How does a parent know if their child or teen is experiencing normal adolescent sadness or moodiness or – a more serious form of depression? The answer may one day lie in a simple blood test, if the results of a new early study are confirmed in larger populations. The results are published in Translational Psychiatry . Early-onset major depressive disorder is a mental illness that affects people under 25. While about 2 to 4% of cases are diagnosed before adolescence, the numbers skyrocket to 10-25% with adolescence, explains lead researcher Eva Redei, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Why it matters “Not diagnosed, depression affects how teens relate to others.  The No. 1 cause of death among the depressed is suicide,” explains Redei. “If teens are depressed and not treated, there can be drug abuse, dropping out of school.  Their whole lives can depend on these crucial and vulnerable years.”  Depression typically continues into adulthood, says Redei,  so catching it early allows for proper treatment. The research Redei’s research team discovered eleven blood biomarkers for early-onset major depression.  Their original work used rats, and they confirmed their results in this small study of humans that included 14 teens with major depressive disorder, and 14 teens without depression.  The researchers discovered that they could distinguish between major depression with anxiety and without anxiety, based upon the genetic markers. “Having an objective test that tells a physician there is a physical, genetic explanation for depression”  allows them to treat patients with a precise diagnosis, Redei explains.  "Knowing there is an objective reason for their child’s feelings can allow parents and children to understand that depression is an illness, it’s a complicated illness, that is very common, and can be treated.” What's next? She hopes that having a science-based diagnosis will eliminate some of the stigma associated with mental illness. After more testing, these findings hopefully “may help psychiatrists to predict which treatments will be efficient, based on the biomarkers." "It won’t be in the clinic this year, but assuming the resources are available, then it is going to happen.” Filed under: Adolescent Health , Depression , Mental Health Tagged: Ann J. Curley – CNN Medical Assignment Manager

Have you noticed that your health food markets have stocked fridges full of kombucha tea? In only a few years, kombucha has become king of the healthy beverage craze. Loved for its fizziness and signature sweet and sour flavor, fans of kombucha also love its probiotics, B vitamins, and beneficial acids – kombucha is practically liquid gold with the cost of a 16-ounce bottle averaging $4. It should be noted, however, that this traditional Eastern-originating brew has not undergone Western scientific research to support all of its health claims . We met up with brewmaster Otto Thorsen of Three Stone Hearth , a community cooperative kitchen in Berkeley, CA, to learn the basics of brewing a delicious kombucha tea. Stay tuned for a detailed recipe for black tea kombucha and my experience making a home brew. View Slideshow ›

Ian Kerner , a sexuality counselor and New York Times best-selling author, blogs about sex on Thursdays on The Chart. Read more from him on his website, GoodInBed. If online dating hasn’t led you to your perfect match, perhaps the issue isn’t that you’re too choosy, but rather that there’s too much choice. There’s no doubt that dating in the 21st century offers a lot of opportunities. Think about your parents’ generation: They grew up with no Internet, they likely stayed in the same town for most of their lives, and they automatically had more in common with the people in that town as a result. Today, women and men are increasingly marrying someone outside of their religion, their ethnicity and their geographic area. Never in history have we had so many potential partners to choose from – and never have we had so much difficulty choosing. In fact, several recent studies suggest that this explosion of options has made men and women feel more confused and uncertain about finding a partner than ever before. The challenges of choice was well illustrated in a study in 2000 that looked at people’s buying habits. Researchers asked customers to participate in a tasting of different types of jam; those who sampled the product were given a $1-off coupon. On the first day, the researchers offered a choice of six different jams. On the next, they offered 24 different jams. People tasted the same number of jams, regardless of the number of available samples. Yet their buying choices varied dramatically: Offered six jams, about 30% of samplers ended up purchasing a jar. Faced with 24 choices, though, only 3% bought a jar. The conclusion: When given so many choices, people have more trouble making any decision, and this sense of indecisiveness could lead to a cascade of negative effects. In his seminal book, "The Paradox Of Choice," Dr. Barry Schwartz writes, “Choice overload can make you question the decisions you make before you even make them, it can set you up for unrealistically high expectations, and it can make you blame yourself for any and all failures. In the long run, this can lead to decision-making paralysis. And in a culture that tells us that there is no excuse for falling short of perfection when your options are limitless, too much choice can lead to clinical depression.” The problem could be our quest for perfection. We all want to believe in "The One" – a person that meets every item on our relationship checklist, who’s our soul mate forever. But when you search for perfection, you’re unlikely to find it. “People who attempt to make the 'perfect' choice, whether it comes to buying a car or finding a partner, end up less satisfied, regardless of what or who they choose. That’s because they tend to look for flaws, and become disillusioned with all of their options," says Andy Trees, Ph.D., author of " A Scientific Guide to Successful Dating ." Many services also ask you to fill out exhaustive questionnaires about your likes and dislikes. It might seem like more information would help you make smarter choices, but again, that’s often not the case. The more criteria and qualities you consider for a partner, the tougher it can be to narrow down your choices. In fact, according to a 2006 Pew study of online dating , people generally use Internet sites because they believe that having lots of choices will result in a better match. But research suggests that such increased choices actually have the opposite effect. There’s evidence that even non-Web-based dating services can suffer from the challenge of choice: A study of people attending speed-dating events, published in the August 2011 issue of Biology Letters , found that they made fewer decisions to date when they attended events with higher numbers of candidates and greater variety. Again, the researchers concluded that people who have too many options will choose nothing. Although one day someone may indeed invent the perfect algorithm to match two people, no online dating site has yet provided proof that its formula works, regardless of what its marketing department wants you to think. So how can you harness the power of technology to your advantage? “First, don’t give up on the Internet – it can still be a useful way to meet people," says Trees. "Understand, though, that you’ll need to take the responsibility to choose your matches. Don’t expect the service to find you the perfect person. Pace yourself and keep a normal dating schedule. Seeing a new person every night of the week isn’t going to increase your chances of romance, just your risk of exhaustion. "And be patient and realistic. There’s no perfect mate out there, just people that you can enjoy spending a day – or maybe even the rest of your days – with.” Filed under: Ian Kerner Ph.D. – sex counselor , Relationships Tagged: Ian Kerner Ph.D. – sex counselor

