress eating and lead to obesity. All of that puts additional strain on the heart. Good emotional health might not be easy to attain for some, but it pays big dividends.” —William Salerno, M.D., Hackensack University Medical Center

Taking this number of days off from your regular exercise routine reduces blood flow to the brain, including the hippocampus, which is your memory center. —Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Practicing yoga for three months improved the moods of women between the ages of 40 and 60 who were experience perimenopausal mood swings even more than traditional exercise. Why? Researchers speculate that it’s because of the yoga’s calming effect on the nervous system and brain. —Journal of Mid-Life Health

The percentage decline in the incidence of coronary heart disease in the U.S. between 1983 and 2011. —JAMA

The maximum age a human being can reach, according to researchers who suspect this age ceiling (with a few exceptions) is due to accumulated damage to DNA in our bodies. —Nature

Students who participated in a study where they snapped pictures of themselves smiling reported feeling happier after taking photos. So selfie away for a mood lift! —University of California, Irvine