Epoch Health

Cocoa can help reduce symptoms of depression and improve mood, especially when you’re under stress, so opting for chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage is your best bet. How much is OK to eat? Thirty to 40 grams of dark chocolate or about two squares per day is a good guideline. Find tips on easy ways to add dark chocolate into your diet in the article ⬇

JUST IN: One of the largest corporate restructurings in history is now underway. CVS Health plans to split into two completely separated companies. Under the proposed separation, one company, temporarily named CVS Health, will operate as a healthcare solutions business encompassing Aetna, CVS Caremark, CVS Specialty, Oak Street Health, and Signify Health. The move effectively unwinds CVS’s $78 billion acquisition of insurer Aetna and dismantles the vertically integrated healthcare giant the company built following the landmark 2018 deal. The second company, CVS Pharmacy, will focus on retail pharmacy and community-based healthcare services. It will include approximately 9,000 CVS pharmacy locations, the company’s mail-order pharmacy operations, MinuteClinic clinics, and the Health100 technology services business. “From a position of strength, and a focus on the long term, we plan to create two focused companies to improve consumer engagement, affordability, and care coordination,” David Joyner, currently chairman and CEO of CVS Health, said in a statement.

Consumers have been warned not to buy or serve a toddler snack bar due to fatal choking hazards. Once Upon a Farm announced the recall of its Tractor Wheel Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars on Oct. 30, including all flavors, varieties, quantities, and lot codes. The FDA said in a Nov. 3 update that it received three consumer complaints about choking before the recall. The company said no injuries have been reported so far. Toddlers, aged 1.5–2.5 years, suffered “complete airway obstruction with the inability to breathe after consuming the product,” the FDA said.

Your pet might be one of your best health boosters, especially if it’s a dog. A study that followed older adults for over a decade found those with pets held on to their cognitive abilities better than nonpet owners. If you have lots of of friends and family and are already active outside, Fido may not help much. But if not, a dog could make a real difference. Read our full article to get all the facts ⬇

JUST IN: New York has recorded its first measles-related death in more than 30 years—a child in Lewis County. Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was heartbroken by the news. State and county health officials confirmed the death was associated with the ongoing measles outbreak and urged residents to get up to date on the MMR vaccine, calling vaccination “the best protection against measles.” Officials have not released the child’s age, gender, or vaccination status, and have not said whether measles appears on the death certificate. Through Oct. 24, New York has logged 178 cases. Lewis County had confirmed 15 cases through Oct. 14, all among unvaccinated people. Nationwide, the CDC has confirmed 4,852 measles cases in 2026—the highest annual total since 1991—and three deaths so far. Additional deaths in Pennsylvania are under review. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the CDC is applying a consistent national standard for counting measles deaths rather than allowing politicians to decide which ones appear in federal statistics. Hochul declared a disaster emergency in October to expand who can administer the MMR vaccine and order testing. State officials said they have offered Lewis County resources for outreach and local vaccination efforts.

New research has shown that eating bitter foods is linked with healthier fat distribution, reduced inflammation, improved digestion, and detoxification. Bitter foods such as arugula, broccoli rabe, radicchio, spinach, chicory, and watercress can usually be found at supermarkets all year round. To find out more about the benefits of bitter foods, read our full article ⬇

A new analysis of nearly 2 million people (pooled from 20 long-term studies) looked at meat and stomach cancer. It found no link between unprocessed red meat and gastric adenocarcinoma, a common type of stomach cancer. Poultry and seafood also showed none. A thread 🧵⤵️

The first avian influenza death among humans in 2026 in the United States has been confirmed. The individual who died was hospitalized with severe illness after contracting avian influenza—commonly known as the bird flu—following exposure at a dairy facility that contained infected cattle, the Yakima Health District in Washington said on Nov. 1. “Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Dr. Dave Atteberry, the health officer for the Yakima Health District, said in a statement. “Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions.” “There is no indication of person-to-person spread,” a spokesperson for the CDC told The Epoch Times in an email on Monday. “People with exposure to infected animals are at higher risk of infection.”