Drew Barrymore is back on the big screen in February with Big Miracle ! To celebrate the film and Drew’s amazing fans, we’re giving away an exciting trip. One lucky winner and a friend will fly to Los Angeles on Virgin America and get the A-list treatment, all before meeting – and interviewing – Drew in person as part of our I’m a Huge Fan series! There will be a few fun surprises along the way, too. We’re looking for one of Drew’s biggest fans, so prove you’re it by taking our quiz. Check out the official rules here – it doesn’t matter how you score. Hurry, the sweepstakes ends Jan. 12 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Big Miracle opens in theaters nationwide on Feb. 3! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes starts 6:00 p.m. PST 1/6/12 and ends 11:59 p.m. PST 1/12/12. Open only to legal residents of 49 US and DC (RI excluded). 18+. Click here for official rules. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Sugar Publishing, Inc. Step 1 : Like PopSugar on Facebook! PopSugar Step 2 : Log into your PopSugar account. If you’re not already a member, register now for free. (You need to be logged in before you take the quiz below.) Step 3 : Take our quiz below and good luck! Take the Quiz

Louisiana health officials are warning residents not to use nonsterilized tap water in neti pots after the deaths of two people who exposed their brains to a deadly amoeba while flushing out their nasal passages. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, can be found in lakes and ponds as well as in contaminated lukewarm tap water. The organism doesn't pose a threat when ingested, but if it becomes lodged in a person's nose it can end up in the brain and cause an infection. The infection, lethal in 95% of cases, triggers an array of symptoms that resemble those of bacterial meningitis, including vomiting, headaches and sleepiness. As it progresses, it can cause changes in a person’s behavior and lead to confusion and hallucinations. It usually causes death within one to 12 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals issued its warning after a 51-year-old woman in DeSoto Parish died after rinsing her sinuses with a neti pot, a small vessel used to pour warm water into one nostril and out the other. Earlier this year, a 20-year-old man near New Orleans died after contracting the infection in the same way. Health.com: 10 states where rare and exotic diseases lurk "Tap water is safe for drinking, but not for irrigating your nose," said Dr. Raoult Ratard, Louisiana state epidemiologist  in a statement . Ratard urged neti-pot users to fill the pots only with distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water, and to rinse and dry them after each use. Health.com: Nasal washing sounds gross, but it works The infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis, is extremely rare. In the previous decade, just 32 cases have been reported in the United States, according to the CDC. Only one person is known to have survived. Health.com: Is it a cold—or sinus infection? Deaths involving neti pots are even more rare. Most deaths from the amoeba, including three last summer , occur in Southern states during the summer, when people swim in warm freshwater where Naegleria fowleri lurks. Madison Park contributed to this report.  Filed under: Cold and flu , Health.com Tagged: Ray Hainer — Health.com

