We've all heard by now that dark chocolate is the healthier chocolate, while white chocolate lacks behind in essential nutrients. Let's break down what's myth and what's real so you know exactly what's good for you next time you treat yourself to one of these snacks.

First, a discussion on cocoa.

Cocoa – chocolate's main raw ingredient – naturally contains polyphenols, namely flavan-3-ols and flavonoids, which are antioxidants constantly being studied for their potential effects in the body. The following table shows the content of phenolics and flavonoids in the three different types of chocolate. Generally, the more antioxidants you consume, the more protection your body will have from the formation of free radicals, which are unstable mol ...

Phytochemicals are compounds in foods found in plants that are thought to be beneficial to health. More than 5000 different types have been identified, and several studies have linked their intake to reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cataracts, and age-related decline. While they may be beneficial, they are not considered nutrients (substances necessary to sustain life), thus no daily recommended intakes have been established.

A list of five popular phytochemical families are listed below, along with their health claims and food source.

Carotenoids:

Includes: Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, etc.

Health Claims: Diets with foods rich in these phytochemicals may reduce the risk of ...

If you've ever been told to give a firm handshake at the start of an interview, this advice now holds scientific truth with a new study published by Frontiers in Psychology.

According to the study, hand grip strength correlates with numerous measures involved in social and sexual competition in men, and typically fails to correlate (or to a lesser extent) with these measures among women. Given that this trait scores highest in people between the ages of 24 and 39 years, and subsequently weakens as we age, the author insists that hand grip strength is a powerful indicator of health and vitality for both men and women, as it relates to overall physical functioning and morbidity.

Researchers of the study mention that the predominantly male-speci ...

Teenagers are known for making impulsive choices and decisions. Studies of the adult brain show that risk-taking among teenagers can be narrowed down to the "feel-good" hormone dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers, as well as helping to regulate movement and emotional responses, see rewards and take action to move toward them.

When it comes to adolescents, neurons sensitive to dopamine are activated less when looking at the prospect of a reward compared to adults. Tests conducted on rats show that adult rats appear to obtain a small dopamine rush from simply anticipating a reward, while adolescent rats do not exhibit the same level of dopamine-based satisfaction. In terms of hum ...

Ancient baby's teeth have revealed that Neanderthals followed today's breastfeeding guidelines. Scientists analyzed a fossilized baby tooth from a Neanderthal child, and found the infant was breastfed exclusively for the first seven months of life and given supplementary foods and mother's milk for another seven months before being weaned.

This fascinating discovery sheds light on the remarkable similarities between Neanderthal parenting practices and contemporary breastfeeding guidelines. By examining the composition of the fossilized baby tooth, scientists have uncovered valuable insights into the dietary patterns of our ancient relatives.

The Neanderthal infant's exclusive breastfeeding for the first seven months of life mirrors the advice ...

At least to some scientists it is. Scientists believe that catching a yawn is a sign of empathy, since it is more likely to occur between relatives than strangers. Plus, other social primates like chimps and bonobos do it, too. A new study suggests that women (traditionally branded the more empathetic sex) might be more susceptible to copycat yawning than men. Researchers surreptitiously analyzed more than 4000 real-world yawns on planes and trains, in restaurants, and in offices. They noted when someone yawned, and then whether a nearby acquaintance or friend did the same within a 3-minute period. Men and women spontaneously yawned with about the same frequency. But when someone else yawned first, women were more likely than men to follow ...

A new study that's challenging the popular idea that we should drink eight glasses of water a day for health purposes shows that a 'swallowing inhibition' is activated by the brain after excess liquid is consumed. This inhibition mechanism helps maintain tightly calibrated volumes of water in the body.

The lead scientist has pointed out that if we just do what our body demands us to, we'll probably get it right. In other words, it is the best practice to just drink according to thirst rather than an elaborate schedule.

Building on a previous study, the researchers asked participants to rate the amount of effort required to swallow water under two conditions; following exercise when they were thirsty and later after they were persuaded to drin ...