Another SARS-like Coronavirus Case Identified

This Coronavirus Resembles Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

A British man who recently traveled to the Middle East and Pakistan has been sickened by a respiratory illness that looks an awful lot like SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. Now receiving treatment at a Manchester, England hospital, the man is the 10th confirmed case of this particular coronavirus, the BBC reports. This newer coronavirus was first identified last fall, when the World Health Organization alerted health officials of an ill Qatari man who had traveled to Saudi Arabia. In 2002, a SARS outbreak killed 800 people worldwide and infected 8,000 with symptoms such as high fever, headache, body ache, and a dry cough. While news of these infected individuals may conjure images of frightened folks in surgical masks like in 2002, Britain's Health Protection Agency (HPA) says there's no need to panic. "Our assessment is that the risk associated with novel coronavirus to the general UK population remains extremely low," the HPA told Reuters. "And the risk to travelers to the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding countries remains very low."

How to Serve Aphrodisiac Foods

You read one time that asparagus was an aphrodisiac. So last Valentine's Day, you bought five pounds of it, cooked it for your date, and then waited for a magical rush of heart-pumping, hair-standing lust that transforms two ordinary people into Scarlett and Rhett—or better yet, Kim and Ray Jay. Did it work? Probably not. And if it did, kudos, but it wasn't because of the asparagus. That's not quite how aphrodisiac foods work, says Kantha Shelke, a food scientist and spokesperson with International Food Technologists. We live in the Viagra culture, she says. "People expect instant gratification, and I don't believe any food can give you that."

Aphrodisiac foods aren't magic potions that immediately turn you on. They're foods that typically do three things: excite your senses, open your blood vessels, and make you feel comfortable and focused, Shelke says. Take a cup of hot tea. In terms of senses, it's got a lot going on. It's warm to the touch, and provides moist, rising steam, along with vibrant smells of added spices. Tea also gets the blood moving (to all your parts), and it makes you slow down, feel good, and focus on the matter (or lover) at hand.

Shelke shares another, somewhat surprising Western aphrodisiac: pumpkin pie. Your senses will dig the bright color, creamy texture, rich taste, and spicy aromas. As a plant-based food, it opens blood vessels, and, Shelke adds, "It always conjures happy memories and a feeling of comfort and safety, and that's usually when you perform the best." [Read more: How to Serve Aphrodisiac Foods]

Cook Up Some Family Fun on Valentine's Day

Once upon a time, Valentine's Day wasn't solely for significant others, writes U.S. News blogger Keri Glassman. Think back to your early school days—come on, it wasn't that long ago—when we were told to make every classmate a valentine. Perhaps our teachers were onto something, because although Valentine's Day is often associated with romance and gifts of heart shaped chocolates, roses, and jewelry, it's more or less just a day to celebrate love. That can mean love for a special someone in your life, as well as love for a friend, or even your dog! Yes, all those gifts are great, but the Valentines from my kids are what really melt my heart.

We try to show love for one another every day, so February 14 is really not so different. But, I like to use the day as an excuse for some fun-filled family time in the kitchen, which is so much more than a room for cooking. For my family, it's where I teach my children about healthful foods, where my little Picassos get to work, and where we create all sorts of goofy memories—and our Valentine's Day plans reflect just that!

Valentine's Day is a great time to see your kids' artistic sides. Grab old magazines, markers, and construction paper, and let your kids express whatever they love most on a homemade placemat. My kids often color as I cook and can usually create a disposable placemat in the time it takes to flip a pancake. [Read more: Cook Up Some Family Fun on Valentine's Day]

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Can the New SARS-like Virus Spread Between People?

The 11th Case of the Virus Suggests It Can Be Spread via Person-to-Person Transmission

The mysterious SARS-like coronavirus that has been making headlines since last fall has struck again, in what's now the 11th case worldwide. But this new case is a little different. The previous 10 patients had traveled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or Pakistan, reports the Associated Press. The U.K. man who's been recently infected hasn't traveled to any of those countries, but has had contact with a previous case, who is also a family member. This newest development leads some to believe that the virus may spread through person-to-person transmission, although health officials say the risk of infection is still considered to be very low. "If (the) novel coronavirus were more infectious, we would have expected to have seen a larger number of cases," John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at Britain's Health Protection Agency, said in a statement.

While the low risk is likely comforting to most, "SARS" and "SARS-like" are still scary words. In 2002, an outbreak of this respiratory syndrome infected 8,000 people worldwide and killed 800.

Why the Fascination with Twilight?

Few stories have captured the collective imagination quite like Twilight, Stephenie Meyer's series of vampire-themed novels, spun into movies, that conjure the passion of young love.

By its nature, young love generates its own brand of intense drama—otherwise we wouldn't have Romeo & Juliet. And there's long been fascination with alternate worlds—think Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, or the alien movie of the moment. But something in the mix has proven particularly powerful for the legions of fans, especially females, who cling to these stories as some source of lifeblood. That the Twilight fandom extends far beyond the "teen idol" variety to transfix so many women of all ages prompted one psychologist to explore the story's draw.

In her 2012 documentary, Into the Twilight Haze, Manhattan-based psychologist Niloo Dardashti investigates why Twilight has such a hold on women. The answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the love story. And specifically, the hero, Edward, and his all-consuming, other-worldly connection with Bella. [Read more: Why the Fascination with Twilight?]

Make Room for Chocolate

We often take a black and white view toward the foods we eat, classifying them as either virtuous or vices. Kale? Virtuous. Deep-fried Oreos? Vice. You get the picture.

But consensus breaks down somewhere on the cusp of virtue and vice. That is, there are indulgent foods with some healthy attributes that we can argue either way. Fans justify eating these foods by focusing on the evidence supporting a health benefit, whereas detractors point to the possible ill effects of this same food to argue against it.

Red wine is a great example. There is plenty of good data to support certain health benefits associated with regular, moderate intake of red wine. Yet few doctors would dream of recommending that a non-drinker start drinking red wine if they didn't already drink to begin with. That's because there are also good—and conflicting—data that show even moderate alcohol intake of any kind is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women and some digestive system cancers as well. [Read more: Make Room for Chocolate]

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