Health

TORONTO, Cananda - Letting kids pick what they'd like to eat from a range of healthy choices will go far to ensure they have a balanced diet and make mealtimes more enjoyable, says a Toronto dietitian.

Dear Dr. Roach: When I was 39, I had a total hysterectomy. The doctor put me on hormone-replacement pills — first strong, then gradually weaker ones. Now I am on a patch, estradiol derm 50.

TORONTO - Not all patient drug trials published in even the most prestigious of medical journals can be taken as gospel, say researchers, who have found a high proportion of "spin and bias" in the reporting of results.

OTTAWA - The pain and suffering endured by the family of an Edmonton soldier who killed himself should be used as a springboard for systemic changes to the treatment of veterans and their loved ones, the family's lawyer said Wednesday.

TORONTO - In some places it's surging, in others it's plateaued, and in other parts of the country it may actually be on the wane. But in most parts of Canada this winter, influenza has been reminding Canadians what a real flu season feels like.

WASHINGTON - For years, doctors have lamented that there's no Pap test for deadly ovarian cancer. Wednesday, scientists reported encouraging signs that one day, there might be.

CALGARY - Hospitals in Calgary and Edmonton are struggling to cope with a double whammy of both flu and norovirus cases that has led to patients being put in hallways and some surgery postponements.

Dear Dr. Roach: I realize most of the letters you print are from senior citizens, like me. I am 72 and have health issues — high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and arthritis, and I realize I will not live forever.

Forget fancy workout gear. One of the hottest trends of 2013 suggests you need nothing more than your own body weight.

TORONTO - Researchers have created a synthetic "poop" aimed at treating recurrent infections of C. difficile, a toxin-producing bacterium that causes severe and often debilitating diarrhea.