Pharma Deal: Gilead will pay about $10.4 billion — about $11 billion, including options — for drug developer Pharmasset, the WSJ reports . Pharmasset’s board has approved the deal, which values the company at $137 per share, an 89% premium to Friday’s closing price. Pharmasset said last month it was expanding a trial of a treatment for hepatitis C and Gilead is also pursuing therapies for the disease, the paper says. Drugs For Foster Kids: Research published in Pediatrics finds children in the foster care system are being given two antipsychotic drugs at once at the same rate as are children with severe psychiatric problems in the Medicaid program, the New York Times reports . The study found that about 2% of children in foster care took at least one of the major tranquilizers, the paper says. Settling a Pharma Probe?: Pfizer will announce by the end of the year that it will pay about $60 million to settle government investigations into whether it paid bribes as part of overseas business dealings, the WSJ reports , citing people familiar with the matter. Pfizer declined to comment, the paper says. Johnson & Johnson settled a probe into its own overseas business dealings earlier this year, and the paper reports both companies “provided U.S. authorities with information about industry practices that could violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.” (J&J also declined to comment to the WSJ.) Getting Ready For More Debate: Budget and policy experts say that health-care spending cuts will continue to be a hot topic of conversation in Washington regardless of the deficit-reduction supercommittee’s success or failure, Kaiser Health News reports . Health-care leaders are preparing for a renewed discussion and are trying to focus on how to actually control costs rather than shifting them to individuals, physicians and others, KHN says. Ideas include better coordinating care for dual eligibles, continuing to press for changes in how Medicare and Medicaid reimburse providers, medical-liability reform, curbing fraud and addressing the issue of unnecessary end-of-life care, KHN says. Image: iStockphoto

Orange-toned goldenberries, also known as gooseberries or Incan berries, have been cultivated in South America for centuries and revered for their health benefits and mouth-puckering sweet and sour flavor. A handful of goldenberries provides a hefty dosage of antioxidants, and in traditional folk medicine practices, goldenberries are believed to help maintain a healthy weight, ward disease, and improve organ function . Goldenberries contain anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids and are also a good source of vitamins A (great for eye health!) and C. Unlike more common dried fruits, packaged versions of this trending superfood often contain no added sugars or preservatives, which means you aren’t loading up on unnecessary calories and chemicals. The wrinkly, thick-skinned exterior contains a seedy, chewy interior that bursts with tart, citrusy flavor, similar to a kumquat. See how to prepare and eat goldenberries.

The plank is one of my favorite multitasking moves because it works your abs, your arms, and your back all at once. If you vary the basic plank, you’ll have a whole slew of different exercises to target every inch of your body. Here are eight variations to bring about a stronger, more toned you. Source: Thinkstock View Slideshow ›

How would you like your coronary — with potato pancakes and pastrami or four burger patties and cheese? Two restaurants are now feuding over whose sandwiches get to be marketed for the harm they cause your heart. In New York City, the all-kosher 2nd Avenue Deli’s Instant Heart Attack sandwich includes two potato pancakes with a choice of corned beef, pastrami, turkey or salami. Meantime, the Arizona-based Heart Attack Grill’s well-publicized Bypass Burgers are really, really big burgers accompanied by the usual fixings (the single, double, triple or quadruple options refer to the number of patties). The deli says the grill has warned it to change the name of its sandwich or risk a trademark lawsuit. As the New York Post reports , the 2nd Avenue Deli has filed suit in Manhattan federal court, saying the sandwiches are not only different, but that the Instant Heart Attack has been sold since before the Heart Attack Grill opened its doors. The owner of the Heart Attack Grill tells our colleagues at the WSJ’s Law Blog that “a simple formula has emerged;  1) copy my intellectual property, 2) wait for me to object, 3) file suit against me, for exercising my right to object, in the hopes of garnering media attention for what is otherwise an unremarkable deli.” Perhaps this could be settled by figuring out whose sandwich is actually worse for your heart, but that would require nutritional analysis the Health Blog doesn’t have the stomach to have performed. Court papers say that the grill also took issue with the deli’s plans to introduce an even bigger version of its heart attack sandwich called the Triple Bypass. But there wouldn’t be much confusion between the two bypass-themed sandwiches, the deli argues. “The defendant’s ‘Triple Bypass Burger’ is more precisely a cheeseburger, and as such is decidedly not kosher and unsuitable for the 2nd Ave. Deli’s customer base,” it says in court papers. If this dispute has a familiar flavor, that’s because the Heart Attack Grill sued the owners of the Heart Stoppers Sports Grill last year. Update: This post has been updated with comment from the owner of the Heart Attack Grill, via the WSJ’s Law Blog. Image: Heart Attack Grill

Actress Emily Blunt teamed up with Matt Damon , her co-star of The Adjustment Bureau , for the March covers of Women’s and Men’s Health . It’s the first time that the two magazines have ever shared cover models, and they could not have picked a better pair. Here’s what Emily told the magazine about getting in shape to play a ballet dance for the film: “I looked like an aerobics teacher. My shoulders puffed out, my back looked like there was a barrel of snakes in it and I had an eight-pack.” Emily is thrilled with the results – the actress feels toned, defined, and “muscle-ly.” Benoit-Swan Pouffer, the film’s choreographer, told Dance Magazine that he got Emily in shape by putting her through a boot-camp-style workout that included dance training with Pouffer and working with a Tracy Anderson Method trainer. On average, Emily worked out for almost fours hours every day during the month that led up to filming; once filming began, she continued her sessions with Pouffer and also hit the gym. Even though the training was exhausting, Emily pulled it off and transformed herself into a dancer for the film’s three performances: a solo, a duet, and a group number.