Month: February 2014

By Martinne Geller LONDON (Reuters) – As a slowdown in emerging markets takes the shine off shares in consumer goods makers like Nestle , Unilever , Danone and Procter & Gamble , hungry investors have been sampling more of the companies that supply them. Scent and flavor makers such as Symrise , Givaudan and International Flavors & Fragrances , and food ingredient names like Glanbia and Kerry Group are attractive, analysts say, because they're more resistant to weak consumer spending and benefit from health and wellness trends forcing so many brands to modify their products. They upgraded Germany's Symrise to "buy" and Switzerland's Givaudan to "hold". JPMorgan Cazenove estimates the European food ingredients sector on average will see 6 percent earnings growth in 2014, while European food producers will see no growth.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a researcher at Northwestern University has revealed what grumpy old people have been telling us for years: Marriage isn’t what it used to be. That doesn’t mean marriage is worse than it was before, however. “The average marriages are…        

WASHINGTON (AP) — Like 78 million other Americans, MaryJane Harrison is obese.

Harrison's health insurance plan, provided by UnitedHealth, excludes … Patients eat less because the pouch holds little food, and they absorb fewer … That compares with weight loss of just 2 to 8 percent with diet and lifestyle …

Moderate or heavy smokers who quit tobacco get a boost in mental wellbeing that, for people who are anxious or stressed, is equivalent to taking anti-depressants, a study said Thursday. British researchers examined 26 published investigations into the mental health of smokers. They were questioned before they tried to give up smoking and again after their attempt — an average of six months later. "The effect sizes are equal or larger than those of anti-depressant treatment for mood and anxiety disorders," said the study, published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

WASHINGTON (AP) — Using videos that claim to teach toddlers, or flash cards for tots, may not be the best idea. Simply talking to babies is key to building crucial language and vocabulary skills — but sooner is better, and long sentences are good.

Here’s why the separate beds thing is more beneficial than you’d think—and how to determine if it could work for you.